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Laws/Regulations

F.L.O.S.S: Protecting You from Low-Cost Teeth-Whitening Services

It’s not health, but favoring some businesses over others (and over consumers) that’s the concern of Connecticut’s regulators: Here’s the description of the Institute for Justice’s video: Teeth-whitening services are popular and increasingly available at spas, salons and shopping malls. This has been a boon for consumers because these businesses offer whitening services at a…

Idaho legitimizes small-scale raw-milk producers

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…

The War on Immigrants

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.”…

Good Riddance, Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce

I see that Russell Pearce, the Arizona Senate president who authored that state’s harsh immigration law, met defeat in Tuesday’s recall from another Republican. Although the other candidate, school-executive Jerry Lewis, shares some of the same views, Pearce’s defeat is still a good day for Arizona and America. See, Arizona recall: Why Russell Pearce lost.…

How Anti-Dumping Laws are Bad for American Jobs

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…

Regulating Over Prohibiting Marijuana

From last Monday’s national Libertarian Party message, there’s a proposal to regulate marijuana like wine. Whether it’s regulated like wine or more strictly, the trend against outright prohibition is unmistakable. See, Gallup Reports Record Number in Favor of Legalizing Marijuana Use. Of those who favor a complete prohibition, two things may be said: they often…

Reason’s Nanny of the Month for October 2011

It’s an international edition this month, and the winner is the European Union, as that vast bureaucracy has regulated children’s activities from “baby rattlers (which have brand-new noise restrictions) to blowing up balloons (not to be done by tots under age eight!).”

Visit to a Truck-Food Paradise

I was recently in a spot that had a long row of food trucks, offering traditional fare from around the world. There were a half-dozen trucks, and I’m told that often there are many more. Patrons were in line at each of them, people from every walk of life. A diverse selection, for a diverse…