I’ve written before about how hard it is buy drink raw milk, for example, in a dairy state. People are, and should always be free, to advocate for one kind of food, or diet, over another. What, though, about the insistence that people must eat a certain way, and the use of government power to…
Liberty
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Politics
Institute for Justice: Protecting Grassroots Activism
by JOHN ADAMS •
Freedom of speech and assembly are rights the United States Constitution, and the Wisconsin Constitution, readily recognize. Activism — persuading someone to a cause — should be free in a free society. Better put, we could not be a free society if conditions were otherwise. And yet, that simple truth runs against the schemes of…
Libertarians, Liberty
Bob Barr’s Keynote Address to the 2010 Libertarian National Convention
by JOHN ADAMS •
2008 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr spoke to this weekend’s 2010 LP Convention. He posted his address online at his website. Here are excerpts from his address: Keynote Address Before The National Convention of the Libertarian Party Delivered By Bob Barr, 2008 Libertarian Party Nominee for President of the United States At St. Louis,…
Free Markets, Liberty
“Tracy Foster is Free Enterprise”
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are many inspirational videos available online, but few more so than one of the entries to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “I am Free Enterprise” video contest. A video about small-business owner Tracy Foster, who makes a line of stylish camera bags, is now a finalist in the Chamber’s contest. (I wrote about the…
Liberty
The Inconsistent Defense of Liberties, of those Private and Public
by JOHN ADAMS •
Writing for his syndicated column, Jacob Sullum observes “The Gray Lady’s Inconsistent Defense of the First Amendment”. He’s right: the New York Times shows a bias for speech rights of liberal-leaning causes, but far less sympathy for speech rights in conservative causes. (Sullum: “The distinctions drawn by the Times are therefore hard to justify on…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Government’s Overreach: Trying to Learn What You Read
by JOHN ADAMS •
Government officials often act as more than representatives of their people — they pursue an interest apart from their people, an often intrusive one into the lives of private citizens. In North Carolina, online retailer Amazon has filed a lawsuit to prevent block a North Carolina Department of Revenue request for individually identifiable information on…
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Reason’s Nanny of the Month: Flag Banning at the North Carolina State Capitol Building
by JOHN ADAMS •
Free Markets, Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
CNN: Rights Groups Say They Will Challenge New Arizona Immigration Law
by JOHN ADAMS •
A legal challenge is right and inevitable: Arizona’s law will lead to abuse of citizens and non-citizens, and will inhibit a free market in labor, making Arizonans poorer and life there harsher. The law is destined for failure and obloquy, as were the restrictive efforts in California under Gov. Pete Wilson years ago. (That’s something…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
A Proper American Response
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Washington Post, columnist Michael Gerson summarizes nicely what’s wrong with Arizona’s anti-immigration law: This law creates a suspect class, based in part on ethnicity, considered guilty until they prove themselves innocent. It makes it harder for illegal immigrants to live without scrutiny — but it also makes it harder for some American…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Cosmetology Nannies, Part 2: Expensive Courses for Eyebrow Threading
by JOHN ADAMS •
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…
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…
Government Spending, Libertarians, Liberty
Libertarian Beliefs and Expectations
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Reason’s Hit and Run, Radley Balko offers a concise explanation of the difference between wanting government to fail, and expecting that it will: I don’t promote government failure, I expect it. And my expectations are met fairly often. What I promote is the idea that more people share my expectations, so fewer people…
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…
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…