Far too often, those who support the free market adopt the wrong framework for their arguments. Indeed, in many instances advocates of the free market accept the framework of collectivists/statists. We won’t be successful in arguing for the free market is we embrace the framework of those who seek to destroy the free market. Winning…
Mark Twain popularized the phrase “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The essential meaning of the phrase is that statistics can be misrepresented to support a particular position. A recent report from Housing for All Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is an example of abusing statistics. In the Introduction, the authors claim, This report……
Other people do not always act the way that we would prefer. Rational people accept that fact and resort to persuasion in an attempt to change the offending behavior. Sadly, a growing number of people are rejecting persuasion and embracing the coercive “solution.” The essence of the coercive “solution” is: Do as I say, or…
In a court trial, specific rules govern what evidence is admissible. According to Wikipedia The law of evidence, also known as the rules of evidence, encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. The purpose of these principles is to assure a fair and impartial trial. However,…
In April 2020, the town council in Montclair, New Jersey, passed a rent control ordinance. The Montclair Property Owners Association (MPOA) launched a petition drive to submit the ordinance to a referendum. The town clerk refused to certify the petitions, but on February 22, 2021 a judge ordered the town council to repeal the ordinance…
Gresham’s Law holds that “bad” money drives out “good” money. For example, if legal tender laws declare that a one ounce brass coin and a one ounce gold coin are both worth $10, the more valuable gold coin will disappear from circulation. While Gresham’s law pertains to economics, the same principle applies to rights. When…
Every violation of property rights, from zoning to eminent domain, from minimum wage to occupational licensing, ultimately stems from a disagreement regarding the creation, use, or trade of material values. And the solution proposed by the advocates of every violation of property rights is essentially the same: Use government to force those with whom they…
The political policies that we embrace and advocate today do more than impact our lives in the short-term. They impact and shape the lives of our children, grandchildren, and countless generations to come. If we make the right decisions, we can provide our children and grandchildren with freedom and opportunity. We can enable them to…
In many, if not most, discussions over policy issues, the discussion revolves around a proposed solution. Proponents attempt to defend and justify their proposal, while opponents attack it. This is not a recipe for a healthy and constructive conversation. Indeed, it often leads to anger and hostility. Take proposals to ban or severely regulate short-term…
No matter our position on a particular issue, we possess a variety of ideas, values, experiences, and information that shapes how we think about that issue. This is our context, and it shapes how we process the claims and ideas presented by others. At the same time, others possess a variety of ideas, values, experiences,…