Health Care and the Constitution | Roger Pilon | Cato Institute: Commentary

Health Care and the Constitution | Roger Pilon | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Since the New Deal, the Supreme Court has held that Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce amounts to a power to regulate anything that 'substantially affects' that commerce — and a power to order any means that may be 'necessary and proper' for that regulation. Because uninsured people who seek free emergency-room care substantially affect interstate commerce, Congress can regulate that behavior by ordering those people to buy insurance.

But the implications of that constitutional reading, Will notes, are boundless. If Congress can order you to buy insurance, why stop there? It can order you to exercise, and to eat healthy foods, etc. More disturbing still, it means that the Constitution itself and judicial review under it are no more."

"A reading of the commerce power that effectively renders many of Congress's other enumerated powers superfluous, or that is inconsistent with other constitutional provisions, cannot be right. And concerning history and function, the power was given primarily to ensure the free flow of goods and services among the states in light of the protectionist measures states had begun to erect under the Articles of Confederation. It was, that is, a limited "free market" power — precisely opposite its understanding today."

On the Job Hunt: Teen Jobs Crisis

On the Job Hunt: Teen Jobs Crisis: "Economists cite several reasons for the high teen unemployment rate. Most frequently they blame the recession that resulted in older workers squeezing out younger job applicants. According to New York University Stern, Economics Professor Joseph Foudy, “youths obviously have less experience in the job market.” Foudy said teens are “the first to lose work” during difficult times."

"Some economists argue that a recent increase in the minimum wage also contributed to the high rate of teen unemployment. Last July the federal minimum wage increased from $6.55 to $7.25. Over the next two months 330 thousand teen jobs vanished."

Sally Jenkins - Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are - washingtonpost.com

Sally Jenkins - Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are - washingtonpost.com: "As statements at Super Bowls go, I prefer the idea of Tebow's pro-life ad to, say, Jim McMahon dropping his pants, as the former Chicago Bears quarterback once did in response to a question. We're always harping on athletes to be more responsible and engaged in the issues of their day, and less concerned with just cashing checks. It therefore seems more than a little hypocritical to insist on it only if it means criticizing sneaker companies, and to stifle them when they take a stance that might make us uncomfortable.

I'm pro-choice, and Tebow clearly is not. But based on what I've heard in the past week, I'll take his side against the group-think, elitism and condescension of the 'National Organization of Fewer and Fewer Women All The Time.' For one thing, Tebow seems smarter than they do.

Tebow's 30-second ad hasn't even run yet, but it already has provoked 'The National Organization for Women Who Only Think Like Us' to reveal something important about themselves: They aren't actually 'pro-choice' so much as they are pro-abortion. Pam Tebow has a genuine pro-choice story to tell. She got pregnant in 1987, post-Roe v. Wade, and while on a Christian mission in the Philippines, she contracted a tropical ailment. Doctors advised her the pregnancy could be dangerous, but she exercised her freedom of choice and now, 20-some years later, the outcome of that choice is her beauteous Heisman Trophy winner son, a chaste, proselytizing evangelical."

Milwaukee Public School (MPS) financing

January 29: "in his past 7 years as governor, MPS has received over $5.2 billion in state aid and with 80% of the school budget coming from state and federal sources. This was an interesting statement in that despite billions in state aid from taxpayers, the district is still failing. It is also interesting to remind lawmakers that MPS taxpayers are only paying 20% of their local school district. I know that property taxpayers in my district would greatly benefit from the state picking up 80% of the local school bill…"

High-tech aerogels wrap homes with insulation | Green Tech - CNET News

High-tech aerogels wrap homes with insulation | Green Tech - CNET News: "Aspen Aeorgels says that its Spaceloft blankets have two to four times the insulating value per inch compared to fiberglass or foam. It's also relatively easy to work with, allows water vapor to pass through, and is fire resistant--a common demonstration of aerogels is to have a person fire a Bunsen burner below the aerogel while putting a hand on the top side."

Housing Red Flags Ignored - Emac's Stock Watch | Fox Business

Housing Red Flags Ignored | Fox Business: "One of the nation’s biggest mortgage industry players repeatedly warned the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and other bank regulators during the housing bubble that the U.S. faced an imminent housing crash.

The trade group also mapped out the 15 states which faced 'sudden increases in foreclosures' and 'a downward spiral,' including California, Florida and Nevada.

But bank regulators not only ignored the group's warnings, top Fed officials also went on the airwaves to say the economy was 'building on a sturdy foundation' and a housing crash was 'unlikely.'

The letters, obtained by Fox Business, were sent in 2005 and 2006 before the housing bubble burst."

Not only was the government complicit -- they encouraged it.

Study Finds New Abstinence-Only Program Works - Sex | Erectile Dysfunction | Sexual Health - FOXNews.com

Study Finds New Abstinence-Only Program Works - Sex | Erectile Dysfunction | Sexual Health - FOXNews.com: "Billed as the first rigorous research to show long-term success with an abstinence-only approach, the study released Monday differed from traditional programs that have lost U.S. federal and state support in recent years.

The classes didn't preach saving sex until marriage or disparage condom use. Instead, they involved assignments to help students around the age of 12 see the drawbacks to sexual activity at their age. It included having them list the pros and cons themselves, and it found their 'cons' far outnumbered the 'pros.'"

Obama ends moon program, endorses private spaceflight | The Space Shot - CNET News

Obama ends moon program, endorses private spaceflight | The Space Shot - CNET News: "On the seventh anniversary of the Columbia disaster, President Obama unveiled a sweeping change of course for the nation's space program Monday, putting an end to NASA's post-Columbia moon program and shifting development and operation of new rockets and capsules from the government to private industry."

Reducing the government's hold on space exploration and making room for the free market will allow "astronomical" advancements.

Individual Mandate Would Impose High Implicit Taxes on Low-Wage Workers | Michael F. Cannon | Cato Institute: Commentary

Individual Mandate Would Impose High Implicit Taxes on Low-Wage Workers | Michael F. Cannon | Cato Institute: Commentary: "In their attempt to expand health insurance coverage, House and Senate Democrats are poised to make the American dream less accessible to low-income Americans by hitting them with higher implicit tax rates than even multi-millionaires face.

In a new study, I found those implicit marginal tax rates would hover near 70-80 percent over broad ranges of income. In many cases, they would exceed 100 percent, financially penalizing those who try to climb the economic ladder."

"The penalties are so small that healthy individuals could save as much as $3,000 per year by going uninsured, while families of four could save $8,000. Those savings would grow over time. Each bill would effectively eliminate any penalty for 'going bare' by forcing insurers to sell to the uninsured at standard premiums whenever they fall ill.

When healthy people respond to those incentives by abandoning insurance pools, premiums will rise for those who remain. That will create pressure for even more government spending and higher taxes.

Study: Distractions, not phones, cause car crashes | Signal Strength - CNET News

Study: Distractions, not phones, cause car crashes | Signal Strength - CNET News: "A new study suggests that laws banning talking on or sending text messages with cell phones while driving may not significantly decrease the risk of traffic accidents. Instead, experts suggest dealing with the problem of distracted drivers in general."

"Indeed, Rader said the study also indicates that even though cell phone usage nationally has exploded over the past several years, and more than 89 percent of the U.S. population owns a cell phone, there has been no uptick nationally in the number of car accidents."