Economic freedom

Economic freedom means property rights are protected under an impartial rule of law, people are free to trade with others, both within and outside the country, there is a sound national currency, so that peoples’ money keeps its value, and government stays small, relative to the size of the economy.

09
Jul
By Bob Weeks

Kansas jobs creation numbers in perspective

This week the administration of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced job creation figures that, on the surface, sound like good news. But before we celebrate too much, we need to place the job numbers in context and look at the larger picture, specifically whether these economic development wins are good for the Kansas economy. The governor's office announced that since January 10th, almost exactly one-half year ago, the Brownback administration is taking credit for creating 3,163 jobs. These jobs, according to the governor's office, are in companies that are moving to Kansas or expanding their current operations. Some of the…
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29
Jun
By Bob Weeks

Economic freedom leads to better lives for all, says video

Economic freedom, in countries where it is allowed to thrive, leads to better lives for people as measured in a variety of ways. This is true for everyone, especially for poor people. This is the message presented in a short video based on the work of the Economic Freedom of the World report, which is a project of Canada's Fraser Institute. Last year Robert Lawson, one of the authors of the Economic Freedom of the World report, lectured in Wichita on this topic. The current video is made possible by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. One of the findings…
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23
Jun
By Bob Weeks

Greenwald and Sanders try to defend Social Security, slam Charles and David Koch

Are the free market critics of Social Security a shadowy "echo chamber" seeking to end the system for the benefit of the rich, or sounding a fact-based alarm that government and its supporters dispute and don't want you to hear? According to a short video by Robert Greenwald, it's the first choice. But examination of the claims made will lead us to the opposite conclusion, and you'll wonder why Greenwald has any credibility. The video features U.S. Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. He describes Social Security as a federal program that has been…
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22
Jun
By Bob Weeks

Rich States, Poor States released for 2011

For the most recent version of "Rich States, Poor States" see Rich States, Poor States 2012 edition released. This week the American Legislative Exchange Council released the fourth edition of Rich States, Poor States: The ALEC-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index. This is an important study by authors Arthur B. Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams that identifies states that use "best practices to enable states to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the standard of living for their citizens." Kansas Governor Sam Brownback provided the forward for this year's edition. In it, he wrote: "It is true that lowering taxes…
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06
Jun
By Bob Weeks

For Wichita, Save-A-Lot teaches a lesson

The announcement that a Save-A-Lot grocery store will proceed -- contrary to the claims of developers and city staff who rely on their information -- should provide a lesson that yes, economic development in Wichita can and will happen without public assistance. Additionally, examination of the public hearing for this matter before the Wichita City Council last September should teach us to be very cautious in relying on the claims of people who have a huge economic stake in obtaining public assistance. At a city council public hearing on both the Community Improvement District and Tax Increment financing district last…
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24
May
By Bob Weeks

Pickens criticism illustrates divide between free markets and intervention

Last week's criticism by energy investor T. Boone Pickens of U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo, a Wichita Republican serving his first term, continues to illustrate the difference between those who believe in economic freedom and free markets, and those -- like Pickens -- who invest in politicians, bureaucrats, and the hope of a government subsidy. Pickens is pushing H.R. 1380: New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011, or NAT GAS act. The bill provides a variety of subsidies, implemented through tax credits, to producers and users of natural gas. The goal is to promote the use of natural…
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19
May
By Bob Weeks

Charles Koch: Advancing economic freedom

In recent years Charles Koch and his brother David Koch have emerged as prominent defenders of economic freedom and the freedom and prosperity it promises. In today's Wichita Eagle, Charles Koch explains the importance of economic freedom and warns of the threats to freedom and prosperity that our country faces. A key component of economic freedom is property rights. In his 2007 book The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company, Mr. Koch explained the importance of property rights: "Countries that clearly define and protect individual private property rights stimulate investment and grow. Those that…
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09
May
By Bob Weeks

Stossel: Follow-up to ‘Freeloaders’

Earlier this year John Stossel had an hour-long special show that focused on freeloaders. The show is now available on the free hulu service by clicking on Stossel: Freeloaders. This week Stossel's show had some of the people he criticized on the show making appearances to defend themselves. One of the most notable segments was about Al Pires, an attorney who helped black farmers (and other minorities) receive payments for alleged discrimination at the hands of government loan programs. Stossel and others uncovered evidence that thousands of people who simply said they were farmers got payments, too. Having flowers in…
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29
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Friday April 29, 2011

George Soros: Not just sinister; also stupid. Thomas E. Woods, Jr. gives us another reason to ignore George Soros. Commenting upon an article in which Soros placed Friedrich Hayek in the "Chicago school" of economists, Woods wrote: "If you think Hayek was a member of the Chicago School, you are not entitled to an opinion on matters of economic thought, period. Hayek was of course an Austrian [economist]. The Austrians are not the same as the Chicago economists, differing in method, capital theory, monopoly theory, monetary theory, policy implications, and quite a bit more. ... That is a freshman mistake,…
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13
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Center for American Progress starts ideologically driven news organization

A common criticism of anyone taking a conservative political position is that they should stop getting all their information from Fox News. Criticism like that works both ways, however, especially now that the Center for American Progress Action Fund, according to Politico, is "ramping up an in-house full-fledged, ideologically driven news organization aimed in part at tripping up Republican candidates on the ground in the early presidential contests." In the coming weeks the ThinkProgress blog will be relaunched as this news organization. Some key points: There are ambitious goals: "The newsroom side is absolutely competing with all the leading news…
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