Andrew Coulson draws a contrast between private business and the public sector: “So there I was, checking e-mail this morning on my JooJoo when I came across this editorial about how the private sector lacks accountability unless the government provides it through regulation! This naturally caused me to expectorate New Coke all over over myself and my Apple III, forcing me to toss my Levi’s […]
Michigan View
At least Rep. Upton is not Rep. Waxman
Walter Olson provides a quick roundup of nonsensical and costly regulations that won’t be coming out of this Congress, thanks to the fact that Michigan’s Fred Upton now wields the gavel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “I look forward to learning more about the plans of Rep. Upton and his new majority colleagues,” says Olson. “For today, however, it’s enough just to know […]
Does Michigan have an official color?
Here’s some obvious advice about what Michigan lawmakers shouldn’t do this session: designate an official color. Yes, color. The legislature in New Hampshire, which generally has some decent laws, will consider whether to designate purple as the official state color. http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/watercooler/index.php?blogid=1391
The green dream: Go-karts for all
As Henry Payne has pointed out, “light trucks roared back to a majority of vehicle sales.” I’ve been part of that “roar,” and it feels good. If you want to understand the value of light trucks (I’m guessing this category includes SUVs and minivans, right?), spend a while driving with a small child in tow. I have two vehicles, and the contrast in ease of use […]
Law enforcement is a scarce resource; use it wisely
I’m glad to see that I have stirred up some dissension in this forum with my post on drunk-driving laws. Props to Dan Calabrese for giving the Randy Balko article I linked to a more complete summary than I did. Since I’m not a staunch libertarian, it’s easy for me to admit that some libertarians can veer off into libertopia. Then again, it’s useful to consider bizarre […]
Should we abolish drunk-driving laws?
The problem with government isn’t just that we have too many laws, but that the ones we have often don’t work. In 2000, two-thirds of all alcohol-related traffic deaths involved a driver with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.14 or higher. The legal limit was 0.10. So did Congress, in its wisdom, do anything to encourage states to crack down on drivers who the […]
The daily grope: Airports consider private security firms
According to the Washington Post, officials at some airports are considering ditching the TSA: “For airports, the change isn’t about money. At issue, airport managers and security experts say, is the unwieldy size and bureaucracy of the federal aviation security system. Private firms may be able to do the job more efficiently and with a personal touch, they argue.” Some airports, such as San Francisco International, […]
The daily grope: Current “security” scheme hinders economic growth
A new survey of public opinion on the “security theater” conducted by the TSA delivers some interesting findings: 1. More people are offended by having to remove their shoes at security checkpoints than being groped. Really? 2. Asked to describe the security regime, people said, “inconsistent,” “stressful,” and “embarrassing.” 3. When people are discouraged from traveling, the economy suffers–perhaps at the rate of 888,000 jobs and […]
The daily grope: Pilot in trouble for making video
An airline pilot publishes a video in which he says, “airport security is kind of a farce. It’s only smoke and mirrors so you people believe there is actually something going on here.” A few days later, four federal agents and two sheriff’s deputies show up at his home. He also lost his right to carry a gun in the airport, as a number of […]
The CFL game
Like Frank Beckman and Nolan Finley, I’ve been buying extra incandescent lightbulbs in anticipation of the day that I won’t be able to buy them at retail establishments. Isn’t it remarkable that it’s come to this? A simple, cheap, and tremendously useful product will disappear from retail shelves–not because there’s a shortage of an essential ingredient, or because someone has come up with a vastly superior […]