statism

Kentucky Banning Advice Columnists in the Name of Occupational Licensing

"Kentucky claims that writing an advice column that appears in a newspaper in the state—in the specific case of their complaint, the Lexington Herald-Leader, though it appears in others as well—is not an act of freedom of the press, but rather practicing psychology without the required license. Rosemond has written an advice column since 1976, which is currently syndicated by McClatchy-Tribune (and by Rosemond himself to a different set of publications). It appears in around 200 papers. He’s also the author of many books of parenting and family advice, including five best-sellers." Continue reading →

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Obama’s ‘green’ procurement plan creating ‘de facto ban’ on ammunition

"At the same time federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security are buying up ammunition stockpiles around the country, the Obama administration is now pushing states to mandate 'green ammunition' that is free of lead. Sources say health-care advocates are arguing that lead bullet fragments, especially in game such as venison, are neurotoxins that can harm children and developing fetuses. The federal government and some states are looking at alternative metals that include copper and tungsten materials, but they are so hard that technically they could violate federal regulations barring armor-piercing ammunition.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s ‘green’ procurement plan creating ‘de facto ban’ on ammunition

Medical research on animals often biased, scientists warn

"Researchers examined 160 previously published meta-analyses of 1,411 animal studies on potential treatments for multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and spinal cord injury, all done on more than 4,000 animals. Just eight showed evidence of strong, statistically significant associations using evidence from more than 500 animals. Only two studies seemed to lead to 'convincing' data in randomized controlled trials in humans, it said. The rest showed a range of problems, from poor study design, to small size, to an overarching tendency toward publishing only studies in which positive effects could be reported." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMedical research on animals often biased, scientists warn

China shuts down $88 million mocked museum with ‘fake’ national treasures

"Chinese authorities have closed a museum which contained scores of fake exhibits, including a vase decorated with cartoon characters billed as a Qing dynasty artefact, state-run media reported Tuesday. The facility, built in northern China’s Hebei province at a cost of 540 million yuan ($88 million), has 'no qualification to be a museum as its collections are fake', a local official told the Global Times newspaper. It had been closed, the paper said, while its founders have been placed 'under investigation' after local residents accused them of wasting money." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina shuts down $88 million mocked museum with ‘fake’ national treasures

New studies: ‘Conspiracy theorists’ sane; government dupes crazy, hostile

"Perhaps because their supposedly mainstream views no longer represent the majority, the anti-conspiracy commenters often displayed anger and hostility: 'The research… showed that people who favoured the official account of 9/11 were generally more hostile when trying to persuade their rivals.' In short, the new study by Wood and Douglas suggests that the negative stereotype of the conspiracy theorist - a hostile fanatic wedded to the truth of his own fringe theory - accurately describes the people who defend the official account of 9/11, not those who dispute it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew studies: ‘Conspiracy theorists’ sane; government dupes crazy, hostile

Eric Margolis: Spying Run Amok

"Europe’s politicians are loudly denouncing the US. But Britain, Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain and Belgium signed secret pacts with the US decades ago allowing NSA and CIA to spy on their citizens, and to share intelligence with Washington. The Soviet-run Warsaw Pact had a similar structure: the East bloc’s security agencies became 'little brothers' of KGB. No other nation mounts such an intensive worldwide electronic spying operation. Spying on EU trade negotiators discussing banana quotas has nothing to do with so-called terrorism. The real 'national security' issue involved here is the security of hypocritical politicians and career bureaucrats." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEric Margolis: Spying Run Amok

Farm Bill: Are Republicans the “Stupid Party” or the “Big-Government Party”…or Both?

"It should go without saying that America’s agriculture policy has always been a terrible, stupid, counterproductive exercise in self-dealing cronyism. But when House Republicans severed the traditional connection, arbitrary but politically effective, between farm subsidies and food stamps, it briefly seemed like they were looking for an opportunity to put libertarian populist principle into practice, by separating both outlays in order to trim or reform both separately. But no — instead they were just making it easier for the party’s congressmen to vote for a bloated, awful big government program that benefits mostly-Republican states and interest groups." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFarm Bill: Are Republicans the “Stupid Party” or the “Big-Government Party”…or Both?

D.C.’s Walmart ‘Super Minimum Wage’ Is a Super Bad Idea

"Wal-Mart swiftly announced the abandonment of plans to open at least three stores in the District of Columbia following a vote by the city council to pass the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which effectively mandated a super minimum wage of $12.50 an hour that applied only to Wal-Mart. As a result, the residents of D.C.'s Ward 7– with a poverty rate of 34 percent and an unemployment rate of 17 percent – will now be denied a source of new jobs and inexpensive groceries and goods. Increasing the minimum wage beyond the productivity of the worker inflicts damage on the poor and the unskilled – the very people it is ostensibly designed to help." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C.’s Walmart ‘Super Minimum Wage’ Is a Super Bad Idea

How to Lose Friends, Citizens and Influence

"Imagine this: You were born in California, moved to New York for education or work, fell in love, married and had children. Even though you have faithfully paid taxes in New York and haven't lived in California for 25 years, suppose California law required that you also file your taxes there because you were born there. Though you may never have held a bank account in California, you must report all of your financial holdings to the State of California. Are you a signatory on your spouse's account? Then you must declare his bank accounts too. Your children must file their taxes in both California and New York and report any bank accounts they or their spouses may have." Continue reading →

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Beware the man on the white horse…

"As far back as ancient times, whenever civilizations fell into great crisis, people in desperation have almost invariably turned to a single individual who promised them better times. Of course, history is full of examples of men who did not give up power willingly once the crisis passed. The ancient historian Herodotus lists as many as fifty ‘tyrants’ in his writings, a word that has its origins in ancient Greek despotic rulers. For thousands of years, ambitious men have always taken advantage of crisis, social turmoil, and economic downturns to solidify their positions and take control… often creating even more destruction in their wake." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBeware the man on the white horse…