tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63207662011-04-21T13:41:48.824-07:00Libertarianism from a practical, consequentialist perspective.Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comBlogger5941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-26094733864434429612007-01-13T21:24:00.000-08:002007-01-13T21:30:18.032-08:00

If you're a regular reader you've probably noticed that I've been blogging way less frequently. I've been busy finishing my last semester of college; getting my BS in Accountancy. Now I have a full time job at an Accounting firm. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to blog any time in the near future. I might resume someday, but until then, good-bye and thanks for reading.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-88400806103616859332006-12-05T09:20:00.000-08:002006-12-05T09:24:10.155-08:00

A follow-up to an earlier post, it looks like Hong Kong will not introduce a new sales tax due to wide-spread opposition.Via Stefan Karlsson

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-21437037340074827462006-11-16T10:10:00.001-08:002006-11-16T10:59:25.141-08:00

Milton Friedman died today at 94. He will be missed.Update: More from the Cato Institute

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1159227766554541982006-09-25T16:35:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:49.094-08:00

I think this is one reason why government defined-benefit plans are a terrible idea. Schwarzenegger signed a bill that bars state investment plans from investing in Sudan because of the Darfur crisis. No doubt it's well intentioned, but what does the Darfur crisis have to do with getting an adequate ROI? The problem is that decisions are being made on a political basis rather than an economic

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1158383089369861372006-09-15T22:00:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:48.895-08:00

I'm going to second Dingel's comment; he believe's that this is one of the worst trade policy proposals in recent memory. The proposal is to force importers to obtain a government certificate to import goods as a remedy to the trade deficit. Oddly, the senators that are proposing the new law argue that it's a "market based system". Huh?

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1158342907455160532006-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:48.717-08:00

The World Health Organization wants to use more DDT to help fight malaria. According to the article, "DDT, longed banned in the United States because of environmental damage, is no longer sprayed outdoors". This is due to extensive lobbying from wealthy western environmentalists. Other measures seem to have questionable results, "Bednets soaked in different insecticides already are used to

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1158149104369677442006-09-13T04:59:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:48.448-08:00

Those economists at GMU are worth their weight in gold. Here's a list of areas where GMU economists think could benefit from liberalization and privatization. I do have one question though. How do you privatize "All job training and workforce assistance programs"? Is that the same thing same as privatizing a loan program (like a student loan) or does it refer to something else?Via Arnold Kling

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1156564550527819632006-08-25T20:47:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:48.248-08:00

It looks like, contrary to popular belief, outsourcing increases domestic wages:Take that, Lou Dobbs. Despite much handwringing and political posturing, the surge of job outsourcing, by increasing productivity, has actually helped raise real wages for low-skilled U.S. workers, according to two Princeton University economists.Also, it looks like most of the burden of the corporate income tax gets

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1156303359716366712006-08-22T20:20:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:47.983-08:00

Here is some excellent libertarian humor (via Bryan Caplan).Update: Also, a humorous observation (about a serious situation) from Johan Norberg about Bolivia's Evo Morales recent move to nationalize the country's energy sector, "the Bolivian government has just realised that they don´t have the funds or the technical knowledge to take over the production. So now they want their victims to help

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1155755421334687022006-08-16T12:05:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:47.714-08:00

I found this post to be so accurate that it's creepy. No doubt others have encountered similar situations. Here are a few gems:1. Attack libertarians for their motives. Advertise your own in the process.Example: "You just recite propaganda against high taxes and social programs because of greed! I support such things out of a concern for those in need." This particular example is most effective

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1154882366742063992006-08-06T09:34:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:47.530-08:00

Thousands Protest Sales Tax in Hong KongNearly 3,000 people marched from a downtown park in Hong Kong to government headquarters Sunday to protest a proposal to levy a sales tax in the territory, arguing it will hurt local businesses.Protesters carried signs saying, "Say no to sales tax" and chanted "no to GST.""Our costs will be high. We expect many restaurants to not be able to take it and shut

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1152053270834019892006-07-04T15:46:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:47.331-08:00

How frustrating, my hard drive has crashed and is in need of repair. I'm typing this post off of someone else's computer. Needless to say posting will be minimal until I have a working PC.Update: Everything is up and running again after being out of commission for about a week.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1151380135973450872006-06-26T20:44:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.951-08:00

