EXCERPT:
"An Israeli lawmaker is hoping to butter up voters and pass a law that would limit outrageous popcorn prices at the movies....
'We have to put an end to this. The public should not have to mortgage their houses for a soft drink and a snack,' Shama told the paper.
A large box of popcorn usually sells for about five dollars (four euros) at theatre concession stands, more than double what it costs at a supermarket and 10 times more than it would cost to make at home.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Healthcare and "Progressivism" - WSJ.com
"American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Christopher DeMuth, on the AEI Enterprise Blog:
Progressives believe that the natural course of history is the emergence of secular rationality as the true way to think about problems and of state power as the effective way to organize society along rational lines. If that is your worldview, then such things as revealed religion, cultural tradition, and the marketplace (whose outcomes are spontaneous, not rationalized) are vestiges of our primitive past, sure to be displaced by the spreading application of human reason. When liberal politicians describe themselves as 'progressives,' that is not just because 'liberal' has acquired unpopular connotations but because progressive is the more accurate word for their core beliefs....
The grip of progressivism is probably the best explanation for the Democratic Party's astonishing campaign to nationalize the U.S. healthcare sector by all means necessary. To attempt to enact a radical and unpopular program in a bill that includes many corrupt provisions, on a party-line vote and through a procedural trick (if the 'Slaughter solution' is employed) that seems clearly unconstitutional, appears quite mad and self-defeating to the outsider. But it is not mad ... to those who think it is ... historically inevitable that the government must administer medical care. In this view, the political actor is simply holding history's coat while it does its work. Political untidiness, even the loss of an election, are transitory considerations. The progressive mindset also explains, as more than populist demagoguery, the contempt that the proponents of ObamaCare exhibit for doctors and pharmaceutical and insurance companies—for they are the practitioners of a benighted form of health care that is about to be swept away by a new and higher form."
Progressives believe that the natural course of history is the emergence of secular rationality as the true way to think about problems and of state power as the effective way to organize society along rational lines. If that is your worldview, then such things as revealed religion, cultural tradition, and the marketplace (whose outcomes are spontaneous, not rationalized) are vestiges of our primitive past, sure to be displaced by the spreading application of human reason. When liberal politicians describe themselves as 'progressives,' that is not just because 'liberal' has acquired unpopular connotations but because progressive is the more accurate word for their core beliefs....
The grip of progressivism is probably the best explanation for the Democratic Party's astonishing campaign to nationalize the U.S. healthcare sector by all means necessary. To attempt to enact a radical and unpopular program in a bill that includes many corrupt provisions, on a party-line vote and through a procedural trick (if the 'Slaughter solution' is employed) that seems clearly unconstitutional, appears quite mad and self-defeating to the outsider. But it is not mad ... to those who think it is ... historically inevitable that the government must administer medical care. In this view, the political actor is simply holding history's coat while it does its work. Political untidiness, even the loss of an election, are transitory considerations. The progressive mindset also explains, as more than populist demagoguery, the contempt that the proponents of ObamaCare exhibit for doctors and pharmaceutical and insurance companies—for they are the practitioners of a benighted form of health care that is about to be swept away by a new and higher form."
'Atlas Shrugged': From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years - Stephen Moore - WSJ.com
EXCERPT:
"Many of us who know Rand's work have noticed that with each passing week, and with each successive bailout plan and economic-stimulus scheme out of Washington, our current politicians are committing the very acts of economic lunacy that 'Atlas Shrugged' parodied in 1957, when this 1,000-page novel was first published and became an instant hit....
For the uninitiated, the moral of the story is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism....
The current economic strategy is right out of 'Atlas Shrugged': The more incompetent you are in business, the more handouts the politicians will bestow on you. That's the justification for the $2 trillion of subsidies doled out already to keep afloat distressed insurance companies, banks, Wall Street investment houses, and auto companies -- while standing next in line for their share of the booty are real-estate developers, the steel industry, chemical companies, airlines, ethanol producers, construction firms and even catfish farmers. With each successive bailout to 'calm the markets,' another trillion of national wealth is subsequently lost. Yet, as 'Atlas' grimly foretold, we now treat the incompetent who wreck their companies as victims, while those resourceful business owners who manage to make a profit are portrayed as recipients of illegitimate 'windfalls.'"
