Socialism is something that should only be wished on one’s enemies. For years, Venezuelans have voted for overt socialists. It all seemed great at first. “Free” health care, education, food, shelter, clothing, etc. The government ‘paid’ for everything with abundant oil. But now oil prices have hit rock bottom and the Venezuelan government owes its …
April 2016 archive
Apr 15
California’s 1 percent pay 45 percent of all State income taxes
For decades, the legislature of California has pushed the envelope toward socialism, high taxes and overregulation. Now the Sacramento Bee has conducted a study of the State’s tax burden. The newspaper found that forty-five percent of the state’s income tax money comes from the top 1 percent of filers – those with adjusted gross income …
Apr 14
Minnesota cities claim to be able to search rental apartments without warrant to ensure good housekeeping
Astounding story from the Institute for Justice. Government control freaks in Golden Valley, Minnesota claim they have the right to search any rental apartment in order to ensure the apartment is clean and tidy. Golden Valley and other Minnesota towns seek evidence-free “administrative” warrants to search rental homes. The Institute for Justice is challenging the …
Apr 14
Medicare Part D was sold with claims it would cost $400 billion; Estimates were immediately raised to $534 billion after passage
If government programs were subjected to the same fraud and unfair-trade-practices standards that prevail in the private sector, many politicians and government bureaucrats would be serving lengthy prison sentences. Martin L. Gross reminds us that the congressional Republicans who pushed for Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefits for all Medicare recipients) in 2003 spread fundamental …
Apr 12
Grasping for Money, Connecticut legislators push to tax Yale University’s profits
One of the greatest myths of contemporary higher education involves the designation of a college as ‘for-profit’ or ‘nonprofit.’ Haters of markets tend to loathe for-profit colleges such as the University of Phoenix. Of course, the University of Phoenix contributes many thousands of dollars in taxes annually, while ‘nonprofit’ colleges like Montana State University pay …
Apr 12
CLIMATE SKEPTIC GLACIER ADVENTURE WEEKEND!
Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22, 2016 Did you know that there are hundreds of glaciers and permanent snowfields in Park County, Montana? Lysander Spooner University announces a research effort aimed at annually assessing the size and vitality of Park County’s glaciers. Join us on Saturday, May 21, 2016 for a field trip and hike into the Crazy …
Apr 11
Yet another government-funded professor demands climate skeptics be punished
Yet another government-employed professor has publicly demanded that those who doubt the government’s climate theories be punished. See here. Professor Michael E. Kraft is a political science professor at University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Kraft even suggests that the prosecution of think tanks and skeptical writers “might be a tougher sell, given rights to free speech, …
Apr 09
Major pro-government newspapers are dying. And even their online editions are losing readers
As the digital age dawned on the newspaper industry a decade ago, most of the major U.S. and western newspapers recognized that they should create online editions to capture readers who abandon print newspapers. But it turns out that content is more important than forum. Newspapers are dying; and so are the online editions! See …
Apr 09
As Socialist Venezuela Collapses, its Government Demands Women Conserve Electricity by not Using Hairdryers
Socialism is a curse that should be wished on one’s enemies. All societies who embrace it will ultimately become sick and weak. Venezuela is an oil-rich country, but has been saddled with central planning and socialism for decades. Now the country is so short of electricity that its rulers are demanding that women stop using …