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Last year, the Supreme Court declared the D.C.’s gun control law unconstitutional(pdf). Now a federal appellate court has unanimouslydeclared that D.C. police’s aggressive”Neighborhood Safety Zone” (NSZ) checkpoint policy isunconstitutional(pdf)...


The NY Times reports today on various state government efforts to regulate yoga classes by forcing instructors to obtain a government license. I’m not going to get into why government licensing is a pernicious racket here...
Linda at 9:19am July 11
No racket. I just came from a class and the teacher or instructor shows you the poses. I can't see how you can do Yoga without someone. I also agree the gov is looking for another tax. Yeah, tea parties!
Robert at 11:18am July 11
Of course it can be taught. It does not, however, need to be nanny state regulated. Caveat Emptor.


As we watch California struggle with abudget deficitlarger than the entire Iranian government’s budget, it’s worth exploring how the stategot there. The biggest contributing factor: a staggering collapse in educational productivity...
Roger at 9:15am July 12
Interesting analysis and lets say it is correct.
1. Systemic problems like this are very easy to conceptualize a solution for that will be effective.
2. Getting these solutions in front of decision makers is impossible.
Therefore California and their political leaders DESERVE what they are getting.... Read More
Correlary: Stupidity is incurable.
1. Systemic problems like this are very easy to conceptualize a solution for that will be effective.
2. Getting these solutions in front of decision makers is impossible.
Therefore California and their political leaders DESERVE what they are getting.... Read More
Correlary: Stupidity is incurable.
Brian at 1:35pm July 12
Well said Roger!


The Cato Institute The case for doing nothing: How the government led us into the financial crisis http://bit.ly/49SvPV
Source: bit.ly
Jeffrey Miron is senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies at the Harvard University Department of Economics and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute.


“[O]nce it is clear that a bill will be coming to the president’s desk, the White House will post the bill online,” White House spokesman Nick Shapiro told New York Times reporter Katherine Seelye for her June 22 story on President Obama’s “Sunlight Before Signing” campaign pledge...


AYouTube videothat catches Bob Chanin, retiring general counsel of the National Education Association, callingright-wing groups”bastards” for attacking his soon-to-be-former employer has recently been making the rounds...


Nathan at 12:42pm July 10
We had no idea!
Robert at 12:47pm July 10
We need to get before the American people a proposal for a for-profit education system. It will be attacked, yet we need to start this conversation with the American people. If we have an open and honest discussion about the trillions of dollars already spent on publik edukation, what we have received in return for those dollars; and then contrast ... Read Morethat with a system which has an inentive to provide the consumer with a great product, then we will WIN this debate. Yet this discussion needs to start.


Nathan at 1:04pm July 10
Agreed. I believe they have such a program in N.O. or at least something of that genre.


That’s not quite the point of T. X. Hammes’ article in the current Armed Forces Journal, but it’s pretty close...


Andrew at 11:22pm July 10
imagining people in the pentagon reading off powerpoint slides in a meeting - that does not fill me with confidence.
Roger at 9:47am July 12
@Daniel: Right on the money. It was also the cause for ignoring system design flaws in the Space Shuttles. A blue ribbon committee came to that exact conclusion.
Short version:
Smart analysis is hard to come by. But systematically ignoring it is common as dirt.
... Read More
I have a blunt friend that says it this way. Stupidity is incurable.
Short version:
Smart analysis is hard to come by. But systematically ignoring it is common as dirt.
... Read More
I have a blunt friend that says it this way. Stupidity is incurable.


At The Quick and the Ed, Chad Aldeman disputes my assertionthat Duncan’s impact on Chicago public school achievement was near zero.To make his case, Aldeman cites the fact that scores rose during Duncan’s tenure on 3 out ofthe 4 available NAEP tests...


In a recent post, I noted how Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano was “taking the national ID tar baby in a loving embrace.” Now the administration seems to be similarly embracing the E-Verify government background check system...


Education policy is far too rarely driven by facts or logic — they’re just too inconvenient, mucking up both uber-hyped “crises” and warm-and-fuzzy myths...
Kenneth at 12:42pm July 9
I don't care where the scientists are born, just as long as they get here. Unfortunately, the United States is becoming a less desirable place to live and work due to increasing taxes and regulations and our loopy immigration laws that turn away many foreign-born applicants, even after they complete their Ph.D studies!


