Free markets

Say no to special tax treatment, again
14
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Say no to special tax treatment, again

In Kansas, a company seeks to avoid paying property taxes, again. In a bill presented in the Kansas Legislature, the owner of health clubs seeks to avoid paying property taxes. The same company and its owner have tried this before. In 2014, I explained how granting this exemption was a bad idea. What has changed since then? This exemption is still a bad idea for reasons of public policy. Additionally, Brandon Steven, the owner of the health clubs, plead guilty to a gambling charge and forfeited one million dollars in earnings. The companies also owe a lot of the tax…
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From Pachyderm: Robert L. Bradley, Jr.
03
Nov
By Bob Weeks

From Pachyderm: Robert L. Bradley, Jr.

From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: Robert L. Bradley, Jr. He is CEO and Founder of Institute for Energy Research, visiting fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London, and an adjunct scholar at both the Cato Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. His topic at the Pachyderm Club was "The Contra-Capitalist Corporation (In Search of Heroic Capitalism)." This audio recording was made on November 2, 2018. The accompanying visual presentation may be viewed here. Shownotes Institute for Energy Research and on Facebook Books by Robert Bradley: Enron Ascending: The Forgotten Years, 1984-1996, Capitalism at Work, Edison to Enron: Energy…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Sedgwick County and Wichita issues
24
Aug
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Sedgwick County and Wichita issues

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: The end of a Sedgwick County Commission election, the Wichita Eagle editorializes on school spending and more taxes, and Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell seems misinformed on the Wichita economy. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 207, broadcast August 26, 2018. Shownotes The Wichita Eagle reports there will be a recount: Ranzau and Nicks commission race headed to a recount as Ranzau clings to narrow lead. The Wichita Eagle reports on the result of the recount: (cue sound of crickets) Article: Wichita school spending, according to the Wichita Eagle: A recent editorial…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education
05
Apr
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Lawrence W. Reed, President of Foundation for Economic Education, joins Bob and Karl to discuss the connection between liberty and character, our economic future, and I, Pencil. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 191, broadcast April 7, 2018. Shownotes Website: Foundation for Economic Education FEE on Twitter and Facebook Lawrence Reed Facebook page Lawrence Reed biography Book: Are We Good Enough for Liberty? Includes the essay I, Pencil. I, Pencil: The Movie
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Tom G. Palmer and the causes of wealth
22
Mar
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Tom G. Palmer and the causes of wealth

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Tom G. Palmer of Atlas Network joins Bob Weeks to explain why the usual approach to foreign aid isn’t working, and what Atlas Network is doing to change the lives of the poor across the world. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 189, broadcast March 24, 2018. Shownotes Video from Atlas Network: Locally Grown Solutions to Poverty Alleviation Atlas Network Tom Palmer on Twitter Tom Palmer on Facebook Website: Tom G. Palmer | Libertarian Author, Thinker, and Scholar
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WichitaLiberty.TV: After the Kansas tax increases
28
Jul
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: After the Kansas tax increases

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Jonathan Williams, chief economist at American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to discuss what ALEC does, and then topics specific to Kansas. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 159, broadcast July 30, 2017. Shownotes Link to American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Link to American City County Exchange (ACCE) Link to Rich States, Poor States Article: Lessons from Kansas: Cut Taxes while also Reducing Favoritism and Overspending
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WichitaLiberty.TV: The regulatory and administrative state
31
Mar
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: The regulatory and administrative state

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV. Fred L. Smith, Jr. is the founder of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He explains the problems with excessive regulation and a large administrative state. Episode 145, broadcast April 2, 2017. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Shownotes Competitive Enterprise Institute Fred Smith biography. Ten Thousand Commandments: An Annual Snapshot of the Federal Regulatory State CEI Center for Advancing Capitalism The Morality and Virtues of Capitalism and the Firm Toward a Thinker/Doer Alliance: A Grand Strategy for Liberty Advocates
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. James Otteson on capitalism
24
Feb
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. James Otteson on capitalism

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. James Otteson is executive director of the BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism, the Thomas W. Smith Presidential Chair in Business Ethics, and Professor of Economics at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was in Wichita to speak at the Bastiat Society and stopped by the WichitaLiberty.TV studios to discuss capitalism. Thank you to Raul Brito and the Bastiat Society for making him available. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 140, broadcast February 26, 2017. Shownotes James Otteson personal website James Otteson author page at Amazon BB&T…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Immunizations, spending and taxing in Kansas, and getting data from Wichita
12
Feb
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Immunizations, spending and taxing in Kansas, and getting data from Wichita

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Should Sedgwick County be in competition with the private sector? What are attitudes towards taxation and spending in Kansas? Finally, what is it like to request data from the City of Wichita? View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 138, broadcast February 12, 2017. Shownotes Kansans say no to more taxes. A statewide poll finds little support for raising taxes as a way to balance the Kansas budget. Analysis of proposed tax changes in Kansas. Proposed changes in the Kansas motor fuel tax and sales tax on groceries affects households in different…
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Sedgwick County economic freedom accountability index
06
Feb
By Bob Weeks

Sedgwick County economic freedom accountability index

A new initiative to provide residents of Sedgwick County with more information about their elected county commissioners. Indexes of voting behavior are common at the national and state levels. These indexes let voters examine how elected representatives have actually voted, rather than having to rely on their rhetoric and campaign promises. Indexes also provide a useful institutional memory. Based on my experience on producing the Kansas Economic Freedom Index for several years -- a service now provided by Kansas Policy Institute -- Sedgwick County will have such an index. It's a timely launch, as this week Sedgwick County commissioners will…
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