Through the Broken Window

Hate - Speech?

2007-03-04T23:17:00.000-05:00

This is all of the place. What an opportune time for the Dems to make a few bucks.

Just watch a little Southpark instead. They cover this issue and so many others quite appropriately...

Is there anybody out there?

2007-02-02T00:31:00.000-05:00

Is there anybody out there that would like to take over the command of this ship?

For some reason, I either do not have the time, or feel the same sense of urgency to put my comments up on this website as I once did.

I am sure I could assist in posting on occassion but I would like someone else with a little more dedication to bring this back to a daily post, as it once was.

Are there any takers?

Please let me know.

Chris

David Card on the Minimum Wage

2007-01-05T13:17:00.000-05:00

In a recent interview, David Card talks about his research projects and elaborates the work he did with Alan Krueger in the mid-90's on potential employement impacts of the minimum wage. I've posted the most relevant section below.

HT to Roger Garrison.

In contrast to that highly simplified theoretical model, there is a huge literature that has evolved in labor economics over the last 25 years, arguing that individuals have to spend time looking for job opportunities and employers have to spend time finding employees. In this alternative paradigm a range of wage offers co-exist in the market at any one time. That broader theory is, I think, pretty widely accepted in most branches of economics. The same idea is used to think about product markets where two firms that sell very similar products may not charge exactly the same price. The theory explains a lot of things that don't seem to make sense, at least to me, in a simple demand and supply model.

For example, what does it mean for a firm to have a vacancy? If a firm can readily go to the market and buy a worker, there's no such thing as a vacancy, or at least not a persistent vacancy. During the early 1990s, when Alan and I were working on minimum wages, it was our perception that many low-wage employers had had vacancies for months on end. Actually many fast-food restaurants had policies that said, “Bring in a friend, get him to work for us for a week or two and we'll pay you a $100 bonus.” These policies raised the question to us: Why not just increase the wage?

From the perspective of a search paradigm, these policies make sense, but they also mean that each employer has a tiny bit of monopoly power over his or her workforce. As a result, if you raise the minimum wage a little—not a huge amount, but a little—you won't necessarily cause a big employment reduction. In some cases you could get an employment increase...It doesn't mean that if we raised the minimum wage to $20 an hour we wouldn't have massive problems...In fact, nowhere in the book or in other writing did I ever propose raising the minimum wage. I try to stay out of political arguments.

Real-Wage Pessimists

2007-01-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

In his new book, Income and Wealth, Alan Reynolds refutes claims that real wages have fallen steadily over the last few decades. His data on inflation, non-wage benefits and average work week show that the average American is actually doing much better than now than he was in the 1970s. His main point:

When poor families can afford what even middle-income families couldn't imagine having 30 years earlier, aren't things working out pretty well?

Is soul dead? What about Saddam?

2006-12-26T23:15:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on the "Godfather of Soul"?

What about the execution of Saddam?

Mass vaccination 'will save lives'

2006-12-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

This can't be good.... Forced vaccinations?

It isn't even an infectious disease...

Killing Time

2006-12-22T21:09:00.000-05:00

This is fun!

The old Atari games (Link from The Door) online

Two Comments

2006-12-15T01:07:00.000-05:00

Another Jack the Ripper?

Perhaps it is the behavior/life choices associated with the procedure, rather than the side effects of the procedure itself...

Busy?

2006-12-10T19:38:00.000-05:00

Where's everybody?

What's everybody up to?

I think this is a good time to let everybody know what's new, how life is going, and what you are up to for the holidays.

WWII

2006-12-08T01:51:00.000-05:00

On this day in 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. WWII was the last time that Congress actually voted on a declaration of war against a foreign power.

See how all of that breaksdown here.

Some Military History

2006-12-07T23:54:00.000-05:00

The Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Dumb and Dumbester

2006-12-06T01:02:00.000-05:00

From the Paternalism capital of the world...(drum roll please)...

We get a ban on trans fats in NYC.

How not so deliciously absurd.

"An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"

2006-12-04T06:42:00.000-05:00

Martin Luther King once said: "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

I like it. It sounds good, but wait...

Do you think that is true?

Doesn't the removal of an injustice just about necessitate another injustice?

What is the removal of all injustices everywhere worth? Is it even possible?

A Special Message from John Edwards and "One America For All of Us"

2006-12-03T01:37:00.000-05:00

Dear Friend,

Since I last wrote to you in August about the genocide in Darfur, the conflict has only intensified. Since then, more children have been orphaned, more women and girls have been raped, and more acres of farmland have been destroyed.

The conflict in Darfur broke out in 2003 when small farmers took up arms to fight for a greater share of resources. The Sudanese government backed a militia group, known as the Janjaweed, that has brutally raped, tortured and killed 400,000 people and driven 2.5 million people from their homes. Now, the bloodshed is spilling over into Sudan's neighbors, Chad and the Central African Republic.

You may have heard me talk about the need to recapture America's moral leadership in the world. Once, America was respected and people around the globe looked to us for inspiration to make their lives better. Now, America is associated with the Iraq war, Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay.

Darfur, as tragic as it is, presents America with the opportunity to show the world that we are making changes, care about human rights and still have the moral authority to lead. NATO forces -- if the U.S. stepped up to moral leadership -- could end the conflict immediately. America must also lead the way in getting NATO to establish a no-fly zone over the region to cut off supplies to the brutal Janjaweed militias. Please take one minute to help save a life in Darfur.

Tell George Bush to lead the effort to create a NATO force for Darfur NOW.

The African Union has 7,000 troops on the ground in Darfur to help end the violence and bring peace to the region. They are doing a heroic job, but they cannot succeed without support from the world community.

Recently, Sudan agreed to accept help from U.N. peacekeeping troops. But this is far from immediate action and many questions remain -- Sudan has still not agreed to the size of U.N. forces or the command structure it will accept. While the U.N. continues talks, the Janjaweed militias are burning down hundreds of rural villages, killing tens of thousands of people, and raping thousands of women and girls.

It's no secret that our credibility and reputation has been tarnished over the past six years. The Bush Administration squandered our country's military strength and resources in a reckless war and turned its back on people around the world that truly needed our help.

But it's not too late to begin to restore our credibility and reputation. The U.S. military's unique assets -- our airlift capabilities, logistical support and intelligence operations -- can and must be used to assist NATO peacekeeping in Darfur.

My two younger children, Emma Claire and Jack, are beginning to reach the age where they ask questions about what they hear on the news. When our children ask -- and years from now when our grandchildren ask -- each of us will have to answer for what we did to help the people of Darfur. Please take one minute to do what you can to stop the genocide in Darfur.