I just found Free to Choose on Google video! You can see a younger Schwarzenegger giving an intro to the series here. I like how he describes freedom as being able to "chase your own rainbow". LOL, I've never though of it like that, but I guess it makes sense.Via the comments to this post for another Friedman video.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1151183282101084512006-06-24T14:06:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.818-08:00

A new study argues that FEMA relief leads to more corruption. Here's the abstract:Could bad weather be responsible for U.S. corruption? Natural disasters create resource windfalls in the states they strike by triggering federally-provided natural disaster relief. Like windfalls created by the natural resource curse and foreign aid, disaster relief windfalls may also increase corruption. We

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1151039508440581252006-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.653-08:00

According to this article:Prices of medicines used by older Americans for chronic conditions such as arthritis and high cholesterol are rising even as new federal drug coverage has been rolled out to help make prescriptions more affordableDo you think it's a coincidence that the two events are occurring at the same time. I don't and neither does Stefan Karlsson:This correlation in time is hardly

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1150832477315281162006-06-20T12:40:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.520-08:00

Someone actually did a side by side comparison between the United States Constitution and the Confederate States Constitution. See here.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1150574471888445252006-06-17T12:58:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.371-08:00

Adam Summers is mildly supportive of California's cable franchise reform:The legislation, A.B. 2987, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), would reform the anachronistic cable franchise system by eliminating the costly practice for providers of obtaining cable franchises city by city. The change is intended to open up cable

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1150414569170851802006-06-15T16:34:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.212-08:00

Someone arrived on my blog by doing the following Yahoo! search:negative effects santa clause has on kidsI'm sorry, but I don't think I have any knowledge on the topic. ;)

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1150154614716806182006-06-12T16:20:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:46.066-08:00

We all know Bush spends like a drunken sailor, but when the Democrats take charge in November we'll have a divided government and fiscal responsibility, correct? Oh, maybe not:“When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the shit out of it,” Moran buoyantly told a crowd of 450 attending the event.Via Donald Luskin

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1149956777470264482006-06-10T09:24:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:45.932-08:00

Virginia Postrel on organ shortages:The most obvious way to increase the supply of any scarce commodity — paying more for it — is illegal. Federal law blocks transplant centers, patients and insurers from compensating donors in an above-board process, with full legal and medical protections. The growing and inevitable "transplant tourism" industry, and even shadier organ brokers, are the kidney

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1149913391024933752006-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:45.770-08:00

Neal at the Cato blog makes what I consider to be an important observation:The political cycle that drives tuition is actually easy to understand: Some people complain that tuition is too high and demand that politicians make college “affordable.” Politicians, to get votes, provide student aid. Then schools, suddenly able to get more money, raise tuition. But wait, that makes college “

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1149877151920161532006-06-09T11:17:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:45.618-08:00

Support for agricultural subsidies is starting to diminish:Fat days may be over for farm subsidiesFrom the article:Opponents cite several reasons why existing farm subsidies need to change:• Some call them unaffordable. Pat Toomey, a former Republican congressman who heads the fiscally conservative Club for Growth, calls them "Moscow on the Mississippi."• Some call them protectionist. Groups such

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1149657092320158202006-06-06T22:05:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:45.472-08:00

First, an observation: is it a coincidence that there's an election going on at 6/6/06...that's 666! I know politics is evil, but this is ridiculous. Okay, lame jokes aside, it looks like Angelides is ahead in the polls right now with 47% (as of 10:05 PM PST). Also, it looks like both ballot propositions might be going down (hooray!). Although, with only 13% of the precincts reporting, it's

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1149360143064190942006-06-03T11:40:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:45.133-08:00

The good news is that I passed all of my classes last semester. The bad news is that I'm taking a summer course so there will be little to no blogging this month. I'll try to blog about the California primary election this Tuesday if I can.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1148239285093905062006-05-21T12:20:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.906-08:00

"To tax the larger incomes at a higher percentage than the smaller, is to lay a tax on industry and economy; to impose a penalty on people for having worked harder and saved more than their neighbours."--John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1147817282084675532006-05-16T15:02:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.744-08:00

