Podcast on Internet Privacy and Do-Not-Track
This podcast, put together by the high-performance folks at the Performance Marketing Association, is a pretty good exploration of privacy and proposals to create a “do-not-track” system for the World Wide Web. Though I do use the word “hedonic” at one point, which is a bit much…
A Happy Birthday to The Wealth of Nations
Today marks the 235th anniversary of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, otherwise known as The Wealth of Nations. I chatted with GMU economics professor Russ Roberts on the book and its enduring impact. This is the first of a two-part discussion:
And you might as well subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or your RSS reader.
Thursday Links
- Too bad no one saw this coming: Social Security is now in the red.
- Now that the health care bill is law, you should know exactly how it’s going to affect you, your premiums, and your coverage over the next few years. Here’s a helpful breakdown.
- As the health care overhaul crosses home plate, global warming legislation steps up to bat.
- Appreciate this: Chinese currency rise will have a negligible effect on the trade deficit. For more, read the whole paper.
- Podcast: “A Plea for Divided Government” featuring John Samples, author of the forthcoming book The Struggle to Limit Government.
Monday Links
- Alan Reynolds: The truth about health insurance premiums and profits.
- An overview of the many hurdles the health care bill still faces in the House.
- Study: Public schools dishonest about the true cost of education. This video explains it all in less than three minutes.
- Will conservatives ultimately oppose the war in Afghanistan? Join us for a lively discussion this Thursday at Cato featuring Joe Scarborough, Grover Norquist, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and more. Registration free. Will be broadcast online live Thursday at the link.
- Podcast: “Documenting Human Rights Abuses in Venezuela” featuring Ian Vásquez. (Don’t tell Sean Penn.)
Tuesday Links
- Kids these days…New study shows that most Millennials think “the government should do more to solve problems.” But if you take a closer look at the data there’s also some good news.
- Al Gore’s latest global warming whopper.
- David Rittgers: Why both the Left and Right are wrong about using drones to counter terrorism worldwide.
- The case for reviving the “Privileges or Immunities” clause.
- Podcast: “Why McDonald Matters” featuring Timothy Sandefur.
UPDATE:
Cato Vice President for Legal Affairs Roger Pilon can scarcely believe it himself: The New York Times got it (mostly) right on the gun case argued today before the Supreme Court, while The Wall Street Journal missed the main point.
In a piece for National Review Online, Pilon discusses a subtle but critical point: Conservatives—including the ones on the Supreme Court—are right on guns, but they’re wrong on rights.
Cato VP for Legal Affairs Roger Pilon can scarcely believe it himself: the New York Times got it (mostly) right on the gun case argued today before the Supreme Court, while the Wall Street Journal missed it.
Roger explains why in a terrific post over at National Review Online [hyperlink—you’re right, NRO is down!].
Roger’s post is the best discussion we’ve seen yet of a subtle but critical point: conservatives—including the ones on the Supreme Court—are right on guns, but they’re wrong on rights.
Tuesday Links
- Price controls have failed in the past and there is no reason to think they will work now. So why is the president proposing price controls on health care? Michael Tanner: “Attempts to control prices by government fiat ignore basic economic laws — and the result could be disastrous for the American health-care system.”
- Does this federal government policy make me look fat? Be honest. (Yes).
- So, President Obama wants a presidential commission on the budget deficit. Isn’t that a little bit like W.C. Fields asking for a commission on sobriety?
- Podcast: “POTUS and Price Controls in Health Care” featuring Michael F. Cannon.
Filed under: General; Government and Politics; Health Care; Regulatory Studies
Thursday Links
- A few things you might not know about rail travel: “Automobiles in intercity travel are as energy efficient as Amtrak. Cars are getting more energy efficient, while boosting Amtrak trains to higher speeds will make them less energy efficient.” The list goes on…
- Quiz Time! Which was the only country in the 27-nation European Union to register economic growth without going through a recession last year? The answer might surprise you.
- Unionized teachers refuse to work 25 minutes more a day, so Rhode Island town fires all of them.
- Arnold Kling on Haiti, poverty, and capitalism.
- Podcast: This is what happens to American jobs when you have one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world.
Wednesday Links
- Is there a place for gay people in conservative politics? We’ll be discussing it today at Cato. Watch here live at 12 PM EST.
- President Obama announces $8 billion in loan guarantees to build a new nuclear power plant in Georgia. But are government subsidies for pet energy projects a good idea?
- What happens when the Olympics don’t go completely according to plan.
- Podcast: “Lessig, Schumer and Citizens United” featuring John Samples.
Tuesday Links
- How the Tea Party movement can prove its authenticity.
- Why Americans’ first loyalty must be to the Constitution
- “Snowmageddon!” If you’ve been watching the news, recent snow storms both prove and disprove global warming, depending on who you talk to. According to Pat Michaels, both sides are wrong: “The fact of the matter is that global warming simply hasn’t done a darned thing to Washington’s snow. The planet was nearly a degree (Celsius) cooler in 1899, when the previous record was set. If you plot out year-to-year snow around here, you’ll see no trend whatsoever through the entire history.”
- Did last week’s government shutdown actually save American’s billions of dollars?
- Podcast:”Scrap ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” featuring Christopher A. Preble.
Monday Links
- Another day, another IPCC-gate.
- Why remaining in Afghanistan and creating a stable government there is not a precondition to keeping America safe. For more, watch the debate on Bloggingheads.
- Jeffrey Miron: “Leave Mideast, end terrorism.”
- Could Iran’s nuclear program be a sacrificial pawn?
- Globalization: A curse or a cure?
- Podcast: “Liberate Bone Marrow Donors” featuring Jeff Rowes of the Institute for Justice.
Tuesday Links
- How the right has ‘Avatar’ wrong: “At its core, the movie is about defending property rights — something conservatives should embrace.”
- Americans tuning out the State of the Union: “When Obama had to make way for ‘Lost,’ some lamented the fact that many Americans preferred trash TV over presidential enlightenment. But the public’s lack of interest in the SOTU is actually a sign of political health.”
- Obama’s “mini-me” plan for health care.
- Podcast: “U.S. Should Cash Out of Social Security” featuring Michael D. Tanner.
Thursday Links
- The back story behind the Citizens United free speech case. (Or if you don’t have time to read about it, this short video clip explains it all.)
- RomneyCare: Obama’s OTHER Massachusetts problem.
- Tim Geithner’s lifelong love of bailouts.
- How substantial and meaningful change can be brought to Haiti.
- Podcast: “Supreme Court Affirms First Amendment” featuring John Samples.
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