Tell George Bush to lead the effort to create a NATO force for Darfur NOW.

The Save Darfur Coalition has sent more than one million postcards to President Bush asking for the immediate deployment of a robust peacekeeping mission. It's clear that he needs to hear from many, many more of us. The time to save hundreds of thousands of lives in Darfur and begin to restore our credibility in the world is right now.

Thank you,

John

P.S. There is strength in numbers. Please forward this message to friends and family and urge them to contact President Bush immediately.

It's weird, but it's been bugging me

2006-12-01T12:55:00.000-05:00

Why is prostitution illegal (mostly) while filming porn is legal? What if I produced and acted in my own porn film? Then I would be paying someone to have sex with me. Anyone else think this is inconsistent?

Bi-partisan?

2006-12-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

What's so great about a bi-partisan decision? Or bi-partisan committies, or research?

I value different opinions and different decisions. In fact, I look forward to the clash between parties, in hope that it will be more like a democracy.

For some reason however, there are many individuals that treasure swift and unanimous governmental decision-making. Why is that?

Isn't government's best and worst feature, its inefficiency?

Some articles: here and here

PBJ

2006-11-30T20:25:00.000-05:00

Like they played off of in Family Guy, here is the unsual and fairly stupid "PBJ Time" song.

HatTip to Messino at JLF

Some useful figures on Marijuana

2006-11-29T11:43:00.000-05:00

From a report by Jeffrey A. Miron, a visiting professor of economics at Harvard:

This report concludes that marijuana legalization would reduce government expenditure by $7.7 billion annually. Marijuana legalization would also generate tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco.

Up in Smoke

2006-11-27T19:47:00.000-05:00

From an NYC CLASH email:

Belmont, CA - Proposed Ban on Smoking in the Home

The jackboots have reached our homes.

In 2001 Montgomery County, Maryland, tried something similar and it was laughed off the table by public commentators around the country. I find it incredible that I hear none of them now. Any ban that applies to one's home is the worst of the worst, and I feel strange even having to have to put it this way -- saying "but" -- but Belmont's ban includes the home's garden, patios and porches, the streets, and possibly in your car as well. Nowhere can one smoke except in a private detached single family dwelling with the windows shut tight.

In this insane world I'm forced to say that Belmont's ban is even worse than worst of the worst because Montgomery County's plan (not to be confused with Friendship Heights' street ban plan) was only ("only" as in so very bad already) for the home and not these other places. So I ask, where is the ridicule from the commentators this time??

Read for yourself:

November 15, 2006 (San Mateo Daily Journal)
Belmont to be first U.S. city to ban all smoking

Belmont is set to make history by becoming the first city in the nation to ban smoking on its streets and almost everywhere else.

The Belmont City Council voted unanimously last night to pursue a strict law that will prohibit smoking anywhere in the city except for single-family detached residences. Smoking on the street, in a park and even in one’s car will become illegal and police would have the option of handing out tickets if they catch someone.

The actual language of the law still needs to be drafted and will likely come back to the council either in December or early next year.

“We have a tremendous opportunity here. We need to pass as stringent a law as we can, I would like to make it illegal,” said Councilman Dave Warden. “What if every city did this, image how many lives would be saved? If we can do one little thing here at this level it will matter.”

The council was concerned about people smoking in multi-unit residences.

“I would just like to say ‘no smoking’ and see what happens and if they do smoke, [someone] has the right to have the police come and give them a ticket,” said Councilwoman Coralin Feierbach.

Councilman Warren Lieberman said he was concerned the city will pass a law it cannot enforce because residents will still smoke unless police are specifically called to a situation. Police cannot go out and enforce smoking rules, he said.

“It makes us hypocrites by saying you know you can break the law if no one is watching,” Lieberman said.

However, both Feierbach and Warden argued it is the same as jaywalking, having a barking dog or going 10 miles over the speed limit. All are illegal, but seldom enforced.

“You can’t walk down the street with a beer, but you can have a cigarette,” Warden said. “You shouldn’t be allowed to do that. I just think it shouldn’t be allowed anywhere except in someone’s house. If you want to do that, that’s fine.”

TAKE ACTION: This is one you can't afford to ignore! Contact the Belmont lawmakers. Let them know exactly how offensive this is.... That it cannot be abided and is an indecency of unspeakable proportions in a country such as ours. In addition to creating the ultimate division of people into the superior nonsmokers and the second class smokers, they are dividing us into economic classes as well. Those who can afford their own private detached home are privileged to smoke but those who can't must surrender their rights. And then write a letter to the editor of their paper as well.

Mayor Phillip Mathewson: pmathewson@belmont.gov
Vice Mayor Coralin Feierbach: cfeierbach@belmont.gov
City Council: CityCouncil@belmont.gov
San Mateo Daily Journal: letters@smdailyjournal.com

Then think about writing to any newspaper columnists you know will be interested, urging them to report on this, and/or calling any radio talk show host and asking them to take up talk show arms against it. Because as the paper also reported, the anti-smoker activists nationally are drooling:

"The decision puts Belmont on the forefront of smoking policy and it is already attracting attention from other states."

Everyone has AIDS...Again?

2006-11-22T00:33:00.000-05:00

According to new numbers, AIDS is going to take over the world again.... It's an epidemic, no, its a pandemic, no, it's neither air-borne nor naturally contagious.

For some reason (perhaps other than money?), the World is paying attention to the alleged AIDS pandemic. You can read more on it here.

Call me heartless, but the numbers tell a slightly different story.

According to UNAIDS own numbers, individuals with AIDS represent slightly more than a half of one percent of the global population. Not quite as far reaching (even with the likelihood of their estimate being on the high side) as they claim. Additionally, what rate of growth deems the usage of words like "epidemic" and "pandemic" appropriate? I am sure that it wouldn't be something quite as low the only seven percent increase over the last two years. Given that AIDS patients have a fairly long life expectancy after infection, these numbers aren't going to be influenced by deaths as signficantly. Lastly, it is rather common practice to take into account population growth rates when estimating these types of numbers, so the growth rate might be substantially lower than below.

In 2004, individuals living with AIDS represented approximately 36,900,000. As of yesterday it was 39,500,000. That represents a Growth Rate of approximately 7.0%.

In 2004(12/31), the World Population was 6,486,626,360. As of yesterday it was 6,665,842,873. That represents a Growth Rate of approximately 2.8%.

Percentage of Population (AIDS/World) in 2004 was 0.57%. As of yesterday it was 0.59%.

Not quite the alarmist effect that is so heavily preached...

One note of interest from the UNAIDS article is this line:

Two-thirds of infections are due to shared injecting equipment.