Here's a great article that discusses the rent-seeking that's involved when textbook content is controlled by the State. In California:(textbooks) must include illustrations of tall and short people, heavy and thin individuals, people with disabilities, and families headed by two parents, by one parent, by grandparents, by aunts/uncles, and by other adults. When writing about the development of

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1147537784668113802006-05-13T09:25:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.568-08:00

It turns out that much of the California state income tax revenue comes from Google executives. As Virginia Postrel notes, if our tax system becomes so "progressive" that high-income taxpayers leave the state for Nevada then we might be in trouble.Link via The Conspiracy to Keep You Poor and Stupid

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1146952111397612662006-05-06T14:46:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.393-08:00

Some time ago, Hawaii made a decision to put price controls on gas prices. Well, it looks like the experiment failed miserably and they decided to get rid of them.Update: Unfortunately, the link has died since the story came out.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1146434624670140612006-04-30T15:02:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.225-08:00

I won't be blogging much in May because I have a number of exams.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1146074874251079542006-04-26T11:06:00.001-07:002006-11-11T22:00:44.047-08:00

Today is Tax Freedom Day in the US. Happy Tax Freedom Day!Update:Via The Road to Euro Serfdom

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145744656074304182006-04-22T15:21:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:43.686-08:00

Congratulations to Former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar for winning the 2006 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty. Here's an excerpt:"I had read only one book on economics—Milton Friedman's Free to Choose. I was so ignorant at the time that I thought that what Friedman wrote about the benefits of privatization, the flat tax and the abolition of all customs rights, was the result of

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145474744797214032006-04-19T12:20:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:43.523-08:00

If you haven't been reading Greg Mankiw's blog then I recommend you start right now. He links to a paper that examines the risks associated with Social Security. I am always suprised to hear people say that Social Security is a "sure thing" while the market is risky. Well, Social Security has what's called "political risk". Essentially, it means that the Congress can fiddle with the formula

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145219356877867632006-04-16T13:23:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:43.363-08:00

Damn, I should have voted for this guy when I had the chance. Senator McClintock makes a classic reductio ad absurdum case against minimum wage increases here:"If a simple legislative act increasing the minimum wage to $7.75 is all that is needed to improve the lot of the working poor by just a little, then why not raise it to $10 an hour and get them to the poverty level?"..."For that matter,

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145217709743232592006-04-16T12:51:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:43.163-08:00

Hey, just because it's a holiday doesn't mean there's an excuse to stop blogging. I found this hilariously titled article called Most Americans Still Say Tax System Unjust. It just seems kind of obvious that our tax system is unjust. You can find some interesting information here. The top half of American income earners pay almost all of the income taxes, while the other half essentially

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145165460297304072006-04-15T22:30:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:42.995-08:00

From CapMag:As the Wall Street Journal reported last week, Anaheim, California is showing what happens when local governments respect property rights and allow the free market to work. Beginning in 2002, the Anaheim city council began deregulating land use, promoting competition, loosening business regulation, and lowering taxes. The city completely eliminated development fees for homeowners

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145135558622138692006-04-15T14:09:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:42.795-08:00

Social Issues Top GOP Pre-Election Agenda:Protection of marriage amendment? Check. Anti-flag burning legislation? Check. New abortion limits? Check.Between now and the November elections, Republicans are penciling in plans to take action on social issues important to religious conservatives, the foundation of the GOP base, as they defend their congressional majority.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1145048098213577242006-04-14T13:50:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:42.578-08:00

This is intended for a British audience, but it's one of the best articles I've ever read against the idea of state funding of political parties (free registration required). Here's an excerpt:Meanwhile, the apparatus of public funding creates a lucrative career structure. A graduate can work for his local party branch, then put in a couple of years at the attached state-funded think-tank, and

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144605919023102222006-04-09T11:02:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:42.412-08:00

From Greg Mankiw:"Higher tax rates on labor income and consumption expenditures lead to less work time in the legal market sector, more time working in the household sector, a larger underground economy, and smaller shares of national output and employment in industries that rely heavily on low-wage, low-skill labor inputs."Read the summary here and the whole report here

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144533016410156302006-04-08T14:46:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:42.168-08:00

It looks like if Julian Simon made his infamous wager today he would still be right:"For example, if we were to calculate crude-oil prices in 2005 dollars, then the figure for 1980 would be $85.61 a barrel and the 2005 counterpart about $55 a barrel. It needs to be kept in mind that 1970 oil prices would be even higher. Similarly, the price of rice has plummeted from $1,039 a tonne in 1980 to

