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The 10 Most-American Cars - Auto - FOXNews.com: "So, it's the Fourth of July, and you're feeling a little more patriotic than usual. Sounds like a great time to buy a domestic car, right?
Well, first you need to answer the question: 'what is a domestic car?' Is a Chevy built in South Korea domestic, or how about a Hyundai assembled in Alabama?
Since that debate is not likely to be settled anytime soon, we've decided to keep it simple and list the top 10 domestic cars based strictly on content, as compiled by the National Highway and Transportation Administration."
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Inflation: What You See and What You Don't See - Thorsten Polleit - Mises Institute
Inflation: What You See and What You Don't See - Thorsten Polleit - Mises Institute: "As far as its impact on prices goes, the rise in the monetary base sponsored by the Fed has so far been restricted to an invisible effect.
First and foremost, the base money increase prevents banks' troubled asset prices from adjusting to lower levels. Buyers of these assets have to pay a higher price when compared to the scenario in which the Fed hadn't increased the money supply.
In addition, prohibiting the prices of banks' assets from adjusting downwards keeps markets from performing an essential function, namely, rewarding those players who serve the needs of their clients and pushing those players out of the market who do not.
Furthermore, as prices of banks' troubled assets are kept from declining, the need for revaluing other assets (such as book loans extended to firms, house builders, and governments; bonds; stocks, etc.) tends to decline or is prevented altogether."
First and foremost, the base money increase prevents banks' troubled asset prices from adjusting to lower levels. Buyers of these assets have to pay a higher price when compared to the scenario in which the Fed hadn't increased the money supply.
In addition, prohibiting the prices of banks' assets from adjusting downwards keeps markets from performing an essential function, namely, rewarding those players who serve the needs of their clients and pushing those players out of the market who do not.
Furthermore, as prices of banks' troubled assets are kept from declining, the need for revaluing other assets (such as book loans extended to firms, house builders, and governments; bonds; stocks, etc.) tends to decline or is prevented altogether."
The Consequences of the Culture of Death | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary
The Consequences of the Culture of Death | Doug Bandow | Cato Institute: Commentary: "There's no doubt that the circumstances of many of those seeking abortions are difficult. Nor can any defender of liberty feel comfortable advocating government intrusion in such a personal matter as childbirth.
Yet a baby is not the property of his or her mother. Few people disagree that children have the full right to life like adults. Moreover, the moment of birth makes no difference in the moral value of life. Even some abortion advocates are uncomfortable with the brutality of many late term abortions, of which the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan said 'This is too close to infanticide.'
Nevertheless, 'viability' should have no more moral significant than birth. Once formed, every human life is unique. That death is presented as the preferred option for 'unwanted' children is bizarre."
"The strongest argument for not restricting abortion is personal liberty. Yet liberty always has been constrained when another person is involved. Especially when the other person exists only because of one's free choice.
Abortion is not a matter of choice, but an attempt to flee from responsibility. Other than in the case of rape, pregnancy results from the decision to have sex, freely made. People are, rightly, legally free to have sex with whomever they desire whenever they desire. That being the case, they also should be held responsible for the consequences of their decisions. One of those consequences is a baby."
"We also see the demand to force medical students to learn and hospitals to provide abortion. And for pharmacies to provide abortifacients. Freedom of conscience is twisted to mean the denial of freedom of conscience."
Yet a baby is not the property of his or her mother. Few people disagree that children have the full right to life like adults. Moreover, the moment of birth makes no difference in the moral value of life. Even some abortion advocates are uncomfortable with the brutality of many late term abortions, of which the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan said 'This is too close to infanticide.'
Nevertheless, 'viability' should have no more moral significant than birth. Once formed, every human life is unique. That death is presented as the preferred option for 'unwanted' children is bizarre."
"The strongest argument for not restricting abortion is personal liberty. Yet liberty always has been constrained when another person is involved. Especially when the other person exists only because of one's free choice.
Abortion is not a matter of choice, but an attempt to flee from responsibility. Other than in the case of rape, pregnancy results from the decision to have sex, freely made. People are, rightly, legally free to have sex with whomever they desire whenever they desire. That being the case, they also should be held responsible for the consequences of their decisions. One of those consequences is a baby."
"We also see the demand to force medical students to learn and hospitals to provide abortion. And for pharmacies to provide abortifacients. Freedom of conscience is twisted to mean the denial of freedom of conscience."
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Kids cheating with tech but are schools cheating kids? | Larry Magid at Large - CNET News
Kids cheating with tech but are schools cheating kids? | Larry Magid at Large - CNET News: "But in addition to admonishing kids about why it's wrong to cheat, perhaps it's also time to rethink what it means to evaluate students in the age of the Internet and omnipresent mobile devices."
"But this survey might also present an opportunity for educators to re-evaluate the type of tests they're giving. I think there is a role for tests that measure a student's ability to quickly acquire and interpret information through mobile devices, even if they know nothing about the subject prior to sitting down for the test."