Free Roads

2006-11-20T14:14:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to Rothbard's "For A New Liberty" (free at Mises) again. He has a bit in there about how privatized roads would work, focussing on technology and tolling.
Over the summer I read "Myth of the Robber Barrons" by Burton W. Folsom. He has a chapter about Vanderbuilt's ferry boats. He started out charging a lower price than the competition, and continued lowering the price until the ferry ride was free, and he was making all his money off concessions.
Is it possible that roads could be privatized and remain free, like the ferries?
The positive externalities received by merchants and residents would be returned to those they had been extracted from. Other consequences: cities would be smaller, or zoning would be more diverse.
A possible parallel is the relative free use of the internet, especially services like google, YouTube, etc. where advertising pays for all.
Could we have free privatized roads?

Kidneys and Armies

2006-11-20T11:45:00.000-05:00

A friend at work pointed out this article in The Economist about one of my favorite topics: legalizing the sale of human organs. I came across the idea of kidney markets through Gary Becker, who wrote an interesting paper that I used in my Senior Project. Check out Table 7 in Becker's paper (PDF page 44), which outlines the logical consistency in supporting both a volunteer army and a kidney market.

Of course, today I saw in the paper that some people (like Charles Rangel) do not support a volunteer army. I suppose being inconsistent is better than being consistently un-free. What would Milton Friedman do?

Let the battle begin

2006-11-20T06:52:00.000-05:00

There can be only one....

Check out the game console systems here.

007

2006-11-20T02:31:00.000-05:00

I watched a sneak preview of Casino Royale on Thursday evening before it opened in US theatres and I greatly enjoyed it. I would recommend it to all fans of Bond movies and movies in general. The critics and box office receipts appear to be in agreement with me on this.

Has anybody else gone to see the film? Opinions or feelings on the film?

My only complaint was the older woman behind me with the incessant Campbell's Soup-like expletive (mmmm...mmmm...mmmm...)

A Salute to Friedman

2006-11-17T01:01:00.000-05:00

More here, here, and here.

Starting the Min Wage Discussion Again

2006-11-13T06:11:00.000-05:00

WSJ opinion

What's Government Doing To Our Money?

2006-11-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

Aaron Russo's "America: Freedom to Fascism" is now available for free at Google video. Enjoy. Share. Debate.

Ditch Traffic Lights?

2006-11-12T16:23:00.000-05:00

Hans Monderman, a Dutch road traffic engineer, advocates removing all traffic lights and replacing them with round-abouts. Monderman argues that this approach will not only improve traffic flow (since motorists will be constantly moving), but will also reduc the number of serious motor accidents.

The idea is that round-abouts make driving more "dangerous", and by making driving more dangerous, motorists drive more carefuly. As a result, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians will have a much safer traveling experience. Sound familiar?

I think the argument sounds reasonable, it seems to be working in Brussels (which has removed almost all of its traffic lights and has seen a reduction in automobile related deaths), but I don't know if the benefits will outweigh the costs of contruction at every single intersection.

This story was found via Robert Murphy at The Mises Economics Blog.

Sunday Comedy

2006-11-12T12:49:00.000-05:00

At the expense of K-Fed (the soon to be Fed-Ex)...

Catch it here.

Veteran's Day

2006-11-11T22:21:00.000-05:00

May Dad is a U.S. Marine. He trained near the end of the Vietnam era, and recieved a medical discharge after serving for almost three years. He gave his knees for his country, and I am proud of him.
It's taken me a while to reconcile my libertarian-leaning opinions with his sacrifice. I feel like I've learned a few things that have changed the way I think.
The country is not the government. Dad served his country, not some politicians in Washington D.C. He was not thinking of Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter when he volunteered for the Marine Corp. Nary a soldier was thinking of how much they loved Roosevelt or Truman as they pounded the beaches of Imo Jima. They did it out of love for their country, love for their moms and dads and sisters and brothers. Aunts and Uncles, cousins, grandparents, friends, co-workers, girlfriends, wives, sons and daughters. For their comrades and for freedom, for the American way of life, which was still relatively free in the 1940's.
Veterans fought for the right reasons. Politicians fought for power. Or maybe they just believed in power, the way George Bush does. They believe political power can be used to do good. I'm not convinced.
How were our soldiers to know that Roosevelt was provoking both the Germans and the Japaneese by supplying England and China with weapons? How were they to know that WWII was effectively over at the battle of Stalingrad, before the bombing of Pearl Harbor? They watched "Why We Fight" at the movie theaters and were told all kinds of propagandistic exaggerations of the story.
They bought into the same nationalistic story that the Germans were teaching their children.
They were lied to.
So, I'm grateful for all of the soldiers who sacrificed for their ideals and their true loves. I'm grieved at the clouded distiction between law and government, between State and Country, between security and liberty.

Outsource the DOT

2006-11-10T06:42:00.000-05:00

If they just outsourced all the DOT work, we would not have this problem. Wouldn’t that fix all the disincentives involved with public employment (if there weren’t any)?

I mean if roads have to stay public, just contract out private companies. The one thing they need to do is have a strong legal counsel and competitive bidding structure. Yes, the have the incentive to bid higher, but if they are actually held responsible (strong contract), then it might save time(drivers) and money(taxpayers).

Here's the related news.

Thoughts?

Arbeit macht frei

2006-11-10T00:57:00.000-05:00

From our favorite Douche, and nominated for the "Biggest Douche in the Universe" (Oh sorry, that's a different John Edwards), here is a message from ONE AMERICA (FOR ALL OF US):

Dear Friend,

Because of your efforts, yesterday a blue wave swept this nation and elected historic numbers of Democrats at the local, state, and federal levels.

To all of you who phoned, walked precincts, talked to your friends and neighbors, gave money and made this victory possible -- I thank you.

This election was about nothing less than the future of the world, and the American people spoke loud and clear: America is better than what we've seen under George Bush and his Republican allies. It's time to clean up the mess in Iraq; restore our moral authority to lead in the world; put the needs of ordinary families ahead of wealthy special interests; and begin to address the issues that George Bush has ignored or made worse during his six years in office.

I want to particularly congratulate the state minimum wage coalitions that did incredible work in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio, where voters passed ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and index it to inflation. Winning these minimum wage ballot initiatives is a huge step toward lifting millions of working families out of poverty.

Democrats scored incredible victories across the country, winning governorships in states in every corner of the country and winning critical state legislative seats. We also reclaimed control of the House and made impressive gains in the Senate -- the first step in putting the brakes on George Bush's nightmarish regime -- and today we should celebrate this historic victory.