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144458384992990452006-04-07T18:04:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:41.565-08:00

Via Smallest Minority:

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144445810489859942006-04-07T14:30:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:41.353-08:00

The California legislature is considering a proposal that would "require school textbooks to include lessons on how gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons have helped California develop." Now if you're not familiar with how California runs its education system you're probably asking yourself why this is an issue in the first place. Believe it or not, the California Government can

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144440575187648232006-04-07T13:07:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:41.172-08:00

Unemployment amongst immigrants is lower than natives:Via Marginal Revolution

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144382566938191982006-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:40.954-08:00

Thank goodness for the work done by the Citizens Against Government Waste. They do an excellent job keeping track of waste. Here's a taste of what has come out of Washington recently:* $1 million for the Waterfree Urinal Conservation Initiative;* $550,000 for the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington;* $500,000 for the Sparta Teapot Museum in Sparta, North Carolina;* $500,000 for the Arctic

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1144178658726377262006-04-04T12:21:00.000-07:002006-11-11T22:00:40.771-08:00

From the Guardian:The president of the world-renowned Sorbonne University has branded French students protesting about the country's new employment law "ignorant and stupid".Reacting to protests over the law, which makes it easier for employers to fire, and therefore presumably more willing to hire, young workers, Jean-Robert Pitte said the youngsters had no dreams but believed everything was due

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1143483467999834002006-03-27T10:15:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:40.512-08:00

It looks like we're in the clear for now, but let's hope the FEC doesn't have a change of heart down the road:The Federal Election Commission decided Monday that the nation's new campaign finance law will not apply to most political activity on the Internet.In a 6-0 vote, the commission decided to regulate only paid political ads placed on another person's Web site.The decision means that

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1143255119981439812006-03-24T18:49:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:40.326-08:00

Miron makes an excellent case for pragmatic libertarianism. Here's an excerpt:To begin, the consequential approach allows one to distinguish moderately bad policies from really bad policies. Drug prohibition is a terrible policy from the consequential perspective because it generates a black market and all the attendant negatives. Moderate sin taxation, however, does not create a black market

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1143174647169203812006-03-23T20:27:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:40.099-08:00

I'm surprised to find Bush and Jefferson named in article together considering they have little to do with each other.1,889 days and no vetoes: Bush gaining on JeffersonUpdate: Speaking of Bush and Jefferson, Chris Edwards says that there should be a return to a "wise and frugal government" advocated by Jefferson. Again, both the President and the Congress have ignored that plea.Update 2:

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1143047795864441202006-03-22T09:14:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:39.910-08:00

I was on campus yesterday and some one offered me a "I Miss Bill Clinton" t-shirt. "No Thanks", I replied. Now, if he offered me a "I Miss Grover Cleveland" t-shirt I would have responded differently.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1142811021273222932006-03-19T15:23:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:39.667-08:00

Coyote Blog has an excellent commentary on the folly of employment-for-life. One of the things that strikes me about these protesters is their selfishness. Notice that they only care about their job security. They don't seem to mind that, from the perspective of the employer, employment-for-life is insane and prevents bad employees from losing their jobs.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1142634121136859132006-03-17T14:17:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:39.466-08:00

You can see a fantastic graphic showing where all of our money is being spent here.Via Division of Labour and Finland for ThoughtUpdate: What's fun about these charts is pretending what I would do if I had the ability to eliminate those various programs. Much of the right side of the chart would be eliminated. Even the left side would be trimmed. For example, is missle defense really necessary

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1142121920420509752006-03-11T16:03:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:39.320-08:00

Former Vice Presidential Candidate and mayor of Bellflower Art Olivier will challenge Schwarzenegger for the position of Governor.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1142118269613943282006-03-11T15:02:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:39.164-08:00

Via Tyler Cowen, here's one of the best posts I've seen on the minimum wage. I think I should read Jane Galt more often.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1142029792097412212006-03-10T14:27:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.966-08:00

It looks like private sector union membership is heading towards oblivion. As you can imagine, the public sector is lagging behind on this trend.Via Newmark's Door

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141850420868612362006-03-08T12:39:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.784-08:00