"Many of us who know Rand's work have noticed that with each passing week, and with each successive bailout plan and economic-stimulus scheme out of Washington, our current politicians are committing the very acts of economic lunacy that 'Atlas Shrugged' parodied in 1957, when this 1,000-page novel was first published and became an instant hit....
For the uninitiated, the moral of the story is simply this: Politicians invariably respond to crises -- that in most cases they themselves created -- by spawning new government programs, laws and regulations. These, in turn, generate more havoc and poverty, which inspires the politicians to create more programs . . . and the downward spiral repeats itself until the productive sectors of the economy collapse under the collective weight of taxes and other burdens imposed in the name of fairness, equality and do-goodism....
The current economic strategy is right out of 'Atlas Shrugged': The more incompetent you are in business, the more handouts the politicians will bestow on you. That's the justification for the $2 trillion of subsidies doled out already to keep afloat distressed insurance companies, banks, Wall Street investment houses, and auto companies -- while standing next in line for their share of the booty are real-estate developers, the steel industry, chemical companies, airlines, ethanol producers, construction firms and even catfish farmers. With each successive bailout to 'calm the markets,' another trillion of national wealth is subsequently lost. Yet, as 'Atlas' grimly foretold, we now treat the incompetent who wreck their companies as victims, while those resourceful business owners who manage to make a profit are portrayed as recipients of illegitimate 'windfalls.'"
A Point of No Return? - Thomas Sowell
EXCERPT:
"With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America.
Even the massive transfer of crucial decisions from millions of doctors and patients to Washington bureaucrats and advisory panels-- as momentous as that is-- does not measure the full impact of this largely unread and certainly unscrutinized legislation.
If the current legislation does not entail the transmission of all our individual medical records to Washington, it will take only an administrative regulation or, at most, an Executive Order of the President, to do that.
With politicians now having not only access to our most confidential records, and having the power of granting or withholding medical care needed to sustain ourselves or our loved ones, how many people will be bold enough to criticize our public servants, who will in fact have become our public masters?"
"With the passage of the legislation allowing the federal government to take control of the medical care system of the United States, a major turning point has been reached in the dismantling of the values and institutions of America.
Even the massive transfer of crucial decisions from millions of doctors and patients to Washington bureaucrats and advisory panels-- as momentous as that is-- does not measure the full impact of this largely unread and certainly unscrutinized legislation.
If the current legislation does not entail the transmission of all our individual medical records to Washington, it will take only an administrative regulation or, at most, an Executive Order of the President, to do that.
With politicians now having not only access to our most confidential records, and having the power of granting or withholding medical care needed to sustain ourselves or our loved ones, how many people will be bold enough to criticize our public servants, who will in fact have become our public masters?"
Who Poses the Greater Threat? - Walter E. Williams
EXCERPT:
"Bill Gates is the world's richest person, but what kind of power does he have over you? Can he force your kid to go to a school you do not want him to attend? Can he deny you the right to braid hair in your home for a living? It turns out that a local politician, who might deny us the right to earn a living and dictates which school our kid attends, has far greater power over our lives than any rich person. Rich people can gain power over us, but to do so, they must get permission from our elected representatives at the federal, state or local levels. For example, I might wish to purchase sugar from a Caribbean producer, but America's sugar lobby pays congressmen hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to impose sugar import tariffs and quotas, forcing me and every other American to purchase their more expensive sugar."
"Bill Gates is the world's richest person, but what kind of power does he have over you? Can he force your kid to go to a school you do not want him to attend? Can he deny you the right to braid hair in your home for a living? It turns out that a local politician, who might deny us the right to earn a living and dictates which school our kid attends, has far greater power over our lives than any rich person. Rich people can gain power over us, but to do so, they must get permission from our elected representatives at the federal, state or local levels. For example, I might wish to purchase sugar from a Caribbean producer, but America's sugar lobby pays congressmen hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to impose sugar import tariffs and quotas, forcing me and every other American to purchase their more expensive sugar."
Monday, March 22, 2010
Greece Finds Villain in Germany's Competitiveness - WSJ.com
EXCERPT:
"FRANKFURT—Greece and Europe's other intensive-care economies face a threat that can't be solved by cutting public spending or raising taxes: a loss of competitiveness.
And in the eyes of those struggling economies, the villain is Germany—the euro zone's largest economy—which has emerged in recent years as the region's most competitive. By raising the competitive bar, Germany makes it that much harder for its neighbors to compete to sell their goods and services at home and abroad, a factor that in turn affects their ability to grow out of their current debt-laden holes.