But tomorrow we must begin anew. Yesterday's results are not the end, but the beginning of a historic transformation that our country must undertake in the coming years. We have to change direction -- not just put on the brakes. And in the coming months I look forward to working with you and building upon the incredible success of last night -- and building the One America that works for all of us.

Thank you, again, for everything you're doing to put our country back on track.

Your friend,

John

Yes tomorrow, we gather our weapons and advance upon all those Americans that don't "work for all of us". Soon enough, they will all work for all us -- for one America...

A conversation starter...

2006-11-09T21:36:00.000-05:00

Will the control of the legislative branch of the Federal government by the Democrats, slow the growth of leviathan? Will we at least see a temporary slow down?

I honestly hope that we can see a lame duck government for a while.

Thoughts?

For the Record

2006-11-07T19:49:00.000-05:00

I stood in the rain for a little while tonight gathering petitions for the Libertarian Party. Ty Harrel, who has sent me more mail than I have ever received from any one person, refused to sign.

Mike Munger on WUNC's SOT

2006-11-07T12:32:00.000-05:00

Great interview. Munger says he wants into the debate, and that is leadership enough. Link at Munger's blog.

Munger supports government funded daycare as a way to help welfare moms get back to work. He also opposes the legalization of drugs. Are government programs justified by virtue of efficiency?

Speaking of getting into the debate...
SPEL held a Republican vs. Democrat debate last night. Libertarians weren't invited, but I stirred up the lingerers afterwords. The Republican got his butt whipped, as I predict the party will today.

Election

2006-11-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

The Giant Douche vs. the Turd Sandwich....

Will this election be any different?

If you don't know what I am talking about click here.

Ethical Philosophy: A Quiz

2006-11-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

This quiz tells you whose philosophy your own most resembles. I'm a combination of Emmanuel Kant, Ayn Rand and John Stuart Mill (my top 3).

I'm a little suspicious about the outcome, (aren't Rand and Mill opposites? Utilitarian v. Objectivist?), but take it anyway. It's fun!

Be sure to prioritize your answers - it's very important for the outcome.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T00:06:00.000-05:00

Have a Happy Halloween everybody. Have some fun!!

More on Halloween here.

Jumpin' the Shark

2006-10-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

With all of these new courtroom dramas ("Shark" and "Justice" to name two) on television, I thought about this question:

What is justice? And who is deserving of it? How can that fine line between revenge and retribution (similar to discipline and brutality) be measured?

Any thoughts? Any other tv-related conversation starters?

Herfs Up

2006-10-30T18:27:00.000-05:00

A herf is a social gathering where individuals get together to share in their love of cigars. Is anybody interested in this activity? If so, you can plan and invite people here.

What's wrong with NCSU Football?

2006-10-29T21:19:00.000-05:00

This is just an open-ended question. I am just wondering...

What makes them so inconsistent? What's with all the penalties?

If they didn't shoot themselves in the foot so much, they could be a great team!

What's the deal?

What are your Carbon Emissions?

2006-10-27T11:15:00.000-04:00

Tired of feeling guilty for using too much energy? Take this quiz to see if you really deserve all that hippie ire pointed in your direction.

My emissions are 21,867 lbs (about half the American average), so all you hippies out there can lay off now.

Underwear is Obsolete

2006-10-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

In the beginning, underwear was used for two reasons: 1) to keep the wearer warm in the winter and 2) to keep “outer garments” form being soiled. But times have changed. Thanks to advances in heating and washing technology, humans now spend most of their lives in climate controlled environs and wash their clothes after only one wearing. So unless you are prone to “accidents”, there is no point to wearing underwear in the modern world.

Over time, tradition will give way to progress. I predict that boxers and panties will go the way of the codpieces and corsets within the next 100 years. Unless, of course, Michael Jordan is still alive. If he keeps selling 'em, I'll keep wearing 'em!

The Freshman

2006-10-23T00:07:00.000-04:00

Are the Dems going to put their money on this two-year old horse?

Perhaps, not such a bad choice. But not enough experience? Likely, not...

What makes insurance so expensive?

2006-10-22T09:32:00.000-04:00

Besides each state's Department of Insurance and frivolous add-ons, check out this article and it should be quite obvious.

News

2006-10-20T12:25:00.000-04:00

Cool

Uh, duh?

I think they have their direction of causality switched up.

Money for War

2006-10-20T12:15:00.000-04:00

A new Opinion piece by WSJ argues that there is not enough money going to the war effort.

Is there a "right" number to spend on a war?
Is a percentage comparison even appropriate?

Shouldn't a real dollar comparison be used. And alongside that, a timeline trend to compare each conlfict?

BTW-if anybody wants to do that, I would like to see it and I will post it if you do...

13% of American Voters are libertarians

2006-10-19T10:52:00.000-04:00

A new study by the Cato Institute concludes that roughly 13 percent of U.S. voters are libertarian or strongly libertarian-leaning in their beliefs.

We didn't start the fire...

2006-10-18T13:46:00.000-04:00

If you weren't keeping up with the news, here's some new news on Apex...

Lotto

2006-10-18T01:46:00.000-04:00

North Carolina's Education Lottery has stepped in to solve all of the problems of funding public education in North Carolina. Apparently some people disagree.

Besides, what's 900 million dollars between us friends here in Wake County.

You don't hate children...Do you?

N&O has a little guide on "growth" issues.

Does anybody want to take this on? Is there any way to stop this steamroller?

Art

2006-10-16T18:52:00.000-04:00

In a recent CSI episode, one of the main characters (Grisham for those that know) said that life imitates art. Do you think that is true? Why wouldn't is be the other way around? Why wouldn't art imitate life?

I know it is a bit of a 'chicken or the egg' question, but I think it is worth a thought or two. Any takers?

Treason?

2006-10-12T01:08:00.000-04:00

Is treason the right policy? The appropriate use of power? Or the right enemy of the state and society?

Here's the story

The hype on Organic

2006-10-11T14:06:00.000-04:00

Read this

Thoughts?

Incentives Matter: North Korea edition

2006-10-10T15:22:00.000-04:00

This week, the North Koreans tested their first Nuke. Is anyone surprised?

Look at their incentives! Is there any reason we should have expected them to abandon their nuclear program?

We can’t do much to punish them for it--we have already imposed sanctions and the Iraq War restricts most avenues of military response (scarce military and attention resources).

And we haven’t offered them anything in exchange for continuing their nuclear weapons program--the Bush administration has refused to even talk directly with the North Koreans let alone put any carrots on the table.

A better question is why WOULDN’T they build a nuke? An even better question is how long can US foreign policy continue like this?

Yes on 44

2006-10-10T12:26:00.000-04:00

Marijuana on the Ballot in Colorado:

Read more here and here.

