There’s an observation from 2011 from Whitewater’s city manager to consider about the distressed status of tax incremental district 4. (I came on the observation while reading this week about Generac.) Before going further, I’ll observe that when one talks about distressed tax incremental districts, one’s talking about rare birds. By the assessment of the…
Economy
Business, City, Economy
How to Make Whitewater Hip and Prosperous (Part 2)
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
A sketch-post from an ongoing series – I posted Part 1 previously on January 27th.. Emphasize the city’s natural beauty. If one’s interested in drawing tourism or affluent newcomers (and we should be), show them them what we have that bigger cities lack – a fine landscape, with much to do in it. We’re doing…
City, Development, Economy, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Local Government, Planning
The Williamsburg Neighborhood in Brooklyn
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
I mentioned that I would write a bit about the Williamsburg neighborhood. Brooklyn’s huge (millions of residents) and there are many neighborhoods (themselves large) within that borough. One of them is Williamsburg, a diverse and eclectic community, with both Hasidim and hipsters, and a thriving arts scene. These groups within the neighborhood do not always…
Economy
Adam Davidson: The Other Reason Europe Is Going Broke
by JOHN ADAMS •
The rigidity of over-planned, over-regulated economies underlies Europe’s other, deeper problem: ….G.D.P. per capita an insufficient indicator, but one most economists use in the U.S. is nearly 50 percent higher than it is in Europe. Even Europe’s best-performing large country, Germany, is about 20 percent poorer than the U.S. on a per-person basis and both countries have…
Economy, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Poor Record of Job Creation
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’ve had five straight months of job losses in Wisconsin, with another 14,600 jobs, including 11,700 in the private sector, lost last month. You know, and I know, that Gov. Walker insists that Wisconsin is open for business. I’m sure it is; I’m equally sure that when most people use that expression, they’re not thinking…
Animals, Business, Economy, Food, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Idaho legitimizes small-scale raw-milk producers
by JOHN ADAMS •
The potato state bests America’s Dairyland in common sense and consumer choice: “There were a lot of illegal raw-milk sales throughout the state,” Patten said. “Across-the-fence sales, let’s say.” So, in early 2010, instead of drawing guns and raiding those operations, the state of Idaho–with the help of raw-milk advocates and a less-enthusiastic dairy industry–modified…
City, Economy, Government Spending
On Whitewater, Wisconsin’s 2012 Municipal Budget
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s mid-November, and on schedule, Whitewater (pop. 14,622) has a budget for 2012. There’s some good in this year’s result, but other challenges lie ahead. (A pdf copy of the budget is available online. For my remarks on the 2011 budget, see Whitewater, Wisconsin’s Next Municipal Budget.) A few remarks on the ‘12 budget: With…
City, Economy, Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Wisconsin
The War on Immigrants
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Reason’s blog, libertarian Shikha Dalmia writes on Alabama’s War on Immigrants. The essay is solid from beginning to end. I’d recommend readers to consider her full essay, but I’ll quote now from a few key passages. Overview: Conservatives are resorting to ever more draconian measures to take back the country from “illegal immigrants.”…
Economy
America as the world’s best bet
by JOHN ADAMS •
Despite tough times in America now, Ian Bremmer and Nouriel Roubini contend (and are likely right) that America remains the world’s best long-tern economic bet. There’s reason for optimism about our future: But the longer-term future appears much brighter for the U.S. than for either Europe or China. America is still the leader in the…
Business, Economy, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Planning
How Anti-Dumping Laws are Bad for American Jobs
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a brief video (perfect for classroom use!) on how anti-dumping laws – designed to protect American jobs from foreign competition — actually inhibit American production, raise Americans’ prices for goods, and stymie domestic job creation. Restrictions on importation may not be sensible as economic policy, but they’re a great gain for a few protected…
Economy, Poverty
More Americans in Dire Poverty, But There’s a Way Out
by JOHN ADAMS •
Disconcerting economic data have this advantage: they’re a useful reminder of work ahead, and a spur to greater zeal. Best fiscal choices in times of poverty: spending cuts (beginning with elimination of leadership posts) to fund a reduction in taxes, return of most tax money to taxpayers and businesses, with second source of expense savings…
Economy
Anne Applebaum: Can America survive without its backbone, the middle class?
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve been reading Anne Applebaum’s essays for years, and she’s invariably sharp and insightful. She typically writes on foreign affairs, but some essays are for a foreign audience, describing aspects of American politics and culture. In a recent essay for the Telegraph, she succinctly describes America’s middle class, and the problems it faces. Applebaum writes…
Economy, Education, Government Spending, Planning, Wisconsin
Additional State Budget Cuts, Lapse Provisions, and the Failure of State Planning
by JOHN ADAMS •
A reader kindly passed along an email from UW President Kevin Reilly to the entire UW System about additional budget cuts proposed for Wisconsin’s public universities. I’ve included the content of Reilly’s message below. Readers may have different opinions about all this, but even staunch supporters of the Walker Administration should see this as (at…
Economy, Foreign Affairs
An American Phoenix
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’ve played the phoenix before, and no matter how difficult conditions are today, I’ve no doubt that we will yet again. We’re successful and resilient because we’re free: Americans are versatile and creative, and bounce back well. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes about how America’s world position is likely to be stronger than some fret. Part of…