To be sure, German wages are high, but even higher productivity means it is relatively cheaper to hire workers and produce high-value manufactured products there, even compared with traditionally lower-cost Greece, Portugal or Spain....
There are three ways for countries to make their products attractive globally: rein in labor cost growth; improve productivity; and devalue currencies. The last option isn't available to the euro zone, which has a single currency that is, by most measures, still overvalued. The first two, though helpful over time, imply economic pain for years."
"FRANKFURT—Greece and Europe's other intensive-care economies face a threat that can't be solved by cutting public spending or raising taxes: a loss of competitiveness.
And in the eyes of those struggling economies, the villain is Germany—the euro zone's largest economy—which has emerged in recent years as the region's most competitive. By raising the competitive bar, Germany makes it that much harder for its neighbors to compete to sell their goods and services at home and abroad, a factor that in turn affects their ability to grow out of their current debt-laden holes.
To be sure, German wages are high, but even higher productivity means it is relatively cheaper to hire workers and produce high-value manufactured products there, even compared with traditionally lower-cost Greece, Portugal or Spain....
There are three ways for countries to make their products attractive globally: rein in labor cost growth; improve productivity; and devalue currencies. The last option isn't available to the euro zone, which has a single currency that is, by most measures, still overvalued. The first two, though helpful over time, imply economic pain for years."
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Health-Care Wars Are Only Beginning - WSJ.com
EXCERPT:
"America will be in a constant health-care war if ObamaCare is enacted. Passage wouldn't end the health-care debate. Rather, it would perpetuate ObamaCare as the dominant issue for decades to come, reshape politics, create an annual funding crisis in Congress, and generate a spate of angry lawsuits. Yet few in Washington seem aware of what lies ahead."
"America will be in a constant health-care war if ObamaCare is enacted. Passage wouldn't end the health-care debate. Rather, it would perpetuate ObamaCare as the dominant issue for decades to come, reshape politics, create an annual funding crisis in Congress, and generate a spate of angry lawsuits. Yet few in Washington seem aware of what lies ahead."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Opportunity to join the NSU SIFE Team
The NSU SIFE Team is preparing for next year, and is seeking to recruit new members to attend regional SIFE competition to be held in Dallas on Tuesday, March 30th. The team is going as observers so new members can get a sense of what SIFE is all about. If you think you might be interested in being a part of the team next year, contact Bob Jones (College of Business) or Traci LaBom-Norris (Counseling and Career Services) for more information.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING ON THE SIFE TEAM?
- You get opportunities to practice using the skills you learned in the classroom to address real world problems.
- You develop your teamwork and leadership skills by working with an organization that is known and respected by major U.S. corporations.
- You get business-related experience that you can list on your resume.
- JOBS! You get to attend the Career Faire at SIFE competition and talk with human resource executives from SIFE donor companies. This is a great opportunity to network with business leaders.
- You get to make friendships that can last a lifetime.
VIDEOS
- See the student perspective on SIFE
- See why businesses participate in SIFE
- Watch the video I showed in class about SIFE competition
WHY CONSIDER GOING TO COMPETITION?
- You can talk with donor companies (bring copies of your resume).
- You get to attend presentations by other SIFE teams where you learn about projects that other teams have designed and executed.
- You get an opportunity to get to know other SIFE Team members.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
The exact cost will depend on how many people go (we’re hoping for 12). It will probably be at least $20 but no more than $30 per person. This money will be used to cover the cost of hotel rooms, parking at the conference, and gas reimbursement to people who drive.
WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?
- Professional business dress.
- Resumes (optional)
- Money for anything you want to buy (lunch Tuesday is provided by SIFE at no charge)
WHERE WILL WE BE STAYING?
We have reservations at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Dallas Market Center . Competition will be at the Hilton Anatole, less than 1 mile away.
WHEN ARE WE LEAVING AND RETURNING?
The team will be leaving from the parking lot in front of Russell Hall Monday afternoon (April 29th), probably around 3 pm but there’s some flexibility here.
We will observe competing teams, and visit the career faire, between 9:00 and 3:30 PM. We should be back by 7 or 8 PM Tuesday night.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO NOW IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT GOING?