Cocaine

2006-10-09T08:04:00.000-04:00

When Eric Clapton did it, it was no bit deal. Why now?

And Bloomberg, still has to be a prick about it...

Libertarian Movies

2006-10-09T00:40:00.000-04:00

I watched "All the Kings Men" tonight and it was pretty lack luster, but I thought it embodied libertarian fears of big government egalitarianism. Maybe there really is a shift in hollywood toward making movies with a more libertarian theme.

Does anyone else percieve this trend? If so, what do you think is motivating it?

Mixed Blessings for the Celtic Tiger?

2006-10-07T14:40:00.000-04:00

Today I was thinking about a PBS show I watched a few months ago about Ireland's economic turnaround. It was part of the Wide Angle series and it gave a fairly balanced account of the recent changes in Ireland: more trade, more prosperity, but also a changing culture and vicious commercialism. It showed the sale of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Limerick (to be replaced by a pub) as the downside of Ireland's newfound capitalism.

This is not capitalism's fault. How could it be? The only reason the church is going to be replaced by a pub is because people are willing to pay much more for a pub than a church in that particular location. Should the Catholic Church be upset? Probably. But be upset with the people who would rather drop money at the pub than at the church, not capitalism. I think this applies more generally to people who oppose capitalism for its rampant commercialism. Let people be free to make and trade what they want, and you'll reveal that human beings are very materialistic creatures. People criticize capitalism when it reveals the less noble parts of human nature.

Brad Pitt: Smarter than he looks

2006-10-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

In the October issue of Esquire, the Pitt makes a lot of sense: "I'll agree that drugs are harmful, but we spend $40 billion a year on the drug war and $8 billion a year
incarcerating people, 25 percent of whom are in there for drugs. If someone wants to do drugs, as long as it doesn't affect anyone else in a violent manner, as long as he or she isn't corrupting minors or driving under the influence or endangering others, shouldn't a person have that right? I know the drug war is a can't-miss political issue that no one wants to touch. It's the big pink elephant no one wants to talk about. Think of all the other things we could do with the money." Pitt went on to recommend the book Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do, by the late libertarian writer Peter McWilliams.

Politicians...Gotta Love 'em

2006-10-05T07:48:00.000-04:00

Foley

Black

Sport Nationalism

2006-10-03T18:02:00.000-04:00

Wide World of Sports

Team USA isn't doing so well in a wide variety of sports. Should we care? If so, why?

We seem to handle the Olympics well. What's the difference in these other arenas?

Why doesn't this make sense?

2006-10-02T20:56:00.000-04:00

Why do Democrats frown upon wealth transfers from the future to the present (deficit spending) while they are perfectly fine with wealth transfers from the rich to the poor? Are "we" not richer in the future, given the fairly steady rate of economic growth since WWII? If so, shouldn't the current generational wealth transfer be something of a Democratic ideal?

I hoped someone else had made this observation, and of course someone had:

"Some have also made a philosophical argument that even if there is an intergenerational wealth transfer, it is justifiable, because our children and grandchildren will almost certainly be wealthier than us, and (oversimplified) that they "wouldn't mind" lending us some money today, just as we leave money for them in our wills. [I would add that we make them better off through innovation as well.] This doesn't seem to be particularly persuasive to me, but it is one argument that is occasionally made to justify even deficits that fund current consumption."

I'm not saying that deficit spending is justified or that the argument works; I'm only saying that the Democrats are inconsistent on this. It's not that the future generations "wouldn't mind." It's more that Democrats shouldn't care if they do mind, since they like taxing rich people and spending money on the underprivileged (the present??). Also, people of the not-so-near future can't vote yet, which is handy.

Semi-related food for thought.

Violence

2006-10-02T06:27:00.000-04:00

When is violent action legitimate?

This could be in protest, or escaping injustice and imprisonment, or even a "just" war.

Is violence ever an appropriate response? What legitimizes it?

A Brief Defense of Capitalism

2006-10-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

I was reading The Devil in the White City when I stumled across this gem that I think sums up what I love about the capitalist system.

"[In the late 19th century], a thousand trains a day entered or left Chicago. Many of these trains brought single young women who had never even seen a city but now hoped to make one of the biggest and toughest their home. Jane Adams, the Urban reformer who founded Chicago's Hull House, wrote 'Never before in civilization have such numbers of young girls been suddenly released from the protection of the home and permitted to walk unattended upon the city streets and to work under alien roofs'"

Some folks may think that sounds scary, but I think it sounds inspiring. The outcomes of the market process were not always pleasant, and many women faced injustice and mistreatment, but what other system of social organization guaranteed individuals this kind of of freedom?

Intelligence and Strategerty

2006-09-29T11:07:00.000-04:00

Intelligence on Bush's side, apparently....

125

2006-09-29T10:27:00.000-04:00

Today is the 125th Anniversary of Ludwig Heinrich edler von Mises's birth.

Read more here.

New NBER

2006-09-29T10:15:00.000-04:00

Here's some new NBER Research

Effectiveness of Cigarette Regulation on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Alcohol Use and Labor Market Outcomes

Elasticity of Demand Gasoline

Tobacco Control

Medicaid Crowding Out

"Take care of the Micro..."

2006-09-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

After reading this list (nod to the Door), I pondered a statement I made yesterday to a friend. Is it a fallacy of composition to say, "Take care of the micro and the macro will take care of itself." or is it MORE of a fallacy of composition to make the assumptions of aggregation Macro makes in its assertions?
Nathan

"Entrepreneurs discern human needs and act upon them"

2006-09-27T09:35:00.000-04:00

From Mises:

Even more inspiring has been the explosion of interest in Katrina Cottages… The Katrina Cottage effort is producing an expanding family of designs for appealing, storm-worthy houses that compromise nothing but square footage in the effort to create homes worthy of long-term roles in neighborhood redevelopment. The first designs for Katrina Cottages came out of efforts to create design alternatives for FEMA trailers. The plans (website not yet up) immediately captured the imaginations of citizens and building industry leaders. Now Katrina Cottages are claiming a broadening niche in the private-sector housing market and creating more alternatives for Mississippi home shoppers.

Lowe's has just announced plans to offer four Katrina Cottage designs as kits to property owners in the storm zone. Home Front, in Florida, is offering a growing list of models as panelized cottages. And the New Urban Guild has certified several manufactured housing companies to produce Katrina Cottages likely to set new standards for manufactured housing.

Big Load

2006-09-27T08:42:00.000-04:00

NYC proposed a ban on trans fats. What a load....

I can't even comprehend this stuff. What are they thinking?

Thoughts? Read more here.

