The national Libertarian party’s re-published a list of the top-ten federal government mistakes, with the addition of ten new mistakes. I’ve listed them below — the details for each are available at the LP website. Exec. Dir. Wes Benedict contends that these are mostly mistakes of the Obama Administration, but many of these policies pre-date…
Laws/Regulations
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
The Transportation Security Administration’s Latest Outrage
by JOHN ADAMS •
The ACLU issued the following message about the Transportation Security Administration, and that agency’s latest intrusion on Americans’ liberties. In the pursuit of a false security, this agency distorts civil society, badgers citizens, and particularly terrifies children. Note, also, the damage these agents inflict: they speak to children in ways beguiling and undermining of a…
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Glenn Harlan Reynolds: Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Drink – WSJ.com
by JOHN ADAMS •
I have never supported a ‘big-drinking’ culture. Alcohol is best consumed moderately, enjoyed leisurely, with agreeable company. Wisconsin has seen more than her share of drinking tragedies, made far worse by stubborn insistence that, if only enforcement becomes severe enough, we’ll be able to stop further tragedies. We won’t. No level of enforcement tried or…
Crime, Laws/Regulations
Reason’s Nanny of the Month for March 2011: Drug Warrior-in-Chief Barack Obama
by JOHN ADAMS •
Law, Laws/Regulations, Police
Institute for Justice Shines Light on Law Enforcement Slush Funds
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before about the harm to sound law enforcement through ‘policing for profit,’ where the promise of financial gain motivates law enforcement efforts. Fortunately, the Institute for Justice has done fine work exposing the distortion — and lack of accountability — in departments that drift into this bad habit. See, for example, The Institute…
Education, Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Planning
Bloomberg Television: Veronique de Rugy Explains Fannie and Freddie’s Role in the Housing Crisis
by JOHN ADAMS •
Laws/Regulations
Nanny of the Month for February 2011: Would-Be Brothel Banner Sen. Harry Reid
by JOHN ADAMS •
Laws/Regulations, Press
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism: Despite alternatives, Superior refinery using dangerous chemical
by JOHN ADAMS •
Reporter Lauren Hasler of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WisconsinWatch.org) has a story this morning about Murphy Oil’s continued use of hydrofluoric acid, a dangerous chemical kinow to cause explosions and resulting injury, despite the availablity of alternative substances. Hasler reports that Federal safety inspectors at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Politics
Postville judge calls proceedings “travesty” in new documentary
by JOHN ADAMS •
The massive meat packing plant raid in Postville, Iowa – and the prosecutions of immigrant workers arrested there – have been drawing heat since agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement swarmed Agriprocessors Inc. in May 2008. Via Grass Roots: Postville judge calls proceedings “travesty” in new documentary.
Economy, Laws/Regulations
Coming Soon: A 300-Percent Increase in Foreclosures
by JOHN ADAMS •
At Calculated Risk, Tom Lawler, a real estate economist and former risk policy veep at Fannie Mae, tries to figure out how many people have actually lost their homes to foreclosure, short sales or deed-in-lieu desertions. The answer: Not enough. Lawler (who is now living the life of Riley on a Virginia farm) says the…
Laws/Regulations, Libertarians, Liberty
Nanny of the Month (Jan 2011) Drug Testing 11-year-olds! Fining iPod Users!
by JOHN ADAMS •
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Institute for Justice Defends the Rights of Street Vendors
by JOHN ADAMS •
The presence of a street vendor should be a welcome sign for a community, as evidence of a flourishing, diverse economy. More to the point — should government be used to discriminate against popular, efficient street vendors and in favor of less popular, less efficient brick-and-mortar retailers? Shouldn’t picking one over the other be a…
Charity, Laws/Regulations, Poverty
Terrorists in the Soup Kitchen
by JOHN ADAMS •
Reason magazine posts on a request from the United Way of Central Maryland that a local soup kitchen certify that they were in compliance with anti-terrorism laws: Baltimore’s Viva House soup kitchen and food pantry has been feeding the poor since 1968, and for many years, it has gotten funds from the local United Way.…
Freedom of Speech, Laws/Regulations
Update: U.S. Supreme Court Considers Whether to Hear Institute for Justice’s Challenge to Arizona’s “Clean Elections”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Great news — The U.S. Supreme Court had decided to hear a challenge to Arizona’s supposedly “clean,” but actually speech-inhibiting, elections law. See, Supreme Court to Review Arizona Campaign Finance Law. Here’s a FW post from November on the challenge — Think that “clean” elections laws keep elections, well, fair and clean? You might be…