Here’s the second of two posts on cosmetology. (I’ll tackle all manner of topics at FREE WHITEWATER.) The post is about a Texas salon owner who is among those who brought a venerable practice, eyebrow threading, to the Lone Star state. It may seem new to us, but it has been practiced safely abroad, and…
Laws/Regulations
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Cosmetology Nannies, Part 1: Banning Fish Pedicures
by JOHN ADAMS •
Readers can guess correctly that I don’t spend much time considering cosmetology. Unfortunately, some bureaucrats spend too much time regulating cosmetology. These regulations often inhibit new procedures, favor incumbent businesses over newcomers, and insist on unnecessary and expensive licensing. (The price for mandated coursework benefits, first and foremost, those who are in the business of…
Laws/Regulations
Tonight on Stossel: Earth Day Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Fox Business Channel, tonight’s 7 PM Central episode of Stossel will consider Earth Day Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity. Host John Stossel is scheduled to interview documentary film director Stephanie Soechtig about her film, Tapped. Stossel will have a chance to ask the directory about the many false and hysterical claims that…
City, Development, Free Markets, Government Spending, Laws/Regulations, Planning
A Bigger Walmart Proposed for Whitewater, Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS •
I wrote once about the Walmart, No. 1274, in Whitewater. (Walmart now uses a name without a hyphen in advertising. I’m guessing they consider it both simpler and more upscale than “Wal-Mart.”) I wrote about Walmart a while ago, and a lot has changed. Walmart now sells both beer and liquor, there’s no east side…
Laws/Regulations, Libertarians, Liberty
The Institute for Justice
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve added a link to my blogroll for the Institute for Justice, a civil liberties law firm. A tagline from their website tells their tale succinctly: “Litigating for Liberty.” Their motto, “We change the world, and have fun doing it,” tells how much they enjoy their work. If you’ve not visited their site, it’s surely…
City, Laws/Regulations, Libertarians
Could a Libertarian Run a Competitive Campaign Against President Obama? Yes.
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Rasmussen Reports, there’s a poll asking about a matchup in 2012 between President Obama and libertarian-oriented Ron Paul. The results aren’t surprising – there’s a considerable support for a libertarian-leaning candidate, even if people don’t always refer to support for free markets, individual liberty, and limited government by using the term libertarian. In…
Laws/Regulations, University
On Binge Drinking and UW-Stout’s Failing Prohibition
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve written before about regulation of drink specials in Whitewater, and there’s a video from Reason.tv that considers UW-Stout’s efforts to regulate excessive drinking. The University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Chancellor, Charles Sorenson, has made regulating drinking a top priority, and he’s won acclaim for his efforts. A closer look shows that regulation has simply driven the…
City, Law, Laws/Regulations
On Whitewater’s Spring Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
Wisconsin’s spring election was yesterday, and there were few surprises in the races that involved the City of Whitewater. Common Council. In Whitewater’s municipal election, both of the unopposed incumbents on the ballot were returned to office. The total votes for the at-large seat (Stewart) were in between the numbers for the winning and defeated…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations
Wisconsin Dairies and Immigrant Labor
by JOHN ADAMS •
Wisconsin’s automobile license plates proudly proclaim our state as America’s Dairyland. We are — ask people from all over the world about Wisconsin, and they’ll correctly tell you that we’re a powerhouse of dairy production. Rural Whitewater, Wisconsin has plenty of cows nearby (if not downtown, as some out-of-state readers sometimes ask). Some nearby dairy…
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
On the Medical Marijuana Debate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
by JOHN ADAMS •
Last Wednesday, on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus, there was a debate on a medical marijuana bill before the Wisconsin legislature. See, Assembly Bill 554. (There’s also a Senate companion bill.) The bill would make medical use of marijuana legal under specified and limited circumstances. I attended the debate, along with – by my imperfect…
Laws/Regulations
GazetteXtra.com: Wis. committee approves raw milk bill
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s an AP story today about the progress of a bill allowing raw milk sales in Wisconsin; Raw milk sales should never have been banned in America’s Dairyland, or anywhere else. Adults should be able to decide for themselves if they wish to drink raw milk. The bill still has significant restrictions, but at least…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Libertarians
Reason.tv: Reason Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey (Take Care of Business), Episode 4
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a discussion of how hard it can be to use one’s own money profitably to establish a business. In the video below, many business owners are even unwilling to discuss their frustrations on camera, from concern that spiteful bureaucrats will retaliate against them. Unfortunately, that’s a problem in many cities, including ones far smaller…
Free Markets, Government Spending, Laws/Regulations, Libertarians, Planning
Reason.tv – Reason Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey: Privatize It (Episode 3)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s episode three of the Reason.tv series on saving Cleveland, and by implication lots of other cities, too. In this episode, viewers see how government doesn’t manage produce markets or golf courses very well. Should cities be in the business of running businesses ranging from convention centers to farmers markets? Selling off golf courses, contracting…
Laws/Regulations, Libertarians, School District
Reason.tv: Reason Saves Cleveland With Drew Carey, Ep. 2 (Fix the Schools)
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve posted before on the Reason.tv series from Drew Carey, entitled, “Reason Saves Cleveland with Drew Carey.” Today, I’m posting Episode Two from that series, about the Cleveland public schools. I’ve not posted recently on our schools, and for that lack of attention, I’m surely culpable. (There are no column-inch limitations in cyberspace — there…