Two Stories

2006-09-26T07:48:00.000-04:00

Here are two stories that I am sure we will be continuing to hear more about in the near future:

Highest Global Temperatures

Diabetes, not Obesity, Increases Critical Illness and Death Risk

We can begin from here, or add some questions for further discussion...

The Saints Go Marchin'

2006-09-25T14:26:00.001-04:00

Because of Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome in New Orleans was significantly damaged. Many thought it was beyond repair. However, they were able to fix it up in time for this season, with its debut tonight on Monday Night Football (formerly). It is being pushed as if it were a Superbowl.

Apparently some folks are not happy with the money spent on the renovations and the celebration, when there is still so much devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. What a bunch of downers, huh?

Look what Federal dollars were able to accomplish in such a short time period:

The renovation has cost $144 million and is expected to top out at $185 million.

About $114 million of that was allocated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provided funds to cover uninsured losses to state property — separate from funds used to reimburse individual homeowners. The Superdome Commission contributed $41 million, and $13 million came from the state. The NFL's contribution of $15 million was for improvements to the stadium rather than repairs.

Read more here.

Should we have taken him out?

2006-09-25T09:43:00.000-04:00

Should we have taken him out? Should we blame Clinton for not? What about Bush?

Is it even appropriate to use hired guns to handle foreign policy? Have we learned anything from our previous mistakes in this area?

You know what I am talking about...

Part of me wants to blame Clinton for not handling things before 9/11 and the other part wants to scold this braggart for his statements on being the closest one to killing him.

Why is he even in the news anyways? Comments?

Sports

2006-09-25T00:03:00.000-04:00

State upsets BC. Who would have thought. Surely not me...

Carolina Panthers win in the last moments as Kasay kicks a 46-yard field goal. Shortly after the win, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed. Apparently it was ruptured during the game.

Markets In Education

2006-09-24T09:46:00.000-04:00

Here is a nice essay by Stephen Miller on education, where he argues that formal education can provide people with better heuristics (mental shortcuts that reduce the cost of understanding new information), but only if "market feedback" mechanisms are in place to ensure that "inefficient heuristics" are discouraged.

Of course, I don't agree with everything Miller says. For one, I think his argument concerning the unimportance of education's "external" benefits is pretty loose. But, overall, i think the paper presents a well articulated argument for introducing more competition to the educational system.

As an aside, I am still new to the subject of bounded rationality, but if you're interested in the subject, I recommend this textbook. It gets technical in parts, but I don't think it's too demanding. Just checking out the introduction is well worth your time. If anyone else has recomendations for papersor books on the subject of bounded rationality, please share 'em.

Stuff

2006-09-23T11:08:00.000-04:00

Target follows the lead of Wal-Mart. I wonder who's next. Read here.

Bonds ties Aaron. Not the top one yet, just the NL record.

Howard Hits 58th.

The nation's first union of pizza delivery drivers

The Perfect Pair

2006-09-22T10:41:00.000-04:00

The dynamic Hugo Chávez has spurred the sales of Noam Chomsky's Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance.

This is a great discussion starter. Do you think Chávez is accurate in his statements about President Bush? What about Chomsky? I don't mean about their world views, but simply about their seemingly contradictory and hypocritical accusations about America, her people, and her President.

New News

2006-09-22T08:53:00.000-04:00

Wal-Mart to sell generic drugs for $4. I am thinking that the study will go well. Hopefully we can see more of that in the near future, or atleast some competitor reaction. Here's the story.

Save us Branson. Branson pledges three billion to fight global warming. If its private money, I have no problems with it. Something tells me that it is not.

Oh wait, here it is

The billionaire pledged all profits from his Virgin air and rail interests over the next 10 years to combating rising global temperatures. However, the estimated $3bn will not go to charities and will be invested in a new branch of Sir Richard's ever-expanding Virgin conglomerate, Virgin Fuels. Much of the investment will focus on biofuels, an alternative to oil-based fuels made from plants.

So, he isn't really pledging anything. He is investing in new technology. One problem with this might be that those profits don't actually belong to him alone.

Research

2006-09-22T08:13:00.000-04:00

WSJ covers a new study showing that educators are woefully unqualified... I know it was true when I was in college. The worst students were the Ed majors (I knew the exceptions).

Schools of education have gotten bad grades before. Yet there are some truly shocking statistics about teacher training in this week's report from the Education Schools Project. According to "Educating School Teachers," three-quarters of the country's 1,206 university-level schools of education don't have the capacity to produce excellent teachers. More than half of teachers are educated in programs with the lowest admission standards (often accepting 100% of applicants) and with "the least accomplished professors." When school principals were asked to rate the skills and preparedness of new teachers, only 40% on average thought education schools were doing even a moderately good job.

New NBER Research

Contigent Valuation for Childhood Obesity

Willingness to Pay For Drug Rehabilitation

I think the assumptions and underlying premises are false, not to mention the conclusions. I don't think it is appropriate to apply the average or median WTP (willingness to pay) from some individuals surveyed and then apply it to the entire population. That might be the normal practice in the research, but it seems inaccurate and likely to overestimate the total WTP.

Conclusions: Clients' median willingness to pay for drug rehabilitation fell short of the average program costs of $82 per week, which reinforces the need for continued subsidization as drug treatment has high positive externalities. Clients will pay more for higher rates of treatment success and for the presence of case management.

The conclusion reached from the Drug Rehabilitation study (above) is problematic because of its intitial assumption that heroin users desire rehabilitation over continued drug use. This is paternalism at work. So we need to subsidize rehab, to fill the gap. Has anybody ever asked why there was a gap in the first place?

Lastly, WSJ covers human right violators. Nothing new needs to be said about that one.

Wondering

2006-09-21T13:14:00.000-04:00

What is the purpose of government? Why does it exist? Can it ever achieve its stated purpose?

About a year ago when I was in an MPA class over at State, I was arguing with the Student Teacher (a PhD candidate) that was doing a very poor job of explaining market failures. As a response to one of my statements, she blurted out something like, "government is not meant to be efficient", upon which I stated that efficiency was in fact the purpose of the class (Public Policy Analysis). The reality is that the sole purpose of achieving the 'higher education' via an MPA or PhD degree is to apply the learned efficiencies to the bureaucracies of the public sector where these individuals are most likely to find employment. In all my three MPA classes, that was the approach I saw used.

She was, however, correct in her statement. It is folly to expect efficiency of government and even more so, government is not meant to be efficient. Its purpose both in the political and administrative workings is to be slow, lethargic, and inefficient. That, some say, is the value of democracy. What about for the administrative side? Should we value inefficiency with the same fervor? What separates the two?

What really is the purpose of government?