It looks like rising real estate values, and the subsequent property tax increases, are leading to a second anti-property tax revolt.High property taxes driving a new revolt

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141750123988829992006-03-07T08:47:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.631-08:00

Here's a new blog called The Case for Small Government. His mission statement sounds similar to mine:In this blog I provide a libertarian perspective on economic and social policy. By libertarian, I mean consequential libertarian, not philosophical libertarian. Thus, my arguments are based on assessments of costs and benefits, not on assertions about rights. My claim is that most government

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141356065393793822006-03-02T19:20:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.441-08:00

Harry Browne died today.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141323892203167252006-03-02T10:22:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.266-08:00

I think Tyler Cowen is correct regarding the welfare state, in this interview:My prediction is that, in general, welfare states will increase in size in most places around the world. We can expect most areas of the world to become wealthier because of globalization as well as other reasons. And if you look at countries that are wealthy, they tend to have very generous welfare states. Also, I

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141153293393381082006-02-28T10:57:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:38.060-08:00

I once heard from one of my (leftist) college professors that 50% of bankruptcies are due to medical problems. When I first heard that statistic my bull-sh*t meter went off the scale. Here's a study that suggests that the actual number is more like 17%, which makes more sense to me.Link via Division of Labour

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1141103356062832782006-02-27T21:08:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:37.848-08:00

US proposes zero tariffs on medicines, devicesNow we just need to reduce tariffs on...well, everything else.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1140930810872084502006-02-25T21:11:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:37.651-08:00

Wall St research suffers since Spitzer dealFrustrated by the restrictions, there's been an exodus of veteran analysts fleeing to hedge funds and other "buy side" investment firms, which offer richer pay and greater freedom. Investors and investment banking clients, meanwhile, say the quality of coverage has suffered, with many small companies no longer getting any attention.Update: On a separate,

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1140480601762695022006-02-20T16:00:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:37.420-08:00

A number of politicians are upset, based on security concerns, about a company from the United Arab Emirates trying to acquire some US owned ports. One senator says:"We wouldn't turn over our customs service or our border patrol to a foreign government"I'm not sure how useful that reductio ad absurdum is given that the 9/11 Commission has given the Transportation Security Administration's

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1140413922501536602006-02-19T21:32:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:37.209-08:00

Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, is caught up in a growing debate about pornography.News that the raunchy Playboy magazine has signed a deal to produce a local edition has fuelled the controversy. What I find funny is the following picture:Do these women object on religious grounds or do they fear that men might look at the magazines and want someone more desirable...Link

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1140022761197900032006-02-15T08:52:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:36.982-08:00

I don't know what it is about me, but I love to see lists and charts of things.Here is a list of nation-states that can possibly become failed states. (Division of Labour)Also, here is a list from the Copenhagen Consensus that examines the world's problems from a cost/benefit analysis. Interestingly, it ranks global warming dead last. (Patri Friedman)

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1139938110374739322006-02-14T09:26:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:36.819-08:00

I just saw an event of Curling for the first time. I confess that I've become even more confused by watching it than by hearing descriptions of it.Update: My little brother explained the way the scoring works and now I understand the game a bit more.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1139550237446371982006-02-09T21:38:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:36.421-08:00

Ten years ago the internet went black to protest the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Thankfully, the Supreme Court struck down the law as unconstitutional.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1139432696338966782006-02-08T12:59:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:36.285-08:00

Generally speaking, most people are supportive of capitalism:The University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes has published the findings of a poll of 20 countries which shows that 61% of people in those countries agree with the statement “the free enterprise system and free market economy is the best system on which to base the future of the world.” 28% disagreed.The

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1139344611352095652006-02-07T12:32:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:36.102-08:00

Tax revenues at the state level are sky-rocketing, yet governments still (always?) want more. Chris Edwards uses California as an example:In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a budget increase for fiscal 2007 of 8.4 percent, which follows a 9.7 percent increase in 2006. This is the same governor who, in 2003, said, "if you spend, spend, spend, then you have tax, tax, tax, but

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1139107802315885002006-02-04T18:45:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.952-08:00

The US can travel to 130 countries without needing a visa. The US is tied for #1 along with Denmark and Finland. Of course, that didn't stop me from needing a visa to go to Russia. Oh well.Via Finland for Thought

