Advocates of placing more and more of our incomes and lives under the control of government sometimes say that those of us who favor cutting down the size and burden of government are selfish. By contrast, proposing a significant role for government is a sign of altruism and charity. In this Christmas season, it’s important to remember just what “charity” is. Charity is when you […]
John LaPlante
About John LaPlante
Posts by John LaPlante:
Our Healthcare future: Affordability and access or regulation and rationing
In Minnesota as well as in Washington, DC, there’s a push for a government takeover of health care. People who value freedom are right to warn of the horrors of single-payer systems in Britain, Canada and elsewhere. But they should also offer a positive prescription for change. One prescription is the Cato Handbook for Policymakers, available at the Cato web site (www.cato.org). While the handbook […]
Whose Children Are They?
Recently a member of the Minnesota Legislature–I forget who, and it’s not really important–asserted that the state needs a booster-seat law. It’s “to protect our children,” you see. The Star-Tribune editorialized that substituting political judgment for parental judgment is “a small price to pay to protect our kids.” Excuse me, but whose kids are we talking about? One of my favorite comedy sketches of all […]
Who does government really–and inevitably–work for?
A while ago,I attended a panel discussion on the life of John Brandl, held at the University of Minnesota and cosponsored by the Minnesota Free Market Institute. Among the several points I could mention from that 90-minute event, I’ll stick with one. During the discussion, one of the panelists said something like this: “We need to make government works for the people who need it […]
Once a subsidy, always a subsidy
Here’s something from the “once you start a subsidy, there’s no end” department: In 1973, the Minnesota Legislature created the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority. With its views of Saint Louis Bay and trails that are longer than just about anywhere in the Midwest outside of Lutsen, Minnesota, it’s a fine place to go skiing or snowboarding. But it’s also an example of the dubious […]
Tweedledee, Tweedledum? Will Coleman support UAW bailout?
Congress is taking another step towards the nationalization of the American economy as it considers bailing out the United Auto Workers and the U.S.-based automakers. Guess who may be on board? Sen. Norm Coleman, the hope of … Republicans. According to Minnesota Public Radio and the Business Journal, Coleman–who would allegedly be part of the 40-senator filibuster firewall against far-left legislation coming out of the “world’s greatest […]
Cato Institute gives Pawlenty a “B”
The Cato Institute has come out with its biennial report card on the fiscal performance of the nation’s governors. Gov. Tim Pawlenty earned a “B.” Chris Edwards, the institute’s director of tax-policy studies, noted that Pawlenty ran on a no-new-taxes pledge, but “his tax record in office is more mixed than that.” Edwards cites: $200 million in cigarette tax increases (“fee,” my, uhm butt) $109 million […]
Federalism for life
While King Banaian offered up a review of the economic scholarship on economic growth and tax rates, my first response to the “Minnesotans aren’t paying enough in taxes” report was more philosophical. Just because you can afford to buy more government, is it the right thing to do? A healthy society has checks and balances among various institutions, just as it has checks and balances within […]
Federalism for life
Just because you can afford to buy more government, is it the right thing to do? A healthy society has checks and balances among various institutions, just as it has checks and balances within government. I call it “federalism for life.” Religious organizations and houses of worship provide spiritual and moral guidance and instruction. Businesses large and small provide goods, services and employment through buying […]
Sports follies in Minnesota
So how’s that new Twins stadium going to benefit the economy? It won’t. Instead, it’s going to be another transfer of wealth from some people to others. Just what government does the best. Click over to Manktao-based Marketpowerblog.com for a quick review of the empty promises of stadium boosters. There are only two words that you need to understand this edific complex:rent seeking, which “starts with […]