Free Day

2006-09-21T08:26:00.000-04:00

Today is a free day. Anybody want to dicuss anything in particular?

Sports? Celebrities? Gossip? News? TV? Movies? Music?

We could even discuss some DeTocqueville or any other book that folks are working on.

Everything is fair game. Any takers?

Don't hesitate, just leave a comment or two and we can get the discussion rolling...

The Opportunity Cost of Friendship

2006-09-20T14:12:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago I was faced with a dilemma. I had been invited to a large-ish party in Chapel Hill where I knew about half of the people in attendance and had also been invited to a small gathering to watch "Army of Darkness" with some close friends.

I ended up doing both, because I didn't want to say "no" to anyone.

Which brings me to my point: the opportunity costs of friendship. Post-college, I've discovered that making friends isn't as easy as it once was, and often has a lower payoff. I feel like my time is already sufficiently spoken-for; if I make additional friends, I'll have to diminish the time I spend with current friends. (Alternately, I could decrease the time spent on my dissertation proposal, but it's already woefully neglected.)

I wonder if this is something that I alone have experienced. Was I already so wonderfully popular upon graduating from college that I needed no additional friends? (Unlikely.) Are my friends just unusually demanding? (I don't think so.) Or unusually giving of their own time? (Not really - they're busy people.) Or, is this something that everyone experiences to some degree?

It probably seems rather ruthless, but for now at least, I'm full up with friends. The opportunity cost of making any more of them is too high to pay.

At least until one of my current friends pisses me off.

;)

The Pontiff

2006-09-20T07:49:00.000-04:00

I would like to hear some thoughts on the Pope's recent comments about Islam. Here's an opinion piece to get the ball rolling.

Some News

2006-09-20T07:34:00.000-04:00

Triple-Standard in the works to take care of patent battle. Looks interesting...Check out the article here.

Overnight coup ousts Thai Prime Minister. The military leader promises elections for October 2007. Read more here.

So what do we hope to accomplish from these mini-revolutions? Why so long for an election? Will he keep his promise? Apparently it was well planned, quick, and non-violent, so how different is it than the normal shake-up from new party take-overs?
Thoughts?

Freshman left off Student Senate ballot - News

2006-09-19T21:24:00.000-04:00

Freshman left off Student Senate ballot - News
SPEL member takes the heat for SG and administrative ineptitude. Doucett is the only one involved with any integrity.

Spinach A-hoy

2006-09-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

With the growing concern about the Spinach market in the United States and the associated inreased risk of E coli exposure, what is the appropriate approach for the United States government to take in this process? Should this be an extensive public health investigation, or is the market capable to adjusting prices and qualities to assume the associated risks.

Read more on the 'Dead Market'...

FYE

Worst book in history?

2006-09-18T16:57:00.000-04:00

"Why Mommy is a Democrat" probably seems like a great idea to Democrats, but as a libertarian I think it's a very bad idea with dangerous consequences. Isn't picture-book age a bit early to indoctrinate kids on politics? Read some sample pages to see what I mean.

Anyone have a problem with the dark-skinned homeless man and the rich white people in the book? What about the big scary elephant chasing away said homeless man? Beyond the pictures, how about things like "Democrats make sure we share..."? More like "Democrats make it legal to steal."

Bill O'Reilly also wrote a kid's book, but I think it was a little different. I don't think it has pictures and I don't think little kids will actually read it.

Are libertarians on this battlefield? I hope so.

Thoughts

2006-09-18T07:33:00.000-04:00

Upon reading this article about the world's most famous bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, I thought about this issue:

Is bounty hunting an ethical practice? Is the kidnapping of human beings an appropriate activity or policy?

Although I think one can always use a "greater good" or utilitarian argument, that specific ethical argument can only be used with the predetermined conclusion of guilt. What if the individual is innocent, but escaping injustice? Without that knowledge of actual quilt, it is difficult to justify and activity of kidnapping another human being for society's greater good.

Recognizing that however, there are a whole slew of department of justice practices that are problematic and even the notion of "innocent until proven guilty" is actually rather specious and sophistic.

Thoughts?

Mas en La Democracia en Estados Unidos

2006-09-18T07:31:00.000-04:00

A thought from dT on Democracy in America:

The principle of the sovereignty of the people governs the whole political system of the Anglo-Americans...In the nations by which the sovereignty of the people is recognized, every individual has an equal share of power, and participates equally in the government of the state. Why, then, does he obey the government, and what are the natural limits of his obedience? Every individual is always supposed to be as well informed, as virtuous, and as strong as any of his fellow-citizens. He obeys the government, not because he is inferior to those who conduct it, or because he is less capable than any other of governing himself; but because he acknowledged the utility of an association with his fellow-men, and he knows that no such association can exist without a regulating force. He is a subject in all that concerns the duties of citizens to each other; he is free, and responsible to God alone, for all that concerns himself. Hence arises the maxim, that every one is the best and sole judge of his own private interest, and that society has no right to control a man's actions, unless they are prejudicial to the common weal, or unless the common weal demands his help. This doctrine is universally admitted in the United States.

Sounds pretty good, up until the end there...Any thoughts on the subject?
I like the voluntary governing approach of the "utility of association". I have some problems with the "prejudicial to the common weal, or unless the common weal demands his help". I think these are the essential problems and inherent costs associated with organization,governmental regulation, and the creation of "society". Can there exist an true anarchic "society"? Are we doomed to always be coerced from above?

Immigration

2006-09-17T18:28:00.000-04:00

New numbers from the GAO state that more immigrants are dying trying to cross into the United States from Mexico. Sad really...I wonder how the risk of death comes into play into the formulation of expected utility (asymetric information as well) from the decision to cross the border? Can we expect to see a decline in number of illegal immigrants if they take this new information into account? Or are they still better off even in the face of this increased risk?

Now to throw a wrench into that. The House decided to put up a fence and also go back and discuss a fence on the northern border as well. We need to remember that a fence limits all mobility. Individuals can't get in as easily and individuals can't get out as easily. It is not the panacea it appears to be to so many on the Right.

Lastly, some FEE education.

More dT

2006-09-17T00:08:00.000-04:00

Here's a few good one-liners (some are a bit a little more lengthy) from Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America":

The gifts of intellect proceed directly from God, and man cannot prevent their unequal distribution.

There is in fact, a manly and lawful passion for equality which incited men to wish all to powerful and honored. This passion tends to elevate the humble to the rank of the great; but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which imples the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level, and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom.

"The will of the nation" is one of those phrases which have been most largely abused by the wily and the despotic of every age.

How Many?

2006-09-16T16:24:00.000-04:00

How many had to die to figure this one out?

It really is the dark side of public policy and prohibition.