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138946156243838442006-02-02T21:53:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.777-08:00

More banner ads here

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138929428886773662006-02-02T17:16:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.642-08:00

Here's a favorable trend that I hope continues:Money in 401(k)s Outstrips Pension TotalsUpdate: The previous link has died since I originally made this post. Here's the story.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138650936620316402006-01-30T11:52:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.447-08:00

What are the odds of finding two interesting items about toilets in one day? From Coyote Blog and Overlawyered comes this article about how federal regulation has led to toilets being more expensive and less in quality.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138643016037425932006-01-30T09:40:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.266-08:00

Finally, Japanese heated toilet seats are coming to the US. I wonder why it took Japanese companies so long to figure out that they might have a market here? It's not like there's any shortage of other Japanese products in the US.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138591652252940382006-01-29T19:22:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:35.075-08:00

Who says you need anti-trust laws to break up large companies? Why would companies voluntary break themselves up? The interest of the shareholders is why:"Investors want these companies to unlock shareholder value, pure and simple," said Mark Keeley, whose family-run Keeley Family of Funds manages $3 billion in assets. "Investment bankers hate to hear this, but 50 percent of mergers don't work

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138590027324558872006-01-29T18:58:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:34.864-08:00

From Liberty Lover, this sounds like a good idea to me as well:The Health Care Choice Act, sponsored by Rep. John Shadegg (R., Ariz.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), would let American consumers purchase health insurance across state lines, just as they now may shop coast to coast for mortgages.Shadegg-DeMint would let insurers licensed in one state sell to individuals in the other 49. As such,

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138388899334504992006-01-27T11:05:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:34.647-08:00

Here's Russell Roberts take on this poor analysis of a recent study on income inequality: The disparity between rich and poor is growing in America as the federal minimum wage has remained flat for years, union membership has declined and industries have faced global competition, according to a study released Thursday.Interesting. Let me try a different first sentence: The disparity

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138387517820232182006-01-27T10:43:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:34.463-08:00

Stefan Karlsson has a good analysis of the Palestinian Election:The neocons have long claimed that the best way to fight Islamic fundamentalists is to do away with the dictatorships of the Arab world and impose democracy. The problem however is that public sentiment in most Arab countries were always even more anti-Israel, anti-American and pro-Islamist than the authoritarian regimes that ruled

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138384494580091472006-01-27T09:44:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:34.313-08:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one that's been pondering the following:I think universities need to move more in the direction of organizing themselves around the unit of single courses rather than bundled degrees. That way I could, say, mix and match classes on comp-sci and pop-gen in order to specialize in computer modeling of population genetics. Or mix and match courses in economics with courses

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138342318865166992006-01-26T22:09:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:34.173-08:00

Usually, one should beware of policy proposals from socialists, but this particular one I endorse and should be replicated by our politicians.Bolivia leader halves his own pay

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138327232852572472006-01-26T17:58:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.987-08:00

I think I'm more symathetic to environmental regulation than most libertarians, but can I go on record and say that this is just obnoxious:California declares smoke 'toxic'

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138302132087847022006-01-26T11:00:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.811-08:00

The following has nothing to do with politics, but this video made me laugh.Via Secular Blasphemy

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138224504020614852006-01-25T13:25:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.618-08:00

From Colby Cosh:Unintentional-funniest moment from the McLaughlin Group's 2005 year-end awards McLaughlin: Okay, time for the Group to grade planet Earth, A through F, for 2005. Pat? Buchanan: I'm going to give it an F. I think the world is really headed toward a war of civilizations. I think the West doesn't realize the trouble it's in. I think the whole global trade regime is coming down.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1138148925400503082006-01-24T16:26:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.486-08:00

The Governor said that voters should decide whether California should adopted an Oregon-style assisted suicide law. This could lead to a possible referendum on the issue.Schwarzenegger wants voters to decide suicide law

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1137727149109332592006-01-19T19:13:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.315-08:00

It seems like lobbying reform has become a hot topic. IMO, lobbying reform, much like campaign finance reform, is largely a red herring. Rent seekers will always try to get their slice of the pie so long as there's a pie to be divided. The answer lies in shrinking the size of the pie. Okay, now all this talk of pies is making me hungry!

