Renewable energy mandates require utilities to get a certain percentage of electricity to come from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. The details of the mandates vary, but they are all founded on the premise that consumers should be forced to reduce their use of fossil fuels. As of 2019, twenty-nine states and the…
With the election of Joe Biden, many are expecting a dramatic change in the policies emanating from the White House. But the fact is, Biden will simply continue the trend that began with Franklin Roosevelt and has been embraced by every President since. Biden will expand the power of the federal government. Many pundits speak…
In mid-August, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters marched through a Seattle neighborhood demanding that the white property owners give up their homes. The neighborhood, which has undergone gentrification, was once predominantly black. One protester said, Give black people back their homes! You’re sitting there comfortably — comfortable as f—k as if they didn’t help gentrify…
Defenders of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believe that government regulation is necessary to prevent pharmaceutical companies from selling “snake oil” and ineffective drugs. But it turns out that the profit motive is a better regulator than the FDA. This week nine pharmaceutical companies announced that they won’t be releasing vaccines for COVID-19 until…
Many people believe that sacrifice is a necessary part of life. They believe that if they give up something today in order to have something better tomorrow, that is a sacrifice. But that isn’t a sacrifice. It’s delayed gratification, and that is a very different thing. To sacrifice means to give up a value for…
For nearly two months, Americans have allowed government to shut down businesses, destroy jobs, and wreck the economy. For nearly two months, Americans have tolerated an unprecedented destruction of values. This isn’t a new occurrence in American history. In the 18th century Great Britain enacted a series of laws that shut down businesses, destroyed jobs…
Rational people do not always agree on the proper course of action. They may not possess the same knowledge of the issue or put more emphasis on some facts. They may have different values or goals. When rational people disagree on the proper course of action, they attempt to persuade one another. They present facts…
Even in normal times, it can be extremely difficult to make certain statements without being considered an insensitive a-hole. In these days of a pandemic, that has become even more true. Those who question the government’s actions are quickly labeled as caring more about money than people. But sometimes such statements need to made if…
A recent study conducted in New York State concluded that 13.9 percent, or about 2.7 million, of the state’s residents have been infected with the coronavirus. That number is ten times higher than the state’s official count of 269,000. While government officials were quick to point out that these are preliminary results, it supports a…
This afternoon, Harris County Judge Lina Hildago ordered the residents of the most populous county in Texas to wear face masks when in public. This wasn’t a suggestion of a proper precaution to take in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. It was an order. And violators will be subject to a $1,000 fine. To…
Tough times demand tough talkDemand tough heartsDemand tough songs Rush, “Force Ten” Tough times do demand tough talk. They demand an honest discussion of the issue at hand, all of the alternatives, and an explicit awareness of the full context. This is true of us individually and as a society. Tough times do demand tough…
According to the Declaration of Independence, all individuals are endowed with certain unalienable rights, namely the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, according to the Federal Death Agency (FDA), you need its permission to live. Consider: you are suffering from a terminal disease and all treatments have failed. Your doctor mentions…