Contact Bob Jones as soon as possible. Russell room 230. 357-4581. Also, let us know if you would be willing to drive your car. Anyone who drives will be reimbursed for the cost of the gas used to and from Dallas.
Register at the national SIFE web site
DEADLINE:
We will need a check for the required amount by noon, Monday the 22nd.
MISCELLANEOUS
Meetings in the fall will be on Mondays at 12:00. Remember to leave this time slot open when you schedule your fall classes.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The core irrationality of American health care - WSJ
EXCERPT:
The core irrationality "in American health care, something that economists have spent decades begging the political class to fix. Namely: "Because most consumers of health care are largely insulated from directly paying for the services they use, health care is generally perceived as an unlimited free good. . . . Wants and needs become insatiable when care is believed to be free."
"Mr. Battistella begins with the original sin of modern American health care: the government's World War II-era decision that gave businesses tax incentives to sponsor insurance for their workers but that did not extend the same dispensation to individuals. Since third parties were paying most of the bills—employers at first and eventually, with the creation of Medicare in 1965, the government as well— no one had any reason to be assiduous about controlling the cost of care. Patients always seemed to be spending someone else's money.
The core irrationality "in American health care, something that economists have spent decades begging the political class to fix. Namely: "Because most consumers of health care are largely insulated from directly paying for the services they use, health care is generally perceived as an unlimited free good. . . . Wants and needs become insatiable when care is believed to be free."
"Mr. Battistella begins with the original sin of modern American health care: the government's World War II-era decision that gave businesses tax incentives to sponsor insurance for their workers but that did not extend the same dispensation to individuals. Since third parties were paying most of the bills—employers at first and eventually, with the creation of Medicare in 1965, the government as well— no one had any reason to be assiduous about controlling the cost of care. Patients always seemed to be spending someone else's money.
Dollar Weakens on Reports of Obama's Potential Fed Picks - WSJ.com
EXCERPT:
"NEW YORK—The dollar weakened broadly amid concerns that U.S. monetary policy may stay loose for a while.
The buck reacted to White House confirmation that Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Janet Yellen is the "top contender" to succeed Donald Kohn as Fed vice chairman. To help the economy recovery, Ms. Yellen favors keeping interest rates low, and the prospect that the Fed's loose monetary policy would stay in force longer pressured the greenback. Mr. Kohn is set to retire in June.
The dollar slumped 0.9% against the U.K. pound and the Swiss franc, while the euro touched $1.3796, the strongest point since Feb. 11. The greenback also plunged to a 19-month low against the Canadian dollar at C$1.0157.
Investors will be watching the Federal Open Market Committee's rate-setting meeting on Tuesday for policy clues in the statement following the rate announcement. The Fed is widely expected to leave rates unchanged near zero.
"NEW YORK—The dollar weakened broadly amid concerns that U.S. monetary policy may stay loose for a while.
The buck reacted to White House confirmation that Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President Janet Yellen is the "top contender" to succeed Donald Kohn as Fed vice chairman. To help the economy recovery, Ms. Yellen favors keeping interest rates low, and the prospect that the Fed's loose monetary policy would stay in force longer pressured the greenback. Mr. Kohn is set to retire in June.
The dollar slumped 0.9% against the U.K. pound and the Swiss franc, while the euro touched $1.3796, the strongest point since Feb. 11. The greenback also plunged to a 19-month low against the Canadian dollar at C$1.0157.
Investors will be watching the Federal Open Market Committee's rate-setting meeting on Tuesday for policy clues in the statement following the rate announcement. The Fed is widely expected to leave rates unchanged near zero.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Alice in Medical Care: Part IV - Thomas Sowell
EXCERPT:
"The loss of one doctor-- even a very good doctor-- may not seem very important in the grand scheme of heady medical care "reform" and glittering phrases about "universal health care." But making the medical profession more of a hassle for doctors risks losing more doctors, while increasing the demand for treatment.
"The loss of one doctor-- even a very good doctor-- may not seem very important in the grand scheme of heady medical care "reform" and glittering phrases about "universal health care." But making the medical profession more of a hassle for doctors risks losing more doctors, while increasing the demand for treatment.
Alice in Health Care: Part III - Thomas Sowell
EXCERPT:
"If medical insurance simply covered risks-- which is what insurance is all about-- that would be far less expensive than covering completely predictable things like annual checkups. Far more people could afford medical insurance, thereby reducing the ranks of the uninsured.
