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Picking Winners and Losers
Anytime the government intervenes in economic affairs, it is picking winners and losers. Consider the tariffs recently imposed by the Trump Administration as an example. Those in certain industries, such as steel and aluminum, have been picked to win. The tariffs give domestic companies a competitive advantage over foreign companies. That advantage was achieved, not…
The Bathroom Bill Debate
One of the items on the agenda for the special session of the Texas Legislature is a “bathroom bill.” Hotly debated during the regular session, the bill would mandate that individuals use the public bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. The legislation is a response to local ordinances, such as the…
Cause and Effect
The city of Houston recently enacted stricter regulations governing boarding houses. The Houston Chronicle reported that: The ordinances — prompted by several fires in unregulated and unsafe multi-resident housing facilities over the last year — follow months of meetings between city officials and community groups and wrangling between city agencies. The purported goal of the…
A Sign of the Times?
ByjbpThis was originally posted on Live Oaks on June 26, 2009. Comments have not been migrated. On Wednesday a federal judge declared Houston’s 1993 sign ordinance unconstitutional. The ruling concluded a trial in which Houston Balloons & Promotions sued the city. The company was awarded damages of $927,841 with an additional $187,000 for expenses and…
When Volunteering Isn’t Voluntary
ByjbpThis was originally posted on PoodleRose on July 23, 2013. Comments have not been migrated. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called on internet service providers in Britain to limit access to internet porn sites in an effort to “protect our children and their innocence.” CNN.com reports that “service providers and other Web companies are…
Anti-discrimination Laws are Discriminatory
A variety of federal, state, and local laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, and a number of other factors. Ostensibly, these laws are supposed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. However, these laws are themselves discriminatory. They treat bigots, homophobes, and other irrational individuals unfairly. Every individual…