A community wants to impose a penalty for eye rolling at a meeting. An American community. More absurd still, they’ve asked their city attorney to research the matter. Among the books they’ve asked him to consult is Roberts Rules of Order. It’s a venerable guide, but imagine someone so clueless that he’d use it as…
Laws/Regulations
Laws/Regulations, Politics
FoodConsumer.org: “The Despicable Reason Behind Raw Milk Bans”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Why is raw milk banned even in Amerca’s Dairyland? Over at Food Consumer, there’s a story that reveals The Despicable Reason Behind Raw Milk Bans. From the comments to the post, here’s a nice summary of what lies beneath the war against natural, unpasteurized milk: The FDA and CDC have been particularly aggressive recently in…
Laws/Regulations
Regulate Google’s Search Algorithm?
by JOHN ADAMS •
In an editorial, the New York Times recently called for regulation of Google’s search results. See, The Google Algorithm. Ryan Singel of Wired reponds, noting that the Times Case for Gov Regulation of Google Search Is Weak. Singel lists several reasons that the NYT suggestion is wrong-headed, and observes that While the secret [Google algorithm]…
Laws/Regulations
EPA’s Rulemaking Matters! Contest: Still Waiting for the Big Winner
by JOHN ADAMS •
In May and June, I posted about an EPA video contest called “Rulemaking Matters!” in which contestants could send in videos explaining why federal regulations are important. The libertarians at Reason.tv submitted their own videos, explaining how burdensome federal regulations were, and now bureaucrats typically care little about ordinary Americans. See Reason.tv: Federal Regulations and…
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Advocates Say Raw Milk Is Worth The Risk : NPR
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’re a dairy state that calls itself America’s Dairyland while banning sales of natural, unpasteurized milk to adults. This ban, and ones like it across America, are harder to justify each day. See, Advocates Say Raw Milk Is Worth The Risk: NPR. Even an critic of raw milk consumption, like FDA bureaucrat David Acheson would…
Laws/Regulations
Wisconsin State Journal: Proposal Would Ban Dogs (and Other Animals, Too) from Many Madison Events
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a proposal, offered at the request of a Madison businessman, to ban dogs, etc., from some public events, like fairs, in Madison. The businessman (Keith Peterson of Madison Festivals) runs some of these events, like the Taste of Madison. See, Proposal Would Ban Dogs (and Other Animals, Too) from Many Madison Events. That the…
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…
Laws/Regulations
Reason‘s June 2010 Nanny of the Month: Banning Ladies’ Night in Minnesota
by JOHN ADAMS •
Reason has a “Nanny of the Month” feature highlighting an official’s inane and wrong-headed effort to regulate or restrict activity in a community. This month, the winner’s “Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights James Kirkpatrick.” How did he win? Well, Kirkpatrick is “the state bureaucrat who’s thumbing his nose at the great Kool…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Can Government Tell You What You Must Eat? Is There No Limit to Federal Power Under The Commerce Clause?
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a lot of commentary about the Kagan nomination, although public interest seems tepid. I’ve not mentioned anything about her nomination, mostly because I have no strong view. I believe she’s surely adequately qualified in education, experience, and intellect. She’s no one’s ideal nominee, but absent a showing of official misconduct, the president’s qualified nominees…
Economy, Laws/Regulations
Dairy Prices: The Federal and Wisconsin Governments are Part of the Problem
by JOHN ADAMS •
There was a forum in Madison on Friday, at which dairy farmers gathered to complain about low milk prices. Many of them called for a probe of low prices for milk. See, At Madison Forum, Farmers Call for Federal Probe of Dairy Industry. At the meeting, participants tried to determine how, in the words of…
Laws/Regulations
Raw Milk Update
by JOHN ADAMS •
100% Natural Here’s a raw milk update. I’ve been opposed to restrictions on the consumption of natural, raw milk. Adults should be able to decide what kind of milk they’d like to drink, without government’s interference. We’re a dairy state, and we should be able to drink and eat the kind of dairy products we’d…