WHO backs DDT reintroduction...

Try the Vodka

2006-09-16T14:24:00.000-04:00

It's a bit hot, but you might just like it. Check it out here.

FYE

One Book Meme Game

2006-09-15T09:11:00.000-04:00

You've probably all seen this on Division of Labour or the Locker Room, but now it's infecting The Broken Window as well.

Here goes:

1. One book that changed my life: Anthem by Ayn Rand. I read it in 9th grade and it was my first real taste of political philosophy of any kind. An interesting place to start, to say the least.

2. One Book I've Read More Than Once: There are loads of books I've read twice (I'm a devout re-reader), but the best, I think, is Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

3. One Book I Would Want on a Desert Island: Just one? It'd have to be both long and good. Could I take the whole Lord of the Rings?

4. One Book that Made Me Laugh: Well, if I ever get around to reading any of Dave Barry's books, I'm sure they'll make me laugh. They're on the ever-growing reading list.

5. One Book that Made Me Cry: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. Actually, anything by Wharton falls into this category, but Age of Innocence is best.

6. One Book that I Wish Had Been Written: Hmmm, this is a hard one. So many possibilities. I'm going to have to go with a rather flippant answer here: Hogwarts, A History by J.K. Rowling. It's mentioned dozens of times throughout the Harry Potter series. And now I'm intrigued. Maybe someday, she'll write it for charity like she did Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages.

7. One Book I Wish Had Not Been Written: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Aside from the line "When you wet the bed, at first it's warm and then it gets cold," the whole book was a torment. Actually, almost all of 11th grade English was a torment, so I'll have to add "Invisible Man" to the list of books I wish had not been written. (Everyone on the JLF blog already took all the good, serious answers.)

8. One Book I'm Currently Reading: Ethics of Liberty by Murray Rothbard and Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville.

9. One Book I've Been Meaning to Read: Atlas Shrugged. I just can't manage to get through it - something else less preachy always turns up.

Now, I'm tagging Travis, Chris, Student, Juris and Ron. Have fun!

"NC Legislative Hearing on Race & the Death Penalty"

2006-09-15T00:03:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from an email I received:

NC House Select Committee on Capital Punishment Hearing
Date: Friday, Sept. 22, 2006 - 10am
Location: NC General Assembly - Legislative Office Bldg (Room 643), Raleigh, NC

The NC House Select Committee on Capital Punishment will hold a hearing on race and the death penalty on Friday, September 22, 2006 at 10am at the NC General Assembly in Raleigh. The Carolina Justice Policy Center encourages you to attend this hearing and to bring others. We strongly encourage racial and ethnic minority organizations to spread the word about this hearing and to bring your members.

As you may know from previous CJPC alerts, African Americans are 3.5 times more likely to receive the death penalty if the victim is white, a former NC prosecutor gave his assistant district attorneys "noose lapel pins" as awards for winning death penalty cases and saw nothing wrong with such a practice, and attorneys continue to find cases where African Americans in NC have been illegally kept off of juries or sentenced by all-white juries. Such inequities must be addressed and we hope that we will have your continued support. Please let us know if you or others will be attending the hearing.

Also, please let me know if I can provide more information about the upcoming hearing or the scheduled topic. Please forward this email to friends who may be interested in attending.

Here is the legislative calendar. Here are the House Select Committees.

Why Do They Hate Us?

2006-09-14T20:30:00.000-04:00

Richard Maybury lists and analyzes US government intervention in other nations in this six part series. Maybury's books are the reason I am a juris naturalist today.
Some highlights from Part 1:

"Almost from the day it was created, Washington has had a policy of backing any tyrant who claimed to be pro-US. These "pro-US" cutthroats have received money, weapons, ammunition, almost anything they needed to suppress their own populations and attack other countries."
On terrorism: "I'm convinced that in most cases the attackers do not hate the people they are killing, any more than US bomber crews hated the civilian men, women and children they were killing in World War II." "Terrorists use what they have and hit what they can."
"The most important war in US history was the Spanish-American War in 1898. After defeating Spain, Washington set up a puppet government in the Philippines. To install this puppet, the US Army massacred 220,000 Filipino men, women and children. This was the precedent for Washington's massive and routine interventions in foreign countries."

"The problem is, the Bill of Rights stops at the border. It does not protect foreigners.
A politician spends a substantial part of his life trying to acquire power, then when he finally has it, he's hamstrung inside the US.
Outside the US, he can do anything he pleases."

A good reference if nothing else.
Nathan

Paternalistic Endeavors

2006-09-14T08:05:00.000-04:00

Do we have any evidence to actually suggest that the public policy to "educate" individuals about reducing consumption of allegedly dangerous goods and services (tobacco, lottery, alcohol, illicit drugs) is effective?

I know that the US government has spent billions of dollars on many paternalistic endeavors and I think most individuals would call it a substantial failure. Has anything changed? Why should the outcome be any different now?

Here's a new BBC article about "educating" youth.

Liberty Arcade

2006-09-13T16:29:00.000-04:00

I've recently found a fun teaching tool: The Liberty Arcade. It was created by the IHS to teach social science principles. It includes "The Tragedy of the Bunnies" (Tragedy of the Commons); a comparative advantage game, and several others that I've yet to explore.

I think these could be very helpful in trying to explain otherwise boring concepts. Check them out!

(My students will be playing the comparative advantage game this week.)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2006-09-13T06:41:00.000-04:00

I was reading through a Code of Ethics yesterday and stumbled upon what was called the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So, I had to give it a look over. Here are some "rights" of particular note:

Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.

(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 22.
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 23.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

Article 24.
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25.
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.

(2) Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

Austrians In Odd Places

2006-09-12T13:29:00.000-04:00

According to Tyler Cowen, if he believed in the Austrian Business Cycle Theory, he would think that monetary intervention by Asian central banks has distorted relative prices in such a way that the United States has become over-invested in non-export durables. Furthermore, he would also believe that the inevitable consequence of this distorition will be a sectoral shift back toward exports (as relative prices return to their “natural” positions) that could possibly lead to a recession as the economy takes time to adjust.

Of course, Tyler Cowen doesn't believe this, but it certainly falls in line with the boom-bust cycle described by the ABCT. And if this is really what Austrians think, then New Keynesian economists like Brad Delong are playing on the same team. An odd partnership, isn't it?

This is an old topic on the blogosphere, but I thought it would be fun to discuss with an Austrian-sympathetic crowd. Are Brad DeLong and other economists that worry about asian central banks fueling national borrowing really unleashing their “inner-Hayeks”? Or has there been some confusion? Do Austrians really think something like this will happen? If so, how do their policy perscriptions differ from folks like Delong?