"But this survey might also present an opportunity for educators to re-evaluate the type of tests they're giving. I think there is a role for tests that measure a student's ability to quickly acquire and interpret information through mobile devices, even if they know nothing about the subject prior to sitting down for the test."
The Deflating Bubble - Doug French - Mises Institute
The Deflating Bubble - Doug French - Mises Institute: "Guaranty Bank of Austin recently demolished 16 new and partially built homes in Victorville, California. The cost of finishing the development exceeded what they could sell the homes for despite four of the homes already being complete."
"Morgan points to a California program that offers a $10,000 tax credit for buyers of new homes. Thus, encouraging the building of redundant houses, at the same time homes are being bulldozed in Victorville. The annual sales pace is 300,000 homes, yet 500,000 new homes are being started that will just add to a bloated inventory."
"Morgan points to a California program that offers a $10,000 tax credit for buyers of new homes. Thus, encouraging the building of redundant houses, at the same time homes are being bulldozed in Victorville. The annual sales pace is 300,000 homes, yet 500,000 new homes are being started that will just add to a bloated inventory."
Windfall Profits and That Which Is Not Seen - Art Carden - Mises Institute
Windfall Profits and That Which Is Not Seen - Art Carden - Mises Institute: "The apartments cost you $450 a month to maintain, and you can rent them out for $500 a month for a monthly profit of $50 each. Suppose now that the demand for Cambridge apartments skyrockets, and you can now charge $1,000 a month for the exact same apartment. The rent controllers maintain that it isn't fair that you can now enjoy such higher rents without really changing the product you offer or 'working for it.' Since people supposedly aren't entitled to what they don't 'work for,' the rent controllers step in and cap rental prices at $500 a month. Everyone should be happy because you're still earning a 'reasonable' profit on each apartment, consumers are still able to get cheap apartments, and the Cambridge housing stock has not diminished."
"People will try to get apartments by making bribes or other side payments. Landlords may let their property deteriorate. Landlords may withdraw from the housing market and convert their apartments to offices."
"In this situation, rent controllers objected to windfall profits for the landlord. But what of the renter who has the good fortune to secure for $500 an apartment for which someone else would gladly pay $1,000? This is just as much a windfall as anything else. Moreover, the rent-control board either consigns the second renter to the winds of fate — he will, in all likelihood, be banished to a waiting list — or shuts him out of the housing market altogether because his willingness to pay is not allowed to manifest itself through the market process."
"High profits induce others to enter a market. In this case, high profits signal that there is quite a bit of money to be made in the Cambridge housing market. One of the fundamental precepts of economics is that people respond to incentives; something has to induce people to engage in productive activity (supplying apartments, in this case)."
"If we did nothing else, therefore, the consequence of fixing a maximum price for a particular commodity would be to bring about a shortage of that commodity. But that is precisely the opposite of what government regulators originally wanted to do. For it is the very commodities selected for maximum price-fixing that the regulators most want to keep in abundant supply. But when they limit the wages and the profits of those who make these commodities … they discourage the production of the price-controlled necessities while they relatively stimulate the production of less essential goods."
"People will try to get apartments by making bribes or other side payments. Landlords may let their property deteriorate. Landlords may withdraw from the housing market and convert their apartments to offices."
"In this situation, rent controllers objected to windfall profits for the landlord. But what of the renter who has the good fortune to secure for $500 an apartment for which someone else would gladly pay $1,000? This is just as much a windfall as anything else. Moreover, the rent-control board either consigns the second renter to the winds of fate — he will, in all likelihood, be banished to a waiting list — or shuts him out of the housing market altogether because his willingness to pay is not allowed to manifest itself through the market process."
"High profits induce others to enter a market. In this case, high profits signal that there is quite a bit of money to be made in the Cambridge housing market. One of the fundamental precepts of economics is that people respond to incentives; something has to induce people to engage in productive activity (supplying apartments, in this case)."
"If we did nothing else, therefore, the consequence of fixing a maximum price for a particular commodity would be to bring about a shortage of that commodity. But that is precisely the opposite of what government regulators originally wanted to do. For it is the very commodities selected for maximum price-fixing that the regulators most want to keep in abundant supply. But when they limit the wages and the profits of those who make these commodities … they discourage the production of the price-controlled necessities while they relatively stimulate the production of less essential goods."
Obama Announces $80 Billion Agreement With Drug Companies - Political News - FOXNews.com
Obama Announces $80 Billion Agreement With Drug Companies - Political News - FOXNews.com: "President Obama announced Monday that drug companies have agreed to close the 'donut hole' in Medicare coverage by providing $80 billion in cheaper drugs over the next decade."
There's no such thing as a free lunch. The money will come from somewhere (less research?).
There's no such thing as a free lunch. The money will come from somewhere (less research?).
Health-Care Myths at Emac’s Stock Watch | Fox Business
Health-Care Myths at Emac’s Stock Watch | Fox Business: "Myth: “The U.S. has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the developed world.”"
"The U.S. ranks high on this list largely because this country numbers among those that actually measure neonatal deaths, notably in premature infant fatalities, unlike other countries that basically leave premature babies to die, notes health analyst Betsey McCaughey."
