“If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert,” the economist Milton Friedman once quipped, “in five years there’d be a shortage of sand.” The U.S. Mint, to its credit, had a much longer run. The Federal Reserve, which purchases coins from the Mint and distributes them to depository institutions, announced it would begin rationing coins “based … Continue reading Where Have All the Coins Gone?
Why are some in the government so determined to force a group of Catholic nuns to violate their beliefs? That’s a question we all should be asking as we celebrate Wednesday’s Supreme Court victory for the Little Sisters. Regrettably, Wednesday’s victory is unlikely to be the end of the government harassment of the nuns. The Little … Continue reading Little Sisters of Poor Win Big at Supreme Court, but Fight Isn’t Over
Right now, the attention of most Americans is, understandably, captured by the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national debate over criminal justice. But the 2020 presidential election continues to trod along in the background, and Wall Street is starting to worry about the outcome. The New York Times reports that investors are … Continue reading Joe Biden Supports 2 Regulations That Would Destroy Entire Industries—and My Job
At the end of May, President Trump announced an end to funding (and US membership) for the beleaguered World Health Organization (WHO). Recently, the formal process of withdrawal began in earnest with the exit date slated for next July. But now, some members of Congress are looking for a legislative “solution” to keep approximately $500 … Continue reading The WHO Doesn’t Deserve a Blank Check from Taxpayers, Especially after Its COVID-19 Debacle
In the midst of a global pandemic, halfway through 2020, 24-year-old Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes inked a $503 million contract with the franchise. To be accurate, it’s a 10-year extension—that’ll see him through 2031—to the tune of $447 million. Add this onto his current contract, along with a few other incentives and bits, … Continue reading Patrick Mahomes’s $503 Million Contract Offers a Crucial Lesson in Value Creation and Economic Freedom
An ongoing lawsuit filed by the American labor union, The Washington Alliance of Technology Workers, or “Washtech,” is threatening to increase unemployment and damage the ability of the US to attract highly-skilled foreign talent. The target of the lawsuit is Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows international students to remain in the US for a … Continue reading Warding off International Students Will Destroy US Jobs
In a recent article in The Atlantic, Thomas Chatterton Williams decried America’s handling of the coronavirus. The words “utter disaster” are used, and Williams, an expatriate, contrasts America’s response to that of France, where he currently lives. “As Donald Trump’s America continues to shatter records for daily infections, France, like most other developed nations and … Continue reading 3 States Account for 42 Percent of All COVID-19 Deaths in America. Why?
On June 30, 2020, Thomas Sowell turned 90. He is one of the most important economic and social thinkers of the last 50 years. I say that, recognizing that his career overlapped such luminaries as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Sowell also has been one of the most prolific social-science writers of his era, as … Continue reading Thomas Sowell at 90
White House “drug czar” Jim Carroll told Politico earlier this week that an Office of National Drug Control Policy analysis finds an 11.4 percent year‐over‐year increase in opioid‐related overdose deaths during the first four months of 2020. Kentucky has seen a 25 percent increase in overdose deaths during the first four months of this year, and West Virginia saw … Continue reading “Drug Czar” Says Overdose Deaths Were Already Rising Before Pandemic and Now Are Spiking—The Ultimate Blame Belongs to Prohibition
Home gardening is having a boom year across the U.S. Whether they’re growing their own food in response to pandemic shortages or just looking for a diversion, numerous aspiring gardeners have constructed their first raised beds, and seeds are flying off suppliers’ shelves. Now that gardens are largely planted, much of the work for the … Continue reading How to manage plant pests and diseases in your victory garden
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