Role of government Archives - Page 2 of 11 Voice For Liberty

What is the record of economic development incentives?

30

May

What is the record of economic development incentives?

On the three major questions -- Do economic development incentives create new jobs? Are those jobs taken by targeted populations in targeted places? Are incentives, at worst, only moderately revenue negative? -- traditional economic development incentives do not fare well. Judging the effectiveness of economic development incentives requires looking for the unseen effects as well as what is easily seen. It's easy to see the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies that commemorate government intervention -- politicians and bureaucrats are drawn to them, and will spend taxpayer funds to make sure you're aware. It's more difficult to see that the harm…

23

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Franklin Roosevelt, contributor to modern nanny state

If you've wondered what was the genesis of the modern nanny state, listen to this speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It's part of his State of the Union Address from 1944. The purpose of the original Bill of Rights is to protect our freedoms from government. But to provide the things Roosevelt calls for -- food, clothing, a decent home, adequate medical care, and a good education -- requires an expansive government. These rights are called positive rights because they require action by the government, in contrast to the negative rights found in the Bill of Rights. Richard A. Epstein…

21

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Do economic development incentives work?

Judging the effectiveness of economic development incentives requires looking for the unseen effects as well as what is easily seen. It's easy to see the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies that commemorate government intervention -- politicians and bureaucrats are drawn to them, and will spend taxpayer funds to make sure you're aware. It's more difficult to see that the harm that government intervention causes. That's assuming that the incentives even work as advertised in the first place. Alan Peters and Peter Fisher, in their paper titled The Failures of Economic Development Incentives published in Journal of the American Planning Association,…

30

Jul

By Bob Weeks

The real free lunch: Markets and private property

As we approach another birthday of Milton Friedman, here's his article where he clears up the authorship of a famous aphorism, and explains how to really get a free lunch. Based on remarks at the banquet celebrating the opening of the Cato Institute’s new building, Washington, May 1993. I am delighted to be here on the occasion of the opening of the Cato headquarters. It is a beautiful building and a real tribute to the intellectual influence of Ed Crane and his associates. I have sometimes been associated with the aphorism “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” which…

13

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Round table: Role of government in society

In this episode of Kansas Living, Rick Laurino hosts a round table discussion with Kansas representatives Ed Trimmer, Marc Rhoades, and Bob Weeks of WichitaLiberty.org about the role of government in society. View the second part next weekend.

09

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Pompeo: Systems are needed, and risk of abuse is low

Recently U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo of Wichita appeared on Stossel to defend the programs the National Security Agency uses to gather data on Americans and others. I wondered about these questions: If it's true that the information leaked by Edward Snowden has harmed the security of the United States, how is it that this was able to happen? Aren't there many thousands of people with knowledge and information similar to, or greater than, what Snowden had access to? Is the security of our country dependent on all of them keeping their secrets? In a telephone conversation, Pompeo told me there…

22

May

By Bob Weeks

Do economic development incentives work?

Judging the effectiveness of economic development incentives requires looking for the unseen effects as well as what is easily seen. It's easy to see the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies that commemorate government intervention -- politicians and bureaucrats are drawn to them, and will spend taxpayer funds to make sure you're aware. It's more difficult to see that the harm that government intervention causes. That's assuming that the incentives even work as advertised in the first place. Alan Peters and Peter Fisher, in their paper titled The Failures of Economic Development Incentives published in Journal of the American Planning Association,…

13

May

By Bob Weeks

Without government, there would be no change: Wichita Mayor

It's worse than President Obama saying "You didn't build that." Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer tells us you can't build that -- not without government guidance and intervention, anyway. When President Barack Obama told business owners "You didn't build that," it set off a bit of a revolt. Those who worked hard to build businesses didn't like to hear the president dismiss their efforts. Underlying this episode is a serious question: What should be the role of government in the economy? Should government's role be strictly limited, according to the Constitution? Or should government take an activist role in managing, regulating,…

31

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Kansans’ views on role of government

Kansas Policy Institute has released the results of a public opinion poll asking Kansans for their views on some issues that are currently in the news. Following is KPI's press release: Kansans' Views on the Role of Government K-12 funding should be based on efficient use of taxpayer funds; narrow opposition to judicial reform; overwhelming support for "paycheck protection" Wichita -- A new statewide public opinion survey shows strong support for having K-12 funding decisions based on efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds. This is especially noteworthy in light of the fact that no study has ever been conducted…

21

Oct

By Bob Weeks

A second Bill of Rights, by Franklin Roosevelt

If we wonder what was the genesis of the modern nanny state, listen to this speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It's part of his State of the Union Address from 1944. The purpose of the original Bill of Rights is to protect our freedoms from government. But to provide the things Roosevelt calls for -- food, clothing, a decent home, adequate medical care, and a good education -- requires an expansive government. These rights are called positive rights because they require action by the government, in contrast to the negative rights found in the Bill of Rights. Richard A. Epstein…