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1137512629136583392006-01-17T07:40:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:33.191-08:00

I'm glad to hear that SCOTUS upheld Oregon's Euthanasia law, but I wonder if SCOTUS upheld the law for the wrong reasons. In this AP article there's no mention of the ninth or tenth amendments.Update: Good News. California might enact a similar law.Update 2: Here's Catallarchy on the issue.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1137274181104858162006-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.976-08:00

Matthew Dailey believes that the Governor is trying to spend his way into popularity and that he's no better than former Governor Gray Davis. Here's an excerpt:Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in a recall election two years ago, promising to bring reform and fiscal restraint to the state government. He was committed to "changing the entire political climate" of

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1137084456298929642006-01-12T08:28:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.857-08:00

I went to Russia to meet a friend of mine. The area of Russia I went to is called Perm, which is near the Ural Mountains. Some of my pictures were blurry. This is because it was so cold that my hands were shaking when I took the pictures. Here they are:A statue of LeninYes, there were a lot of things devoted to Lenin. Heck, even the street my hotel was on was called Lenin Street.This is the

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1136910555880814002006-01-10T08:27:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.671-08:00

Before I post on my vacation, I want to note that the Heritage Foundation has released its 2006 version of the Index of Economic Freedom.Link via Johann Norberg

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1136864592767285532006-01-09T19:42:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.547-08:00

I just got back from my trip. I'll have a more detailed post about it when I get over the jet lag.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1135486827525684372005-12-24T20:59:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.368-08:00

I'll be in Russia until early January. Why, you ask? I'll give the details when I come back.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1135374906019213542005-12-23T13:54:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:32.243-08:00

Jihadi or Ji-hottie? I know which one I prefer!

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1135275478455341312005-12-22T10:17:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.981-08:00

Awesome, David Friedman is blogging now. Here's his first post and here's a post regarding Libertarians and party politics.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1135184439804009782005-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.814-08:00

I just started playing a game called Particracy. This is a game that has a Wiki format where you are a political party and you create laws, try to get them passed, run for elections, etc. My party is the Free People's Party and it's located on the Independent Davostan Republic.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1135106732994205292005-12-20T11:23:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.581-08:00

Well, I had a difficult semester, but overall it went pretty well. For one of my GE classes, we had to maintain a blog. If you're curious you can see it here. I just got back from Las Vegas. I will be going to Russia from December 28 to January 10.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133990271211263022005-12-07T13:16:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.420-08:00

From Tom G Palmer, here's a history of liberalism in PowerPoint format from a lecture he gave in Russia.Sidenote: I am travelling to Russia at the end of the year.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133989774963501722005-12-07T13:06:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.215-08:00

Did anyone else see this interview:CAVUTO: Okay. Gas prices are down a lot. Why do you think that is?O’REILLY: Because they’re afraid they’ll go to jail. And those C.E.O.s who manipulated them–CAVUTO: Why are you sure that they manipulated them?O’REILLY: I have guys that are inside the five major oil companies - my father used to work for one of those oil companies, by the way - who have told me

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133804278607022242005-12-05T09:31:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:31.071-08:00

The Cato Institute has a new blog titled Cato Unbound. One of the first posts is an essay by James Buchanan where he suggests three amendments to the Constitution that he would like to see. Arnold Kling takes issue with the second proposed amendment regarding non-discriminatory policies.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133763346634082182005-12-04T22:13:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:30.885-08:00

You know spending has gotten bad when a French person makes the following observation:Congressional Republicans Make French Socialists Look Like Ronald ReaganLink via Stefan Karlsson

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133733709691239612005-12-04T13:59:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:30.718-08:00

This is a book that I hope to read someday if I ever get the chance:Social Statics by Herbert Spencer

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133644789879493872005-12-03T13:16:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:30.518-08:00

I was looking through Lawrence White's website and found a number of links on free banking. White is a regular blogger at Division of Labour, which is one of my favorite Economics blogs.

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320766.post-1133644574597870792005-12-03T13:13:00.000-08:002006-11-11T22:00:30.385-08:00

I copied this almost verbatim from Jay Jardine:1) If you set your prices lower than the competition, you will be charged with predatory pricing2) If you set your prices higher than the competition, you will be charged with gouging3) If you set your prices exactly the same as the competition, you will be charged with collusion

Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16910468370695856455noreply@blogger.com