One of my principle objections to the whole Trump movement is its ill deserved label of conservative. Mr. Trump is the same 1990s big government Democrat he always has been, with the exception of his conversion on pro-life issues during his first term, where he can legitimately be described as the most pro-life president we’ve […]
Archives
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Home (Not) Alone: New York’s Airbnb Crackdown
18 Sep 2023
On September 5, New York City implemented a handful of new regulations targeting short term rentals. Most notably, those hoping to rent out their property must register with the city and be present on the premises during the rental period. This kills many Airbnbs and Vrbos where the owners are not always on the property […]
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Have you ever noticed how every consumer group and politician always claims to be acting on behalf of the consumer? And yet every action either reduces consumer choice or leads to higher prices (and usually both)? As just one recent example, there is a big push amongst progressives to ban gas stoves in homes for […]
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In the case of the Hollywood writers’ strike, who has the moral high ground? Many have seen the consistent refrain that Hollywood executives are taking advantage of poor, overworked writers via streaming culture changes and AI’s rise.* Hollywood studio executives are trying to cut costs to preserve profits in a new and changing environment for […]
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The Allure of Extraction
10 Jul 2023
From a legal and economic standpoint, I’m relieved the Supreme Court stood firm on executive power. However, a part of me is a bit disappointed that I won’t be receiving “free” money. I want to point out one of the economic problems with a large portion of government: extraction. Many policies are written to take […]
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Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
23 May 2023
I love watching a good movie or TV show. While not overly creative myself, I thoroughly enjoy taking in someone else’s work of art to gain a greater understanding of his or her perspective, and these two mediums are amongst my favorite. My wife would readily tell you that I often think deeply about the […]
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Whither conservatism?
17 Nov 2022
We’ve had an election, with conservatives disappointed at the lack of a wave, and are now in the middle of recriminations. Did the establishment Republicans spend too much money in Alaska and fail to pick up winnable seats? Did Mr. Trump selfishly hold on to funds he raised rather than help the outside candidates he […]
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Chile’s New Direction
26 Dec 2021
This year, Gabriel Boric won the Chilean Presidency by riding a populist wave of anti-market sentiment. Populism is a political tool not tied to any particular ideology, and it can drive people to very dangerous conclusions. In this case, Boric convinced Chile that the rich elites maintained power in his nation at the expense of […]
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Infinite Prices
06 Sep 2021
In light of the devastation caused by hurricane Ida in the Gulf of Mexico and up the US East coast, I think now is a good time to discuss a government policy that impedes disaster relief. Most states have laws on the books to prevent price gouging. Typically, the laws target charging prices in gross […]
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Don’t Tax Me! I’m Irish!
25 Jul 2021
The Biden administration seeks to form an international agreement to establish a global minimum corporate tax at 15%. According to CNN, 132 nations back the proposal, but some notable holdouts including Ireland, block the way. The EU needs to vote unanimously to pass the proposal, so as long Ireland opposes it, there’s no deal. Over […]
Bert Wheeler
Jeff Haymond
Marc Clauson
Mark Caleb Smith
Tom Mach