Anna at 1:30pm July 9
There is no shortage of skilled and experienced engineers in the US. There*is* a shortage of well-paid jobs for engineers, scientists and technicians. Getting $50k annually for 3000 hours of work and minimal bennies, as many contact houses are offering, is not keeping people in engineering vs , say, teaching, where you work 1500 hours / year and make that same $50k after 10 years.


Ann at 8:50am July 10
Our educational system sucks. So many great minds fail to become ignited in a system that has become a bloated bureaucracy. For those that actually complete an education in math or science - bravo!


In their desperate bid to findhalf a trillion dollars or so to fund a health care expansion, Democrats have no shortage of bad ideas. Indeed, theirnew idea is even worse than last month’sdastardlyplan tohike taxes on beer and wine...
Alicia at 10:57pm July 8
Thomas at 7:33pm July 9
higher taxes on beer, wine, smokes; legalize weed and tax that, tax each toilet flush, each tp square, and eventualy every fart in America. The big gov is going to have to find new ways to tax regular daily life. It's kinda like medieval England or a mafia controlled neighborhood.


The AP and other sources have been reporting on a “cyberattack” affecting South Korea and U.S. government Web sites, including the White House, Secret Service and Treasury Department. Allegedly mounted by North Korea, this attack puts various “cyber” threats in perspective...


Matthew at 1:33pm July 8
You know DC just wants real politics to be something closer to Neuromancer. Can't blame them for trying, right?
Lynn at 7:08pm July 8
When your First Lady has such marvelously toned arms, who cares if a hostile nation can bring down your government's computer system? Priorities!


CBS News reports that if you choose Obama’s government-run health plan, youmay be able to keep your doctor, but your doctor might not want to keep you. CBS sat down with Cato health care expert Michael C...


Anne at 12:06pm July 9
Well living past 75, bedridden incontinent and senile is no bargain for anyone either. Living longer is not always better.
Brett at 6:21pm July 9
As I understand, Cap & Trade has not yet made it through the Senate, and a massive overhaul of health care has yet to take place and may not take place at all. Stop being such a bunch of fatalistic pussies willing to bend over and quietly take it while Socialists give you the shaft. Even if it's a battle you're destined to lose, you can at least know you raised hell while you had the chance ....


The Cato Institute The Fed has become like a large fire department that has a fixed percentage of its employees who are arsonists, so as it gets bigger, there are always more fires. http://bit.ly/NpZdt
Source: bit.ly
Why is it that those who specialize in individual athletic events hold almost all the records as contrasted with those who compete in the same events as part of a pentathlon? Like the athlete who tries to do everything (or at least five things), the Federal Reserve (the U.S. ...


On my way into work this morning, I heard a report on the radioabout a proposal in California to tax marijuana in order to alleviate the state’s budget meltdown...


The Cato Institute Podcast: What the Ricci case means for the Sotomayor nomination http://bit.ly/ZkRqg


I’ve written about PASS ID here a couple of times before - first on whether or not it’s a national ID and, second, on the politics of this REAL ID revival bill. Now I’ll take a look at whether it fixes the privacy issues with REAL ID. Privacy is complicated. Buckle up...
Arlene at 4:49pm July 7
Ed, Your two conditions is how my great-grand parents got in thou Ellis Island. There is no shame in that! Another condition was that they learn English and speak it in public. Jobs weren't available to them if English isn't understood and written. Remember the old X for signature well now it should be fingerprints.
Alicia at 11:03pm July 8
Big brother is watching...


Normally I would be happy to leave labelling decisions to retailers and manufacturers, but here’s a proposal for a new mandatory labelling scheme that I can get behind. James Gibney, a reporter fromthe Atlantic, called me last week to ask somequestions aboutdairy supports...
Steve at 10:32am July 7
It's about transparency on the govt, for us. Almost anything that is government related, or taxpayer funded, etc... should have complete transparency IMO. This would be a great idea. Sicne we're being forced to pay for it -- we should know where our money is going so that we act accordingly.
Arlene at 4:41pm July 7
Logan that was the funniest read here yet...I bet they wouldn't do it. But to agree with Barha up top, I'd support defense also.


