We don’t handle risk very well
Do two fatalities a year from toboganning mean that we need a law requiring helmet use for all toboggan riders? That’s the question asked in Canada, by Andrew Coyne. According to a report in Tuesday’s National Post, “tobogganing accidents have killed at least seven people in Canada since 2003.” That’s seven people — make it eight if you like — in four years. Two per year. […]
A choice for rural legislators: Enact school choice for urban schools or pay for their clean-up
There’s a plan being floated in Missouri to establish tax credits for companies that provide grants to scholarship organizations that would, in turn, help students attend privately run schools. A similar measure has been operating in Arizona and Pennsylvania for a while, but its prospects in Missouri are not strong. What’s interesting about this scenario is how the proposal might pass after all. From the […]
Warning signs for stupid people
You’ve heard, and perhaps seen, enough silly warning labels. You know, the tag on the curling iron that reads “For external use only.” That sort of stuff. Blame it on our overlawyered society. I took a photo of another silly warning label I saw in the open bow of the S.S. Badger, a Ludington-to-Manitowoc passenger service ship. (That’s Michigan to Wisconsin, for those unfamiliar with […]
Minimum Wage Hike: Least of Worries to Small Business
Fortune Small Business says that a $1 an hour increase in the national minimum wage is in the works. Surprisingly, business groups don’t seem that upset at the idea. Why? They’re dealing with even greater increases in costs for employee health insurance premiums for several years running. The final paragraph of the story illustrates how political posturing undermines the alleged rationale for policy changes: Even proponents […]
A Win for Property Owners and the Constitution
On Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned its 1981 Poletown decision. So what does that mean? Plenty. It means that some sanity has been restored to legal doctrine and economic development practices. Under the principle of eminent domain, government is able to seize private property (and give some compensation to the owner) if it is for the public good. Traditionally that has meant roads or […]
Anti-Unions Challenge NEA
While the National Association of Education is the 800-pound gorilla of k-12 education, it’s being challenged by organizations that appeal to teachers looking for an alternative to the trade union model. According to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal (“Rise of Nonunion Groups Costs NEA Membership and Clout”), a number of teachers have decided to bypass the nation’s largest teachers union. While the NEA still […]
Michigan Extends Ski Hill Contract to 15 Years
While it’s a problem when government does things the wrong way, a more serious situation arises when government tries to do things it shouldn’t. One thing it shouldn’t be doing is operate recreational activities, especially when private businesses provide the same service. The most common example is the municipal golf course. A more obscure example is a state-owned and run ski hill in the far […]