But all the political incentives are for politicians to create mandates forcing insurance companies to cover an ever increasing range of treatments, and thereby forcing those who buy insurance to pay ever higher premiums to cover the costs of these mandates.
That way, politicians can play Santa Claus and make insurance companies play Scrooge. It is great political theater. Politicians who are pushing for a government-controlled medical care system say that it will "keep insurance companies honest." The very idea of politicians keeping other people honest ought to tell us what a farce this is. But if we keep buying it, they will keep selling it.
One of the ways of reducing the costs of medical insurance would be to pass federal legislation putting an end to state regulation of insurance companies. That would instantly eliminate thousands of state mandates, which force insurance to cover everything from wigs to marriage counseling, depending on which special interests are influential in which states.
It would also promote nationwide competition among insurance companies-- and competition keeps prices down better than politicians will. Moreover, competition can bring down the costs behind the prices, in part by forcing less efficient insurance companies out of business.
"If medical insurance simply covered risks-- which is what insurance is all about-- that would be far less expensive than covering completely predictable things like annual checkups. Far more people could afford medical insurance, thereby reducing the ranks of the uninsured.
But all the political incentives are for politicians to create mandates forcing insurance companies to cover an ever increasing range of treatments, and thereby forcing those who buy insurance to pay ever higher premiums to cover the costs of these mandates.
That way, politicians can play Santa Claus and make insurance companies play Scrooge. It is great political theater. Politicians who are pushing for a government-controlled medical care system say that it will "keep insurance companies honest." The very idea of politicians keeping other people honest ought to tell us what a farce this is. But if we keep buying it, they will keep selling it.
One of the ways of reducing the costs of medical insurance would be to pass federal legislation putting an end to state regulation of insurance companies. That would instantly eliminate thousands of state mandates, which force insurance to cover everything from wigs to marriage counseling, depending on which special interests are influential in which states.
It would also promote nationwide competition among insurance companies-- and competition keeps prices down better than politicians will. Moreover, competition can bring down the costs behind the prices, in part by forcing less efficient insurance companies out of business.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Airlines Will Cancel Flights to Avoid Risk of Fines for Delays | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth
EXCERPTS:
"Passengers may soon be seeing more cancellations on airport departure boards.
Several airlines, including Fort Worth-based American and Houston-based Continental, say they will cancel flights rather than risk paying stiff penalties for delaying passengers on the runway."
Under new federal guidelines that take effect next month, airlines can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger if a plane is stuck on the tarmac for longer than three hours.
“How can they say there is nothing wrong with having someone sit on a seat and run out of water and everything and sit on there for three, four, five hours? That's ridiculous,” Kelly said.
With the new fines, a delayed MD-80 could cost American Airlines close to $4 million, and a fine for a full 757 could cost more than $5 million.
“It's unavoidable that more flights will be canceled to avoid fines,” said American Airlines spokesman Steve Schlachter. “It's one of the unintended consequences of a bill that has no flexibility.”
"Passengers may soon be seeing more cancellations on airport departure boards.
Several airlines, including Fort Worth-based American and Houston-based Continental, say they will cancel flights rather than risk paying stiff penalties for delaying passengers on the runway."
Under new federal guidelines that take effect next month, airlines can be fined up to $27,500 per passenger if a plane is stuck on the tarmac for longer than three hours.
“How can they say there is nothing wrong with having someone sit on a seat and run out of water and everything and sit on there for three, four, five hours? That's ridiculous,” Kelly said.
With the new fines, a delayed MD-80 could cost American Airlines close to $4 million, and a fine for a full 757 could cost more than $5 million.
“It's unavoidable that more flights will be canceled to avoid fines,” said American Airlines spokesman Steve Schlachter. “It's one of the unintended consequences of a bill that has no flexibility.”
Monday, March 8, 2010
Lyrics and Guide to "Fear the Boom and Bust" rap video
If you're wondering what the lyrics to the video actually mean, this gives a fairly-detailed explanation.
How Should Medicare Pay Doctors? : NPR
You really should listen to this whole interview. You get the feeling they were starting a program without first figuring out how it would really work, and how it would change incentives and behavior. They planned to get it started, then worry about the details. Sound familiar?
EXCERPT:
"CHANA JOFFE-WALT: In 1965, Joe Califano had to answer a question. He didn't know it was such a big question, or a question that would change the course of health care in American for the next five decades. It just seemed simple: How should the government pay doctors?
