Thursday, November 22, 2007

Property Rights Make the Difference 

Filed As:  Economic principles

Happy Thanksgiving Day!  Spend a day with your family, give thanks to God as you understand him, and ... here's the policy angle, remember the value of property rights and limited government in more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 6:06 am
• 0 comment

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The Living Wage: An Idea that Should Die 

Filed As:  Employment

The Washington Policy Center takes on the idea of a living wage (PDF) proposal being floated in the state.

The "living wage" is yet another idea that sounds good,... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 5:40 pm
• 0 comment

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Saving Michigan from the Lights-Out Problem 

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

The 1970s saw a great out-migration of Michiganders from the Great Lake State to places like Texas. The Mackinac Center has offered some recommendations that might keep another wave from afflicting Michigan.

The Mackinac Center has already documented back in March 2005 that Michigan was suffering ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 5:35 pm
• 1 comment

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

You Say You Want a Resolution 

Filed As:  Health Care

From the heartland comes a plea for a fix to our health care mess.

In the November newsletter of the Wichita Independent Business Association, Bob O'Connor writes about a recent survey his group conducted of its members:

By more than three to one you told us in a recent survey ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 9:26 am
• 1 comment

Monday, November 19, 2007

How do We Tax Land? 

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

The current issue of the Saint Paul Legal Ledger (article not online) offers a short profile of a state representative, who asks an interesting question:

Chris DeLaForest (49A) has been thinking a lot lately about taxes and asks a disarmingly ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 2:15 pm
• 1 comment

Saturday, November 17, 2007

The Swarms of Oklahoma 

Filed As:  Budget and Tax

We call government employees "public servants," and many of them are. But the size of governments can be such that you have to wonder who is working for whom.

According to the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Oklahoma has more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 7:04 am
• 0 comment

Monday, November 19, 2007

If it's November, it Must Be Deer Season 

Filed As:  Environment

November means football, Thanksgiving Day, and deer hunting. Even if you've never fired a gun, deer hunting is an economic and cultural phenomenon that is shaped by and shapes public policy.

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

The Allegheny Institute's Jake Haulk and Frank Gamrat chide the Pennsylvania Board of Education for spending $650,000 of taxpayer money on yet another education study (PDF)

The two warn that the recommendations, meant to show ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 12:11 pm
• 0 comment

Friday, November 16, 2007

New Economy, New Politics 

Filed As:  General

Will changes in the way we work make changes in our politics, and what we expect from government? The New York Times ... more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 5:07 pm
• 0 comment

Friday, November 16, 2007

Fewer Students, More Funding 

Filed As:  Education (k-12)

In the business world, companies that fail to perform disappear. Think of Braniff Airlines, Montgomery Ward, and other has-been household names.

But in Pennsylvania (and elsewhere) schools that fail to attract customers ... get more money. Says Jake Hauk, of the more »»

• posted by John LaPlante
• 12:24 pm
• 0 comment