Commentary
Commentary
The Massachusetts health care mess is coming soon to the rest of America
Devotees of big government, like Archimedes, believe that if they have a long lever and a place to stand, they can move the world. In 2006, a bipartisan band of such politicians in Massachusetts immersed themselves in wishful thinking, ignored both hard facts and proven theory, and used their political ...
Business & Economics
‘Tort threat’ is a tri-state jobs-killer
New Jersey and New York are the worst states in America when it comes to the “tort threat” — the bur den imposed by personal-injury lawsuits and related litigation. And Connecticut’s not far behind. Tri-state lawmakers looking for economic stimulus ought to take another look at tort reform. The US ...
Business & Economics
Will California’s ‘Top Two’ Primary Work?
California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which replaces traditional partisan primaries in state and Congressional races. Starting in 2011, candidates for an office would be on a single ballot, regardless of political affiliation, and the top two vote-getters (even if from the same party) would advance to the general ...
Business & Economics
Drowning In A VAT Of Taxes
The debate over a national sales tax, or valued-added tax, to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems has intensified as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should be clarified–if ...
Business & Economics
Casino Jack versus Casino Government
Casino Jack versus Casino Government By Julie Kaszton, policy fellow, Economics and Environment Casino Jack and the United States of Money, which delves into the most egregious lobbying scandal in decades, is playing to California audiences. The Magnolia Pictures documentary depicts Jack Abramoff as a deceptive super-lobbyist with powerful connections ...
Charter Schools
N.Y. Times misses the real lesson of charter schools
A recent lengthy New York Times article on charter schools, which are deregulated publicly funded schools of choice, came to the conclusion that the record of these schools was mixed, with some charters doing better than regular public schools, while others perform about the same or worse. That’s no surprise ...
Business & Economics
Seriously folks, these folks aren’t
Sacramento – The Australian radio announcer interviewing me last week about the dreadful state of California’s budget and economy wanted to know what she would find if she landed at LAX and drove around the state. It’s not like “Blade Runner,” director Ridley Scott’s 1982 film depicting a dystopian future ...
Business & Economics
TN tax structure helps, but state, cities spend too much
As the bad memory of April 15 fades, my fellow Tennesseans may be curious to know how our state compares to others in terms of taxes. The good news centers on the methods state and local governments take to extract revenue. Here, at least, we fare quite well compared to ...
Business & Economics
A dishonest debate on VAT
The debate over a national sales tax, or value-added tax (VAT), to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems is becoming fiercer as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately, the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should ...
California
Cops Bust Hamburglar!
By John R. Graham, director of Health Care Studies Santa Clara County, California: Sheriff’s deputies raid a fast-food restaurant, line up a dozen workers against the wall, and block the doors. The manager nervously tries to assure that everything is in order, but one of the deputies catches a glimpse ...
The Massachusetts health care mess is coming soon to the rest of America
Devotees of big government, like Archimedes, believe that if they have a long lever and a place to stand, they can move the world. In 2006, a bipartisan band of such politicians in Massachusetts immersed themselves in wishful thinking, ignored both hard facts and proven theory, and used their political ...
‘Tort threat’ is a tri-state jobs-killer
New Jersey and New York are the worst states in America when it comes to the “tort threat” — the bur den imposed by personal-injury lawsuits and related litigation. And Connecticut’s not far behind. Tri-state lawmakers looking for economic stimulus ought to take another look at tort reform. The US ...
Will California’s ‘Top Two’ Primary Work?
California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which replaces traditional partisan primaries in state and Congressional races. Starting in 2011, candidates for an office would be on a single ballot, regardless of political affiliation, and the top two vote-getters (even if from the same party) would advance to the general ...
Drowning In A VAT Of Taxes
The debate over a national sales tax, or valued-added tax, to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems has intensified as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should be clarified–if ...
Casino Jack versus Casino Government
Casino Jack versus Casino Government By Julie Kaszton, policy fellow, Economics and Environment Casino Jack and the United States of Money, which delves into the most egregious lobbying scandal in decades, is playing to California audiences. The Magnolia Pictures documentary depicts Jack Abramoff as a deceptive super-lobbyist with powerful connections ...
N.Y. Times misses the real lesson of charter schools
A recent lengthy New York Times article on charter schools, which are deregulated publicly funded schools of choice, came to the conclusion that the record of these schools was mixed, with some charters doing better than regular public schools, while others perform about the same or worse. That’s no surprise ...
Seriously folks, these folks aren’t
Sacramento – The Australian radio announcer interviewing me last week about the dreadful state of California’s budget and economy wanted to know what she would find if she landed at LAX and drove around the state. It’s not like “Blade Runner,” director Ridley Scott’s 1982 film depicting a dystopian future ...
TN tax structure helps, but state, cities spend too much
As the bad memory of April 15 fades, my fellow Tennesseans may be curious to know how our state compares to others in terms of taxes. The good news centers on the methods state and local governments take to extract revenue. Here, at least, we fare quite well compared to ...
A dishonest debate on VAT
The debate over a national sales tax, or value-added tax (VAT), to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems is becoming fiercer as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately, the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should ...
Cops Bust Hamburglar!
By John R. Graham, director of Health Care Studies Santa Clara County, California: Sheriff’s deputies raid a fast-food restaurant, line up a dozen workers against the wall, and block the doors. The manager nervously tries to assure that everything is in order, but one of the deputies catches a glimpse ...