DAVID KESTENBAUM: Califano was President Lyndon Johnson's adviser for domestic affairs. And the government was about to get into the health insurance business in a huge way - about to launch the largest health insurance plan we've ever had: Medicare. But the idea made doctors nervous, so LBJ, Califano and lawmakers made what seemed like a small concession. The government told doctors: We will pay you for every procedure you do. How much will we pay you? Whatever you think is right.
JOFFE-WALT: Califano shakes his head describing that call now. But he says, look, the government needed doctors to participate. If doctors didn't accept Medicare, wouldn't see patients covered by Medicare, the whole thing would fail."
EXCERPT:
"CHANA JOFFE-WALT: In 1965, Joe Califano had to answer a question. He didn't know it was such a big question, or a question that would change the course of health care in American for the next five decades. It just seemed simple: How should the government pay doctors?
DAVID KESTENBAUM: Califano was President Lyndon Johnson's adviser for domestic affairs. And the government was about to get into the health insurance business in a huge way - about to launch the largest health insurance plan we've ever had: Medicare. But the idea made doctors nervous, so LBJ, Califano and lawmakers made what seemed like a small concession. The government told doctors: We will pay you for every procedure you do. How much will we pay you? Whatever you think is right.
JOFFE-WALT: Califano shakes his head describing that call now. But he says, look, the government needed doctors to participate. If doctors didn't accept Medicare, wouldn't see patients covered by Medicare, the whole thing would fail."
Should insurance companies ration care acccording to who can pay and who can't?
EXCERPT:
"Dear Mr. Obama:
"CBS radio news this morning ran a clip of one of your recent speeches. In it, you criticize insurance companies because they “ration coverage … according to who can pay and who can’t.”
"Not only insurers, but all producers who greedily refuse to supply persons who don’t pay should be set aright. Now I’m sure that you [President Obama] don’t ration the supply of the books you write according to any criteria as sordid as requiring people actually to pay for them. But our society is full of people less enlightened than you.
"For example, the typical worker rations his labor services according to who pays and who doesn’t. That must stop. Oh, and supermarkets! Every single one rations groceries according to who pays. Likewise with restaurants, clothing stores, home-builders, furniture makers, even lawyers! You name it, rationing is done according to who pays. Indeed, my own county government has been corrupted by this greedy attitude: if I don’t pay my taxes, the sheriff takes my house – effectively booting me out of the county merely because I didn’t pay for its services....
"Dear Mr. Obama:
"CBS radio news this morning ran a clip of one of your recent speeches. In it, you criticize insurance companies because they “ration coverage … according to who can pay and who can’t.”
"Not only insurers, but all producers who greedily refuse to supply persons who don’t pay should be set aright. Now I’m sure that you [President Obama] don’t ration the supply of the books you write according to any criteria as sordid as requiring people actually to pay for them. But our society is full of people less enlightened than you.
"For example, the typical worker rations his labor services according to who pays and who doesn’t. That must stop. Oh, and supermarkets! Every single one rations groceries according to who pays. Likewise with restaurants, clothing stores, home-builders, furniture makers, even lawyers! You name it, rationing is done according to who pays. Indeed, my own county government has been corrupted by this greedy attitude: if I don’t pay my taxes, the sheriff takes my house – effectively booting me out of the county merely because I didn’t pay for its services....
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Our own Greek tragedy - Washington Times - STEYN:
EXCERPT:
"While President Obama was making his latest pitch for a brand new, even more unsustainable entitlement at the health care "summit," thousands of Greeks took to the streets to riot. An enterprising cable network might have shown the two scenes on a continuous split screen - because they're part of the same story. It's just that Greece is a little further along in the plot: They're at the point where the canoe is about to plunge over the falls. America is further upstream and can still pull for shore, but has decided instead that what it needs to do is catch up with the Greek canoe.
"While President Obama was making his latest pitch for a brand new, even more unsustainable entitlement at the health care "summit," thousands of Greeks took to the streets to riot. An enterprising cable network might have shown the two scenes on a continuous split screen - because they're part of the same story. It's just that Greece is a little further along in the plot: They're at the point where the canoe is about to plunge over the falls. America is further upstream and can still pull for shore, but has decided instead that what it needs to do is catch up with the Greek canoe.
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