For seven months, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the media have bombarded us withtales of how Duncan dramatically boosted student achievement as leader of Chicago Public Schools. Based on two newindependent analyses,Duncan’s real impact appears to have been near zero...
David at 5:03am July 8
It really is sick when they get a bunch of morons together in one place and at one time and they all really think they are doing good. Sad thing is they all lied to get there and they are doing nothing but causing the rest of us grief.
Virginia at 7:20am July 8
I'd be way happier if I could think that at the end of this 1st (I hope only) term, the admin would be similarly judged as having had near zero impact. Sadly, the damage is already being cast in concrete, and will be substantial --- health-care, cap-and-trade, SCOTUS, education, business, innovation --- there's no place to hide. I think I heard someone ask "Who is John Galt?"




The UK has been operating in parallel to the United States on the national ID question, and rumors about the collapse of the UK national ID have been circulating for a couple of years. Now comes word that Home Secretary Alan Johnson will scrap the national ID card system, making it voluntary...
Tabatha at 6:59am July 7
Here is a link to a website...the site kinda tells it like it is
www.climatecooling.org
www.climatecooling.org


Shirley at 7:14am July 7
Crap and Trade says it all......I am going to drive the biggest *&*^& car I can find......just to be a bad child....Once when I was filling my Chrysler Aspen up, someone at the QT asked me how I was paying to fill it up with the prices going up.....I looked at them and said "Work." So they pointed out the upwardly mobile prices of that time, and I said, "More Work"...they gave up on conversation with me........


You know all those promises that spending more taxpayers’ money on some program will actually result in taxpayer savings — eventually...
John at 7:22pm July 6
Well people you got what you asked for . You wanted change you got it now live with it
John at 9:19pm July 6
You know there are always con men willing to say this will save you money down the road, this is a wise investment, well remember this, Uncle Sam has run the largest Ponzi Scheme ever, it is called Social Security and the "trust" fund which, oh by the way they forgot to mention contains no cash, only 4 trillion dollars in IOUS stashed there during... Read More the last 40 years while all the money paid in that did not get paid out that year was spent on anything else to reduce the size of the budget deficit. And why wasn't the transfer of 4 trillion dollars included in the federal budget deficit, because Congress chose to call monies transferred from Social Security payroll taxes into general fund at US Treasury and intragovernmental transfer. Not really what Kerry or anybody else was saying when they talked about a soSo Why should I beleive Obama or any President is going to find 300 billion dollars in savings in healthcare. Show me the money before we add a single person to Medicare basically.


The Cato Institute How the left could win the debate over health care reform.
Source: bit.ly
I’ve been struggling with how to respond to an article by The New Republic’s Jonathan Chait, who accuses conservatives of hypocrisy and Republicans of whorishness when it comes to wasteful spending ...


Jeff at 2:51pm July 6
Cincinnatus is long dead.
"Public Servents"? hmp.
"Public Servents"? hmp.


Vasos at 2:54pm July 6
Insurance, private or public, is the problem. It started with FDR WPA avoidance. And employer and individual insurance have to be taxed the SAME. The only insurance I could see working is capitation reinsurance for doctors. My granpa used to give his doctor cousin a goat every year to care for ten. If they got sicker than goat cost, doc paid/lost. ... Read MoreRegardless of what insurance (home, car, health), I always get fleeced. Only the salesman benefits. And they never KNOW what they are selling. CDS was no exception. I tried to buy $7.5K deductible with no HSA and they would only sell me <$2.5K or >$25K, yet Milton Friedman and RAND said decades earlier my amount (inflation adjusted) was right. Pay for your own dentist and you'll get long lasting amalgalm or just pull it instead of planned obsolescence porcelain bonding.


The Cato Institute Rhode Island looking into a drug decriminalization program.
Source: bit.ly
Criminalization of marijuana use never did make sense. Surely the results of the Drug War–billions of dollars wasted, tens of millions of regular users,millions of people arrested–have made it even more obvious that prohibition is a failure. And now,with the U.S. ...


