Inequality of Wealth and Incomes - Ludwig von Mises - Mises Daily

Inequality of Wealth and Incomes - Ludwig von Mises - Mises Daily: "Inequality of wealth and incomes is an essential feature of the market economy." "He who best serves the consumers profits most and accumulates riches."

Terminate the Small Business Administration | Tad DeHaven | Cato Institute: Commentary

Terminate the Small Business Administration | Tad DeHaven | Cato Institute: Commentary: The SBA does this by guaranteeing loans issued by private lenders for up to 85 percent of losses in the event that loan recipients default. As a result of the guarantee, lenders are more willing to lend money to riskier applicants because the SBA -- and thus taxpayers -- is ultimately responsible for the bulk of any losses.

Never mind that surveys of small-businesses owners consistently show that taxes and regulations are their biggest problems while financing polls in the single digits.

Are You Authorized to Defend Yourself? - Wendy McElroy - Mises Daily

Are You Authorized to Defend Yourself? - Wendy McElroy - Mises Daily: denying the right of self-defense to a person because he might get hurt is like denying freedom of speech because he might misspeak or denying freedom of religion because he could join the wrong church.

Now Answer Some Questions | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

Now Answer Some Questions | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Balancing the budget without raising taxes is going to require cutting specific programs, so tell us which ones you would cut."

"Do you support Paul Ryan's plan for Medicare reform? If not, what would you do? What about Social Security?"

"President Bush was all for states rights until a state did something he didn't like, such as legalize medical marijuana or physician-assisted suicide. What happens now if a state, say, chooses to permit gay marriage?"

"Under what circumstances would you commit U.S. troops to combat? It's not enough to say you would protect U.S. vital interests. What are those vital interests? Promoting democracy? Human rights? Fighting every last terrorist in any country that they pop up in? Ensuring 'stability' in every area of the globe?"

"Is it government's role to 'create jobs'? Should government enforce moral values? What things can only government do, and what should be left to civil society?"

Who Serves During Disaster? - Doug French - Mises Daily

Who Serves During Disaster? - Doug French - Mises Daily: Government monopolies have the incentive to provide the least amount of service for the highest cost. So, the government brass suspends services and tells their constituents to go away and come back when it's more convenient. Meanwhile, Waffle House fires up the generators, eager to serve their faithful customers in the worst of conditions.

Why Warren Buffett Is Wrong | Jeffrey A. Miron | Cato Institute: Commentary

Why Warren Buffett Is Wrong | Jeffrey A. Miron | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Focusing on the super-rich also fosters a counterproductive attitude toward material success. The way to promote a hard-working, entrepreneurial and innovative society is to celebrate great wealth so long as it has been earned by legitimate means. When this is not the case, policy should target the wrongdoing directly, not demonize everyone who hits it big.

Most importantly, singling out the super-rich distracts from the real problem: the myriad policies that make no sense in the first place because they inhibit economic growth and that simultaneously redistribute from low-income households to the middle and upper classes."

"taxing investment returns plays a huge role in what kinds of investments occur, and where, even if it has minor effects on the amounts. These tax-induced distortions in investment choices then reduce economic growth. High U.S. taxation on capital income drives investment overseas.

So raising capital tax rates will not make the super-rich pay their 'fair' share; it will encourage capital flight, driving factories and innovation abroad. The rich will still get their high returns, but U.S. workers will have fewer jobs and lower wages."

Time for a Constitutional Fix | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary

Time for a Constitutional Fix | Richard W. Rahn | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Mr. McClaughry would limit the total amount of federal debt to $20 trillion. Setting an absolute amount makes the calculation unambiguous, unlike most other proposals that refer to some percentage of gross domestic product or other less precise numbers. The United States has a gross debt of about $15 trillion, so the proposal would give Congress several years to get its house in order and give adequate time for the states to ratify it. Mr. McClaughry would allow the issuance of additional debt if, and only if, Congress formally declared war, and only while the armed forces were engaged in combat."

A specific limit would also discourage monetary inflation.

Marriage Equality: Religious Freedom, Federalism, and Judicial Activism | Robert A. Levy | Cato Institute: Commentary

Marriage Equality: Religious Freedom, Federalism, and Judicial Activism | Robert A. Levy | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Moreover, the right to same-sex marriage"

Is marriage a right?

http://www.jasonlewisshow.com/2011/05/oh-so-when-its-marriage-they-object/ says:
"Of course, there is no constitutional “right” to civil marriage — for heterosexuals or homosexuals. That’s why there are laws against bigamy and why some libertarians say government should get out of the marriage business entirely."

Happy New Tax Freedom Day | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary

Happy New Tax Freedom Day | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Taxes once reflected the cost of government. No longer. This year Uncle Sam is borrowing 40 percent of the money necessary to fund federal operations. Regulation imposes a separate quasi-tax on the American people.

As a result, Americans don't actually stop paying for government this year until today, August 12. That's 224 days representing more than 61 percent of national income."

"the average American will have to work an additional 41 days to pay off his or her share of the cost of government compared to ten years ago in 2001, when COGD was July 2."

Washington Sacrifices Its Financial Rating to Feed the Sacred Cows | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary

Washington Sacrifices Its Financial Rating to Feed the Sacred Cows | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "The biggest recipients of welfare are the middle class. Social Security and Medicare only incidentally address poverty. The biggest share of benefits goes to people who could provide for their own retirement and purchase their own health insurance.

Of course, most recipients mistakenly believe that the two programs are social insurance, paid for by the recipients' contributions. In fact, the money collected is not invested; the systems' so-called trust funds and personal accounts are accounting fictions. The Supreme Court has ruled that the government has no legal obligation to pay anyone anything.

Indeed, if the programs really were genuine social insurance, they would not threaten taxpayers with more than $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities. In truth, the two are public Ponzi schemes. Unfortunately, with America's aging population the good times are long over.

America's military budget is largely foreign welfare — a form of foreign aid, if you like. The U.S. faces no significant security threats other than terrorism, which is best met through intelligence, Special Forces, diplomacy, and international cooperation. No other nation comes close to America in military might. America alone accounts for roughly half of the world's military spending."