British Petroleum’s disastrous oil spill in the gulf reflects a combination of problems from human laxity and mistakes by BP-hired workers and government agencies to systemic U.S. government problems related to regulatory agencies in general. In this regard, the oil … Continue reading →
Reacting to the arrest of the Times Square bomber suspect Faisal Shahzad, a bi-partisan group of lawmakers in Washington have introduced the Terrorist Expatriation Act (TEA). This act, which would strip US citizenship from people suspected of terrorism, was introduced … Continue reading →
Idealism vs. Realism My mother used to have a saying posted on the bulletin board in her kitchen. It went something like the following, “If you are not an idealist at age 20 you are not normal. If you are … Continue reading →
Many Agencies are Failing or Counterproductive Regulatory agencies have the well-intended purpose of regulating industries that may create risks to the public. This is an extension of the idea that the role of government is to protect the citizens and … Continue reading →
The recent idea of President Obama and Democrats about adding a VAT (Value Added Tax) to help pay for health care is serious mistake. It will cause more job loss and end up generating less tax revenue than projected. Why? … Continue reading →
In 2008 and 2009 the United States encountered an economic crisis brought about by corporations “too big to fail” and government guarantees that encouraged corruption in the financial markets and banking industry. Both the Bush and Obama administrations bought the … Continue reading →
If you want a glimpse of what you can expect from total government health care, you can look at public housing. I visited a hospital in Poland in 1990 that was in worse shape than this housing project on the … Continue reading →
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. —U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 9 The Founding Fathers had it right. They knew that direct taxes … Continue reading →
Battling Bureaucracy and Holding Government Agencies Accountable Introduction to the Topic for the Annual Minnesota LEA Meeting, Feb. 11, 2010 Government agencies can be a useful tool to carry out the will of the people. They can manage water, sewers, … Continue reading →
The Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“SIGTARP”) seems as frustrated with TARP as middle-class Americans. It’s recently released its Quarterly Report to Congress has concluded: Even if TARP saved our financial system from … Continue reading →