"Myth: “About 46 mn Americans lack access to health insurance.”
There is a difference between health care and health insurance, as Fox Business anchor Brian Sullivan points out after researching reports on health care from the Congressional Budget Office, Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Georgetown University.
Everyone has access to health care. They may not have health insurance, but the law mandates everyone who shows up at emergency rooms must be treated, insurance or not, he reports.
About 14 mn of the uninsured were eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP 2003, a BlueCross-BlueShield Association study based on 2003 data estimated. These people would be signed up for government insurance if they ever made it to the emergency room, Sullivan says."
"Myth: “The uninsured can’t afford to buy coverage.”
Many may be able to afford health insurance, but for whatever reason choose to not buy it. In 2007, an estimated 17.6 mn of the uninsured made more than $50,000 per year, and 10 mn of those made more than $75,000 a year"
"Myth: “Most of the uninsured do not have health insurance because they are not working and so don’t have access to health benefits through an employer.”"
"According to a 2003 Blue Cross study, 8.2 mn Americans are actually without coverage for the long haul, because they are too poor to purchase health care, but earn too much to qualify for government assistance."
"Myth: “Nationalized health care would not impact patient waiting times.”
Waiting time for elective surgery is lower in the US than in countries with nationalized health care.
In 2005, only 8% of U.S. patients reported waiting four months or more for elective surgery.
Countries with nationalized health care had higher percentages with waiting times of four months or more, including Australia (19%); New Zealand (20%); Canada (33%); and the United Kingdom (41%)."
"The U.S. ranks high on this list largely because this country numbers among those that actually measure neonatal deaths, notably in premature infant fatalities, unlike other countries that basically leave premature babies to die, notes health analyst Betsey McCaughey."
"Myth: “About 46 mn Americans lack access to health insurance.”
There is a difference between health care and health insurance, as Fox Business anchor Brian Sullivan points out after researching reports on health care from the Congressional Budget Office, Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Georgetown University.
Everyone has access to health care. They may not have health insurance, but the law mandates everyone who shows up at emergency rooms must be treated, insurance or not, he reports.
About 14 mn of the uninsured were eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP 2003, a BlueCross-BlueShield Association study based on 2003 data estimated. These people would be signed up for government insurance if they ever made it to the emergency room, Sullivan says."
"Myth: “The uninsured can’t afford to buy coverage.”
Many may be able to afford health insurance, but for whatever reason choose to not buy it. In 2007, an estimated 17.6 mn of the uninsured made more than $50,000 per year, and 10 mn of those made more than $75,000 a year"
"Myth: “Most of the uninsured do not have health insurance because they are not working and so don’t have access to health benefits through an employer.”"
"According to a 2003 Blue Cross study, 8.2 mn Americans are actually without coverage for the long haul, because they are too poor to purchase health care, but earn too much to qualify for government assistance."
"Myth: “Nationalized health care would not impact patient waiting times.”
Waiting time for elective surgery is lower in the US than in countries with nationalized health care.
In 2005, only 8% of U.S. patients reported waiting four months or more for elective surgery.
Countries with nationalized health care had higher percentages with waiting times of four months or more, including Australia (19%); New Zealand (20%); Canada (33%); and the United Kingdom (41%)."
Critics Bemoan Prospect of Obama Detaining Terror Suspects Indefinitely - Political News - FOXNews.com
Critics Bemoan Prospect of Obama Detaining Terror Suspects Indefinitely - Political News - FOXNews.com: "'This is not change -- this is more of the same,' Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in response to reports that surfaced Friday of the possible executive order. 'If President Obama issues an executive order authorizing indefinite detention, he'll be repeating the same mistakes of George Bush, and his policies will be destined to fail as were his predecessor's.'
He added, 'Throwing people into prison without charge, conviction or providing them with a trial is about as un-American as you can get.'"
For once I agree with the ACLU.
He added, 'Throwing people into prison without charge, conviction or providing them with a trial is about as un-American as you can get.'"
For once I agree with the ACLU.
Obama Warns Dems on 'Protectionist' Tax in Climate Change Bill - Political News - FOXNews.com
Obama Warns Dems on 'Protectionist' Tax in Climate Change Bill - Political News - FOXNews.com: "Obama told energy reporters that, while he is 'very mindful' of wanting to ensure a 'level playing field internationally,' Congress should consider alternatives to tariffs.
'At a time when the economy worldwide is still deep in recession and we've seen a significant drop in global trade, I think we have to be very careful about sending any protectionist signals out there,' Obama said, according to a transcript of the Sunday session with reporters. 'I think we're going to have to do a careful analysis to determine whether the prospects of tariffs are necessary.'"
Tariffs help special interests and hurt the country as a whole so way to go Obama!
'At a time when the economy worldwide is still deep in recession and we've seen a significant drop in global trade, I think we have to be very careful about sending any protectionist signals out there,' Obama said, according to a transcript of the Sunday session with reporters. 'I think we're going to have to do a careful analysis to determine whether the prospects of tariffs are necessary.'"
Tariffs help special interests and hurt the country as a whole so way to go Obama!
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