The Cato Institute Obama is right when he says that the U.S. health care system needs reform. Here's a plan that will work.
Obama Doesn't Have the Only Prescription for Healthcare Reform | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute:
Source: bit.ly
Michael D. Tanner is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and coauthor of Healthy Competition: What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.


Health care analyst Uwe Reinhardt takes on critics of the Obama administration effort to “reform” health care, pointing out that the free market is a form of rationing...


Although the regime in Tehranfinally succeeded in suppressingdemonstrations protesting the fraudulant elections, other voices are being raised in Iran in defense of democracy...


Visit an American embassy almost anywhere in the world and it is likely to be a large, hulking, ugly fortress. Both size and security are dictated by the U.S. government’s seeming attempt to be dictatress of the world...


Both President Obama and Sen. John McCain cited the Founders in their weekly radio addresses today, as they made the case for government actions that would have appalled those Founders...
Jerry at 1:51am July 8
§900 cont.-(Story's Commentaries 1833)
Aristotle, in ancient times, upon a large survey of the republics of former days, and of the facile manner, in which they had been made the instruments of their own destruction, felt himself compelled to the melancholy reflection, which has been painfully repeated by one of the greatest statesmen of modern ... Read Moretimes, that a democracy has many striking points of resemblance with a tyranny. "The ethical character," says he, "is the same; both exercise despotism over the better class of citizens; and the decrees are in the one, what ordinances and arrets are in the other. The demagogue, too, and the court favourite are not unfrequently the same identical men, and always bear a close analogy. And these have the principal power, each in their respective governments, favourites with the absolute monarch, and demagogues with a people, such as I have described.
Aristotle, in ancient times, upon a large survey of the republics of former days, and of the facile manner, in which they had been made the instruments of their own destruction, felt himself compelled to the melancholy reflection, which has been painfully repeated by one of the greatest statesmen of modern ... Read Moretimes, that a democracy has many striking points of resemblance with a tyranny. "The ethical character," says he, "is the same; both exercise despotism over the better class of citizens; and the decrees are in the one, what ordinances and arrets are in the other. The demagogue, too, and the court favourite are not unfrequently the same identical men, and always bear a close analogy. And these have the principal power, each in their respective governments, favourites with the absolute monarch, and demagogues with a people, such as I have described.
Jerry at 1:58am July 8
§ 901.-(Story's Commentaries 1833)
This dark picture...affords a warning, which, like all the lessons of past experience, we are not permitted to disregard. America, free, happy, and enlightened, as she is, must rest the preservation of her rights and liberties upon the virtue, independence, justice, and sagacity of the people. If either fail, the... Read More Republic is gone. Its shadow may remain with all the pomp, and circumstance, and trickery of government, but its vital power will have departed. In America, the demagogue may arise, as well as elsewhere. He is the natural, though spurious growth of republics; and like the courtier he may, by his blandishments, delude the ears, and blind the eyes of the people to their own destruction. If ever the day shall arrive, in which the best talents and the best virtues shall be driven from office by intrigue or corruption, by the ostracism of the press, legislation will cease to be national. It will be wise by accident, and bad by system.
This dark picture...affords a warning, which, like all the lessons of past experience, we are not permitted to disregard. America, free, happy, and enlightened, as she is, must rest the preservation of her rights and liberties upon the virtue, independence, justice, and sagacity of the people. If either fail, the... Read More Republic is gone. Its shadow may remain with all the pomp, and circumstance, and trickery of government, but its vital power will have departed. In America, the demagogue may arise, as well as elsewhere. He is the natural, though spurious growth of republics; and like the courtier he may, by his blandishments, delude the ears, and blind the eyes of the people to their own destruction. If ever the day shall arrive, in which the best talents and the best virtues shall be driven from office by intrigue or corruption, by the ostracism of the press, legislation will cease to be national. It will be wise by accident, and bad by system.


