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Aristophanes, Central Planning, and the Enduring Appeal of Utopian Fantasies (6/9/2019)
As libertarians are often fans of innovation and technological progress, it can be a bit tempting to place a lot of hope in technical solutions. Is the technology, as yet, up to the task? Even if it were possible for a computer to create a “utopia,” should we use it that way?
As libertarians are often fans of innovation and technological progress, it can be a bit tempting to place a lot of hope in technical solutions. Is the technology, as yet, up to the task? Even if it were possible for a computer to create a “utopia,” should we use it that way?
The Loophole in a Famous Adage on Limited Government (6/2/2019)
“The government should do only those things which private citizens cannot do for themselves,” people say. The problem with this phrase, Leonard Read, once observed it that is has a a “leak” through which an authoritarian can wiggle.
“The government should do only those things which private citizens cannot do for themselves,” people say. The problem with this phrase, Leonard Read, once observed it that is has a a “leak” through which an authoritarian can wiggle.
Why Art Schools Are Disappearing (6/1/2019)
High school dropouts are more likely to get a job than art majors, data show.
High school dropouts are more likely to get a job than art majors, data show.
Why We Need More Intellectual Humility and Less Moral Outrage (5/31/2019)
While there has probably never been an excess of intellectual humility in Washington, D.C., it’s rarely been as nakedly apparent as it is today.
While there has probably never been an excess of intellectual humility in Washington, D.C., it’s rarely been as nakedly apparent as it is today.
Charters Have Achieved Their Original Goal: Innovation (5/31/2019)
The Michaela School is unlike any other predominantly poor school. The hallways are silent. Lunches are served and eaten family-style with students serving each other. Demerits are given for infractions that are as minor as looking out the window during class.
The Michaela School is unlike any other predominantly poor school. The hallways are silent. Lunches are served and eaten family-style with students serving each other. Demerits are given for infractions that are as minor as looking out the window during class.
How to Talk to Children about Climate Change (5/31/2019)
The natural impulse is to want to explain how crushingly complicated the climate change issue is. However, this impulse is misguided. The activists do not base their position on reasoning and calculations. The Climate Kids don’t come to their demonstrations pushing wheelbarrows full of cost-benefit analyses.
The natural impulse is to want to explain how crushingly complicated the climate change issue is. However, this impulse is misguided. The activists do not base their position on reasoning and calculations. The Climate Kids don’t come to their demonstrations pushing wheelbarrows full of cost-benefit analyses.
The History of Gun Background Checks (5/30/2019)
Background checks for gun purchases can only do so much and are not the permanent solution to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and keeping Americans safe from gun violence. More concerning is that they give the state an ever-growing list of private citizens who own guns, and such a list has historically been used for subsequent gun confiscation attempts.
Background checks for gun purchases can only do so much and are not the permanent solution to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and keeping Americans safe from gun violence. More concerning is that they give the state an ever-growing list of private citizens who own guns, and such a list has historically been used for subsequent gun confiscation attempts.
Rising Education Costs Stem Primarily from More Teachers and Bigger Salaries, Not Administrative Bloat (5/30/2019)
In a recent study, economists Alex Tabarrok and Eric Helland analyzed rising education costs. The most popular explanation for why costs have soared—administrative bloat—is wrong, but the explanation turns out to be simple.
In a recent study, economists Alex Tabarrok and Eric Helland analyzed rising education costs. The most popular explanation for why costs have soared—administrative bloat—is wrong, but the explanation turns out to be simple.
Facebook’s Fate May Hinge on Two Key Questions (5/30/2019)
Facebook officially became a publisher in 2018, the Guardian explains. “In a small courtroom in California…attorneys for the social media company…repeatedly argued, [Facebook] is a publisher, and…makes editorial decisions, which are protected by the first amendment.”
Facebook officially became a publisher in 2018, the Guardian explains. “In a small courtroom in California…attorneys for the social media company…repeatedly argued, [Facebook] is a publisher, and…makes editorial decisions, which are protected by the first amendment.”
Why Cosmetic Procedures Are Getting Cheaper (5/30/2019)
If the overall provision of health care in the United States were as cost-efficient as the delivery of cosmetic procedures, Americans would be much wealthier.
If the overall provision of health care in the United States were as cost-efficient as the delivery of cosmetic procedures, