Many of my novels involve issues pertaining to race. Given the controversial nature of such issues, this can be challenging, particularly since I am a middle-aged white man. Some might claim that I am unqualified to write about racial issues because I am white. Such a claim is itself racist. The color of my skin…
The following is a section from Chapter 2 of my book, The Affordable housing Crisis: Causes and Cures. The Progressive framework is wrong in every regard. It begins with an inappropriate standard, refuses to consider the full context, and regards the consideration of alternatives as impossible. For Progressives, the standard for evaluating any policy is…
Justin Walker and Pratik Shah are the owners of Justice Inc, a business in Houston that provides intellectual bodyguard services. Traditional bodyguards protect others from physical threats. Intellectual bodyguards protect others from intellectual threats–bad ideas. Shortly after the COVID pandemic begins, Justice Inc finds itself embroiled in a battle against government officials in both the…
Many government regulatory agencies allegedly have the mission of protecting us from unscrupulous businesses, unsafe products, and various other potential ills. In truth, these agencies prevent us from using reason. A recent example can be found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In January, agents of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture seized thirty-seven items of food from…
On the social media website formerly known as Twitter, a user posted a receipt for $24 for a hamburger, fries, and drink at a Five Guys restaurant. One user responded by saying that five dollars for a small order of fries is “highway robbery.” While users debated whether Five Guys was overcharging, nobody seemed interested…
Virginia Democrats are backing a bill that would extend taxpayer-paid healthcare to illegal immigrants. Not surprisingly, Republicans are objecting to the bill, but they won’t challenge the morality that underlies it–altruism. One state Senator said, They want to grant illegal immigrants driver’s licenses that are valid for up to eight years. Now, they’re also working…
After my recent talk to Houston Oasis, an audience member expressed his disgust with developers who cut down trees to develop the land. There should be a law, he said, to stop them from doing so. In other words, he didn’t like the actions that others are taking, and he advocated using brute force to…
A recent survey found that 44 percent of Generation Z and 46 percent of Millennials are “obsessed with the idea of being rich.” While there is nothing wrong with the desire to be wealthy, obsessing over it can lead to some bad choices. That appears to be happening with younger adults, and not surprisingly, some…
Financial analysts are issuing warnings about the deflation that is occurring in China. In November, consumer prices fell .5 percent, the largest decline in three years. CNN reports that deflation is bad because consumers and businesses may delay purchases in the hope that prices decline further. But is deflation really bad? Deflation means a general…