In a huge win for economic analysis triumphing over politics, the state department today released a report showing that the Keystone Pipeline will not increase environmental emissions of greenhouse gases over alternative production realities.  This is a big blow to the environmental lobby as it makes it more difficult for Mr. Obama not to approve […]

Just in time to support this weekend’s superhero activities, Russ Roberts and John Papola give us the Superhero anti-model.  Don’t be a Super Crony! Unfortunately, these characters are all too real…and increasing in strength seemingly by the day.

This is the gift that keeps on giving for blogging Bereans; Dr. Wheeler has ably commented in his post today on the minimum wage but no sooner did he publish it than I found a piece by Elizabeth Stocker making the “Christian” case for the minimum wage.  Please read her article and provide your response […]

In Tuesday’s State of the Union address President Obama made some bold statements about the relationship of the minimum wage and the reduction of poverty (emphasis added). But Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.  … And as a chief executive, I intend to […]

President Obama was at center stage of the American political drama last night, giving us his own conception of the state of our union. And, as we might have predicted, in his mind it is “strong.” Maybe this is the equivalent of the medieval tactic of beating swords upon shields to signify strength and to intimidate […]

Yesterday President Obama gave the annual State of the Union address to Congress.  We now know something of his agenda for the coming year. My colleague Dr. Smith has already discussed the president’s probable new way of governing, the executive order.  President Obama did indeed strongly imply he would “go around” Congress.  I would also […]

This winter, with it’s below average temperatures and above normal precipitation, has been great for “economic stimulus” if the Keynesian economic theory that almost everyone in the United States believes is correct. At least that’s been true in my household. Beginning in mid December, we’ve had a series of minor automobile mishaps that have created, […]

There is a minor flurry of activity on the internet surrounding President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union Address. Much of it surrounds the Administration’s “new” agenda that emphasizes executive action and White House leadership, as compared to the more restrained and legislatively bound presidency we have seen up to this point. At least, this is […]

Mr. Obama continues to focus on wealth inequality as the causal force driving lack of opportunity, and is expected to push to some degree in his SOTU speech.  As we discussed last month, Mr. Obama asserts this is “the defining challenge of our time.”  Notice the reason this is so important: it is a difficult […]

Always for the good of mankind, you see.  Milton Friedman used to note that there are always two groups pushing for a public policy:  the public front group which was supportive of a particular cause, and the private interest group that would benefit.  No one ever advocated for government benefits to enrich themselves, rather there […]