LOL

Don't ask me why, but when I read this the first thing I thought was YIPEE! Here's some good news:

According to Everson, the (IRS) budget cut would put at risk 229 major corporate fraud investigations and stymie plans for significant increases in audit rates of both small and large business taxpayers.

Although the IRS will attempt to minimize the impact of this $80 million shortfall through further cost cutting, we likely would have to freeze hiring and not be able to cover employee losses in our service and enforcement areas, which would result in a net reduction in IRS staffing.

The Evils of Che

For whatever reason it's okay to wear to a shirt with Che Guevara on it, but (rightly) unthinkable to wear a shirt with a swastika on it. Finally, I've found someone agrees with me, Che was a murderous tyrant.

Update: Catallarchy has more.

Ballot Propositions

The Libertarian Party of California has stated its position on the November ballot propositions.

Sports

Government-funded sports aren't worth the price:

Thus, government stadium "investments" have consistently generated meager results. Robert Baade and Allen Sanderson looked at a dozen metropolitan areas for The Heartland Institute and found no net employment hike. Separately Baade reviewed 36 cities and found no net statistical increase in economic growth.

Busy

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I've been busy with classes and homework. I'm not sure when I'll get back. While I'm gone I recommend you check out my blogroll and other links. My recommendations are Catallarchy, Dissecting Leftism, Johan Norberg and Marginal Revolution.

DDT

From the NCPA:

DDT was an important factor in the virtual extermination of malaria in several developed countries including the United States, and it was spectacularly successful in developing countries such as India and Sri Lanka.

But it was a victim of its own success; no longer fearful of malaria, industrialized nations prohibited DDT’s manufacture and use because of its adverse effects on birds of prey -- and fears of its potential but unverified long-term impacts on human health.

However, DDT is still the most cost-effective insecticide available for use against many mosquitoes that spread malaria, which mostly affects developing countries.

DDT is relatively inexpensive and much more effective than the next best alternative insecticide.

Wasting Your Vote

I've never fully understood why people think voting for a third party (or independent) wastes your vote more than voting for those other two parties. Keith Burgess-Jackson raises a good objection to this belief. There's one, somewhat similar, objection I'd like to make. If you live in California, as I do, there's a very high probability that Kerry will take the electoral votes, but if you happen to be a conservative resident of Orange County and vote for Bush than the odds against you getting your way are overwhelming. The same holds true if you live in Texas, but you want to vote for Kerry.

Regulation

I often get the feeling that, when discussing regulations, people don't believe that they impose any costs. Here's a great example of how regulations can create barriers to entry. For more info, here's the Doing Business database sponsored by the World Bank.

Damn!

Right when the AW Ban expired, Governor Schwarzenegger did this. Well, that's what I get for voting for a Republican. He hasn't nearly been the libertarian I expected him to be. I promise I won't make the same mistake twice, I'm sure as hell never voting for him again (or any Republican, unless, maybe they're like Ron Paul).

Hooray!

The Clinton Assault Weapons Ban has expired. Stick a fork in it its done. You know, I'm starting to like the idea of sunsetting legislation.

The Environment

Decentralizing federal land management could help the environment:

Citizens living closest to the lands are the most greatly affected by them. They bear the biggest burden of any environmental harms and dangers such as wildfire, the sight of massive clearcuts, or sediment-filled creeks. And they reap the most immediate benefits, whether from clean water, developed campsites or harvest or recreation use.
Those citizens should have greater weight in deciding how those lands are used than legislators acting collectively in Washington, D.C.

Libertarians Against Bush

Here's an excellent article that sums up the libertarian case against Bush.

Link via Johan Norberg

Indecency Regulations

The Senate recently gave the FCC the power to levy even heavier fines than previously, all in the name of "decency". The Cato Institute has more info.

I'm A Bastard!

Bastard Sword, although used by many europeans in
medievil times this sword was more of a
collecters sword and was less used for fighting
and more used for looking at, and would only be
used by great warriors or lords/kings. (Please
Vote)


What sword would you use (info and pics on swords as well)
brought to you by Quizilla

The Importance of Productivity

Walter Williams reminds us again about the importance of productivity in an economy. Here's an excerpt:

Finding cheaper ways to produce goods and services frees up labor to produce other things. If productivity gains aren't made, where in the world would we find workers to produce all those goods that weren't even around in the 1970s?

Tragedy of the Bunnies

There's a hilarious, but educational, game called the Tragedy of the Bunnies. It teaches people about the phenomenon called the tragedy of the commons. Go ahead and try it for yourselves. At the end of the game, you learn that ownership leads to stewardship.

Costs of Regulation

Emergency Rooms are closing at an alarming rate here in California. Here's why:

One (factor) is a set of earthquake retrofit requirements adopted after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In response to the quake, the state required hundreds of buildings in California to be retrofitted to prevent a catastrophic collapse, and set a deadline of 2008 for compliance. Extensions now make it possible for many hospitals to put off that deadline until 2013.

Another factor cited by hospitals is a new law that took effect in January requiring a specified nurse-to-patient ratio in hospitals throughout California, which has one of the worst nursing shortages in the country.

Link via Socialized Medicine

LP Update

There's an updated version of the Libertarian Party Platform here.

Huh?

Zell Miller said:

For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

I think he has it backwards. Isn't it because we find freedom desirable that we hire soldiers to protect us? Soldiers don't give freedom. Or am I mistaken?

Happy Birthday

On this day in 1839 Henry George was born. He's most famous for his advocacy of a single tax on land. George was also a staunch advocate of free trade.

I Like This Article's Title

Students Use Vouchers to Flee D.C. Schools