Libertarians believe in free markets in capital and labor. How does that apply to immigration? In a post on the subject, Stossel considers the views of conservative Heather Mac Donald [thus] and libertarian Jason Riley. Stossel concludes in favor of fewer restrictions on labor: Black markets make problems worse. America should let more people come…
Free Markets
Free Markets
A CEO on Speaking Up for American Capitalism
by JOHN ADAMS •
In Speaking Up for American Capitalism CEO Gregg Sherrill discusses the torrent of calumnies directed against free markets, but notes that most Americans see through this rhetoric: Because the financial crisis and resulting recession caused so much pain, a bashing of our entire free enterprise system may have been inevitable. My fear is that by…
Free Markets, Libertarians, Planning
Reason.tv: Lessons From LeBron – What Clevelanders Should Really Be Pissed About
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before about libertarian Drew Carey’s series for Reason.tv on ways to revitalize Cleveland (“the mistake on the lake.”) Those ways did not, and never will, include demonizing LeBron James for taking a job in Miami. Here’s a follow-up to the Reason Saves Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey series, entitled, Lessons From LeBron: Link:…
Economy, Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Politics
Milk, Wisconsin Dairies, Competition, and Anti-Trust
by JOHN ADAMS •
Jessica Vanegeren of the Capital Times has a thorough story online about the dairy industry in Wisconsin and beyond, entitled, Does Dean Foods Have Unfair Advantage? Hers is thorough description of the Wisconsin dairy scene, emphasizing the influence of Dean Foods. I would only add that our outgoing governor has shown himself susceptible of pressure…
Free Markets
The Foolishness of Demonizing Productive, Private Enterprise
by JOHN ADAMS •
I don’t know of anyone who doubts that the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is an environmental disaster. After that people’s reactions differ — sadness, frustration, anger, etc. There’s more than enough grandstanding among America’s politicians, often along the lines of how heads must roll, etc. (That’s heads of those at British…
Economy, Free Markets, Government Spending
Martin Borgs on Preventing the Next Financial Disaster
by JOHN ADAMS •
Market advocates are optimists. We warn against government intervention and spending because we know that common people — as we are — can do uncommon things when able to associate freely without interference or regulation. We reject the contrived and manipulative schemes of politicians and bureaucrats, ad welcome the dynamism and productivity of private citizens…
Economy, Free Markets, Planning
N. Korea Lifts Ban on Private Markets to Prevent Famine
by JOHN ADAMS •
From one of the most oppressive regimes on earth, having brought the people it rules to the brink of death, a belated, desperate effort to save itself through private markets: Bowing to reality, the North Korean government has lifted all restrictions on private markets — a last-resort option for a leadership desperate to prevent its…
Economy, Free Markets
Can Capitalism Save the World from Poverty? Actually, it’s already doing just that…
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a new PBS documentary that you may have seen, called “The New Recruits,” about efforts of free-market advocates to bring capitalism to the developing world. It’s not easy, but the documentary shows how a few dedicated market proponents can make a difference even in dire conditions. No economic system has produced greater prosperity for…
City, Economy, Free Markets, Government Spending
Why is America So Successful?
by JOHN ADAMS •
John Stossel asks, “Why is America So Successful?” Stossel concludes, following Friedman, that it’s not natural resources that gave America “a standard of living that’s the envy of most of the world.” Instead, it’s limited government and free market choices that make America prosperous: More than any other American, Friedman, who won the Nobel Prize…
Development, Free Markets, Planning
The Wall Street Journal on Private Campaigns Against Walmart
by JOHN ADAMS •
In prior posts, I’ve made clear the difference between competition between private merchants and local government’s endorsement of a campaign that expressly favors one kind of merchant over another. That’s not the place for government, either on principle (government should be limited) or prudently (government has a poor record of picking winners in the marketplace).…
Economy, Free Markets
Tonight on Stossel: Milton Friedman and Prosperity (7 PM Central on Fox Business Channel)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Tonight is sure to be a great episode of John Stossel’s program on the Fox Business Channel. Stossel will discuss the contribution of the late Milton Friedman to prosperity. His lifelong study of markets and monetary policy helped countless people around the world to freer, more prosperous ways of living. Viewers can tune in tonight…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Huffington Post: Making the Business Case for Dairy Farmer Civil Disobedience
by JOHN ADAMS •
The war against raw milk sales in a dairy state, a war whose generals are big business interests, is underway in Wisconsin. I’ve written about previously about Governor Doyle’s veto of a bill allowing modest raw milk sales, and about regulatory badgering of dairies that offer raw milk for sale. (Some raw milk may be…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations
Motion Hearing for Walworth County Raw Milk Case
by JOHN ADAMS •
Yesterday, I posted about Wisconsin’s regulatory badgering of dairy farmers trying to sell raw milk within existing legal requirements. Even that’s now hard to do, following Governor Doyle’s veto of a bill that would have allowed expanded, yet still modest, raw milk sales. See, Ongoing Harassment of Dairy Farmers in America’s Dairyland. One of the…
City, Economy, Free Markets, Government Spending, Planning, Uncategorized
America’s War Between Free Enterprise and Government Control
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s an essay in the Washington Post, that wonders if we face America’s new culture war: Free enterprise vs. government control. Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, considers the topic and concludes that we do face such a cultural clash. First, Brooks considers the irreconcilable systems of free enterprise and state control: This…