Category Archives: Politics

Watch What You Wish For

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Jeff

Hayek wrote in The Road to Serfdom that we need to think long-term about the policies and ideas we propose for when you combine all the ideas adopted together over time in a nation and follow their natural consequences out … Continue reading →

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The Effect of Unions on Employment and Wages

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Jeff

We are seeing a lot of heated rhetoric here in Wisconsin about the governor and unions. The clearest treatment I have read of the effect of unions is Chapter 20 in Henry Hazlitt’s book Economics In One Lesson. Jeffrey Miron, … Continue reading →

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Fun with Numbers or “Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Jeff

In my work we use statistics to support or disprove a point. We mine data to look for patterns, answer questions, and search for evidence of impacts. We try very hard to be objective and accurate in our use of … Continue reading →

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Do Teacher Unions Advance Education?

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Jeff

Wisconsin is undergoing quite a bit of strife as the Governor tries to curb the power of unions, including the teachers’ union. Opponents predict disaster and falling education quality if the union’s power is reduced. Blogger IowaHawk looks at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I Am Right, If You Disagree with Me You Are Evil

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Jeff

I am a moral, conscientious person. I believe that in supporting X I am making the world a better place. You believe in Y. X and Y appear to be on the opposite side of the argument. Since you do not support X you must be evil. This approach has framed too many debates, it ought to be stopped. Continue reading →

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Job creation by the government – slight of hand

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Jeff

When the government moves money around to ‘create jobs’ they achieve the opposite effect. Continue reading →

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Trade With Your Children

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Jeff

If it makes life easier if our children help out with the chores, then trade with China enhances everyone’s welfare! The two seem miles apart but are supported by the same logic. Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Trade | 1 Comment

Liberal – Progressive – Conservative

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Jeff

The word Liberal doesn’t mean what it used to, liberals are trying to escape a tainted word by adopting ‘progressive’, and ‘conservatives’ lack philosophical consistency. Continue reading →

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The Great Depression – Plenty of Blame to Share

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Jeff

[This is part of a series, which is introduced in the posting titled “Unintended Consequences” here.] [Edited September 13, 2011] There are plenty of options for pointing to government policies and behavior that brought about the Great Depression, deepened it, … Continue reading →

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The Housing Crisis in the United States

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Jeff

[This is part of a series, which is introduced in the posting titled “Unintended Consequences” here.] There is a lot of blame to spread around for the housing crisis we are still experiencing and the accompanying financial crisis. The main … Continue reading →

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