Back to Bush's Big-Government Conservatism | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Back to Bush's Big-Government Conservatism | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'Both Gingrich and Romney have long supported more federal involvement and spending in education. Both backed No Child Left Behind. In fact, both endorsed the same strange idea of having the federal government buy a laptop computer for every child in America.'

'In fact, both are even opposed to cuts in farm price supports or ethanol subsidies. Gingrich was last seen suggesting that anyone who wanted to cut ethanol subsidies must hate farmers, while Romney believes food subsidies are a matter of national security, as if al-Qaeda is going to corner the wheat market.'

'Romney is the quintessential better manager, a "turn-around specialist," someone who can make government run more like a business. And Gingrich's new ideas are nearly all about making government work better. For example, he doesn't oppose a national ID system (E-Verify); he wants it "run by MasterCard or Visa." He doesn't want to get government out of health care; he wants to use "Lean Six Sigma" business strategy to make it less wasteful.

Nowhere in their rhetoric is there a recognition that big government is bad because it makes us less free.'

Let the Boss Decide What to Do | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary

Let the Boss Decide What to Do | Patrick Basham | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'If the nation's public health mandate is to produce a significantly lower level of obesity in the near term, the use of discrimination by employers is a perfectly logical and defensible instrument to employ in such a war on fat. The painful and inconvenient truth is that any rapid reduction in the number of obese Americans would require the private sector to discriminate against, rather than in favor of, the obese.

Instead of expensive lawsuits, counterproductive fat taxes and endless lists of (ignored) nutritional information, we should allow employers, insurers and other institutions to act toward the obese as they see fit.'

Down Syndrome Genocide | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary

Down Syndrome Genocide | Nat Hentoff | Cato Institute: Commentary: '"Today, 92 percent of mothers who get a definitive diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to abort, surveys show." These parents are told by their physicians that this child will not live a meaningful life.'

'However, a considerable number of families, instead of killing the child, provide their youngsters with regulated forms of therapy and tutoring. As a result, sizable numbers of these Americans graduate from high school and college and — as my next column demonstrates — enjoy meaningful lives.'

High-Tax Advocates Are Either Credulous or Envious of Wealthy | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

High-Tax Advocates Are Either Credulous or Envious of Wealthy | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: 'If you think increasing tax rates on the "rich" is the correct economic policy, then you also need to believe the following:

That most government spending is cost-effective, and cutting 3 percent of it (approximately $110 billion out of the current $3.7 trillion budget) would be more damaging than increasing taxes by $100 billion on many of those who create jobs.'

'That getting rid of the huge amount of waste and fraud in government programs, whether it is Medicare, Medicaid or defense, would do more damage to the economy than increasing tax rates on many highly productive people. Every year, many studies by government agencies and nongovernment groups show billions of dollars of waste and fraud within government, yet few government employees are fired or sent to jail, and little is done to correct the problems.'

'That being "rich" or "wealthy" is the same thing as having a high income. Many wealthy people generate much of their income from nontaxable sources, such as state and local bonds, and would not be affected by the higher tax rates being proposed. But some people with high incomes, such as young doctors, may have negative net worth because of the debt they incurred to obtain their education, and yet they would be hit by these proposed taxes.'