I’ve been struggling with how to respond to an article by The New Republic’s Jonathan Chait, who accuses conservatives of hypocrisy and Republicans of whorishness when it comes to wasteful spending in Medicare and other government health programs...
George at 4:59am July 4
The people that give Canada and the UK as great examples of medical care models, are not getting the whole story. One example is the higher incidence of mortality in women with breast care versus the US. Criticized for ordering "too many" mammograms and costly "CT scans", the current US system is saving lifes of women, where the UK is not. I can ... Read Moregive Medicare examples where decisions are made for bureaucratic reasons and not valid medical ones. Regulations end up costing taxpayers more money with little gain or justification.
David at 12:03pm July 5
exactly. They will hold a gun to your head as they clean out your wallet. They are not promising not to penalize people who do not sign up for their plan. They are blanetly standing there saying they will fine you $1,000 if you do not sign up. That is just the begining.


Yesterday, the SEC repealed a long-standing rule which allowed brokers to vote shares on behalf of their investors, unless they obtained written directions from each individual investors. While investors have long been able to direct the voting of their shares, many do not take the time to...


Andy McCarthy makes a good point over at The Corner about Laith al-Khazali, a member of a Shiite militant group responsible for the deaths of American troops in Iraq. Al-Khazali has been released, allegedly as part of negotiations with terrorists holding British hostages...


The Cato Institute The statist agenda behind the largest tax increase in American history.
Source: bit.ly
Why did a bare majority (219-212) of the members of the U.S. Congress vote for the largest tax increase in American history this past Friday, under the claim it was a vote to save the climate?


Bryant at 6:51am July 3
Mr Kilmartin : CO2 can in fact be looked upon as a harmful emission in as much as it contributes to atmospheric imbalance. And I am talking about industryial , not biological sources. Other pollutants associated with the burning of fossil fuels , coal in particular are even nastier. Just let me know how you feel about that coal plant when they ... Read Morewant to build it in YOUR backyard. Bottom line is that people are just going to have to get used to the reality of the cost of the energy we use in massive quantities.
Tim at 9:26am July 5
This so called 'Climate' Bill will do noting but destroy the American way of life. Not suprising though, the Statists hate the American way of life, and now that they are in charge, are hell bent on destroying it. I hope we can last until November 2010.


The Cato Institute Don't be fooled. Here's why Wal-Mart wants the government to force employers to provide health insurance.
Source: bit.ly
A couple of years ago, I shared a cab to the airport with a Wal-Mart lobbyist, who told me that Wal-Mart supports an “employer mandate.” An employer mandate is a legal requirement that employers ...
Adrian at 2:19pm July 2
There's always a catch when one of the largest corporations that has been criticized for not providing benefits for its employees, decides to support a socialist plan of medicine. Sounds like a sort of mob rule type of arrangement Obama and Wal-Mart are making here.


The Cato Institute Socialized medicine? Government-run health care? It doesn't matter what you call it. It's a bad idea.
Source: bit.ly
Michael Tanner is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and coauthor of Healthy Competition:What's Holding Back Health Care and How to Free It.


Technically, it was the companies which raised their fees. But they didso to anticipate new legislative restrictions on fees taking effect. Congress wanted to cut costs for consumers, but ended up costing them instead...


Economists have advanced many theories of taxation. But as usual, the one that seems to explain the policies of the Obama administration best is what I call the Mikulski Principle,the theory most clearly enunciated in 1990 by Sen...


It’s fair to say that civil liberties and limited government were not high on President George W. Bush’s priorities list. Indeed, they probably weren’t even on the list. Candidate Barack Obama promised “change” when he took office, and change we have gotten...


The European Union has helped create a continental European market and knock down protectionist barriers, which is good. But it also has created another opportunity for meddling bureaucrats to interfere with people’s lives. Now consumer protests have led to at least one victory for liberty...


The United States isgoingto cut back on airstrikes in Afghanistan, according to the newcommander there, Gen. Stanley McChrystal...


The Cato Institute "I am a firm believer in the power of the free market," -President Barack Obama. Now, for the facts...
Source: bit.ly
"I am a firm believer in the power of the free market," President Obama told the Wall Street Journal recently. The "irony" surrounding his public image as a collectivist, the president insisted, was that "I actually would like to see a relatively light touch when it comes to the government."


