Tag: Interventionism
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The danger of auto industry nationalization
In consideration for a bailout, Congress and the incoming Obama administration insist that the auto industry present a plan for survival of their companies. That sounds reasonable — until you consider that the auto companies must already be operating on a plan, and that plan isn’t working. How can they be expected to come up…
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Wichita Chamber of Commerce values
Here’s a message that Bryan Derreberry, president of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce, sent to Chamber members. Note that this message doesn’t mention the role its political action committee played in the third Sedgwick County Commission district. In that race, the PAC spent some $19,000 of its $48,000 in an effort to elect Goddard…
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End Taxpayer-Funded Competition Between the States
A Wichita Eagle story (Development speaker touts power of cash) reports on an economic incentive expert’s evaluation of our state’s effort. (It’s revealing to learn that an accounting firm has someone with the title “regional leader of credits and incentives,” whose duty, evidently, it is to help companies figure out which state’s incentives are most…
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Joe Scarborough: Please Stop Saying Laissez-faire
I’m listening to Joe Scarborough on MSNBC, and he says: “Laissez-faire capitalism is a wonderful thing except in this case …” I’ve heard stuff like this over and over the past few months: A politician says “I’m a big free-market guy, but …” What’s sad to realize is that these people think that what we…
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Bailouts National and Local
A post at the Wichita Eagle Editorial blog titled Either way, taxpayers will pay for failing GM illustrates how when government and business become highly intertwined, a self-sustaining behemoth is created that can’t be slain. We say an example of this locally this year in Wichita, when a taxpayer subsidy to a development turned out…
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Problems with Wichita’s Economic Forecasts
On October 7, 2008, the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University released a glowing economic forecast for the near future in Wichita. Events immediately following the release of this report, however, illustrate just how hard it is to forecast economic conditions. When policymakers rely on these reports, bad decisions are…
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Why Austrian Economics Matters More Than Ever
Here’s a talk recently delivered by Lew Rockwell, president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute. This organization remains the best place to learn about why our economy is in such trouble. The full speech can be read at Why Austrian Economics Matters More Than Ever. An excerpt: I report on this not so that we…
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The Myth that Laissez Faire Is Responsible for Our Present Crisis
Professor George Reisman contributes the excellent (and lengthy) article The Myth that Laissez Faire Is Responsible for Our Present Crisis. I’ve had the distinct honor of attending a number of Professor Reisman’s lectures at the Ludwig von Mises Institute, and I’m slowly working my way through his monumental book Capitalism: A Treatise on Economics. Here’s…
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Beyond Bailouts Is Recommended
I recommend BeyondBailouts.org as a place to learn about the current situation in our financial markets. From their site: BeyondBailouts.org is a joint venture of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). The purpose of the website is to educate about government?s role in our current financial difficulties, suggest reforms that address…
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Firms that made wrong decisions should fail
So says Anna Schwartz. She co-authored, with Milton Friedman, A Monetary History of the United States. She has insight into what’s going on right now. Read the Wall Street Journal’s Weekend interview Bernanke Is Fighting the Last War.
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John Stossel’s Politically Incorrect Guide to Politics
Be sure to view all four parts. It’s very good. Click here for part one.
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1,000 to Protest Attack on Free-Market Principles at U.S. Capitol
I am one of these people! Amidst Market Unrest, Americans for Prosperity Gathers Citizens to Protest Big-Government Power Grab WASHINGTON ? About 1,000 citizens will gather in front of the U.S. Capitol on Friday to participate in a free-market call to arms by the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Amidst market uncertainty, and just…