The Cato Institute Supreme Court comes down solidly for upholding the equal protection of the law. http://bit.ly/VVPBn #scotus #Ricci v. Destefano
Source: bit.ly
In its opinion today in Ricci v. DeStefano, the Supreme Court came down solidly for upholding the equal protection of the law.


The Cato Institute Hillary Clinton, a controversial film and a battle for free speech.
Source: bit.ly
The so-called Citizens United case offers the Supreme Court a chance to severely curtail the free speech abuses of the Federal Election Commission. John Samples, Director of the Cato Institute's Center ...


The Cato Institute Iraq "no longer America’s war." Let's hope Iraqis take advantage of the opportunity they now enjoy.
Source: bit.ly
The U.S. is not yet out of Iraq, but American forces have pulled back from Iraqi cities. Iraq’s future increasingly is in the hands of Iraqis. And most Iraqis appear to be celebrating.


The Cato Institute Wondering what this whole "cybersecurity" thing is all about? See it here.
Source: bit.ly
Last week, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on the topic of “cybersecurity.” I have been reluctant to opine on it because ...


The president and his appointees have expressed their hope that Government Motors will eventually pay backtaxpayers for their “forced investment” in the company. But there aren’t many cases ofthis sort oflemon socialism actually paying off...


Dustin at 10:06am June 30
Article I, Sec. 8 and the Fifth Amendment are Constitutional authority. Even if it was unconstitutional, it wouldn't be criminal, just invalid.
Bad policy, but not unconstitutional policy.
Bad policy, but not unconstitutional policy.


Anne at 11:22am June 30
Well what I have heard is that we should stop looking at the GM situation as anything except a gigantic jobs program. We certainly have enough of those... and did you notice that Fords stock is going up !


Last week, I had the opportunity to testify before the House Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on the topic of “cybersecurity.” I have been reluctant to opine on it because of its complexity, but I did issue a short piece a few months ago arguing against...


The U.S. is not yet out of Iraq, but American forces have pulled back from Iraqi cities. Iraq’s future increasingly is in the hands of Iraqis. And most Iraqis appear to be celebrating. Reports the Washington Post: This is no longer America’s war...
Mike at 7:51am June 30
its all their's-- we lost 4.324 brave men and woman, they better appreciate it. iof they don't take care of it themselves, we are NOT going back!!!!!


Sumit at 12:40pm June 30
I highly doubt, Iraq will be able to maintain itself cut off from American tax dollars and the daily attacks will probably make even their oil useless to them.


The Cato Institute In celebration of Independence Day, all Cato Facebook fans can claim their free copy of the pocket-size edition of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution. For a limited time, it will be sent straight to your home, so get yours today! http://www.cato.org/pocket-constitution/
Source: www.cato.org
To celebrate Independence Day, the Cato Institute is giving away our popular Pocket Constitution for a limited time. Fill out and submit the form below to receive your copy.


The Obama administration performed another Friday afternoon Guantanamo news dump last week, indicating that it will probably maintain administrative military detention of combatants under a forthcoming executive order. This is unnecessary executive unilateralism...


Ricci is a victory for merit over racial politics—which is appropriate given that the ruling overturns a lower court panel that included Sonia Sotomayor...
Mike at 8:52am June 29
This should have been a no-brainer. Is the second circuit the new ninth circuit now?


Jeff at 8:18pm June 29
New London was supposed to be obvious, too.
Paul at 4:23am June 30
Justice Ginsburg's discent was a joke and demonstrates my distain for liberals in general and liberal judges in particular. STOP legislating from the bench!! If you want to make laws then switch branches, otherwise, do what the judicial branch was intened to do, INTERPRET the law's Constitutionality. Don't interpret the law to your suit personal beliefs or conform to current norms!! And THAT's why Sotomayor scares me.


In its opinion today in Ricci v. DeStefano, the Supreme Court came down solidly for upholding the equal protection of the law...
Paul at 8:05am June 30
Right Paula, I am an American, no hypen. I am not a Czech-American, or a German/Czech-American, or German-American, or European-American, I simply am an American. Can we please drop the damn hypens!!


Anne at 11:30am June 30
The really sad thing is that no matter what the decision, some one would have sued.












































The Cato Institute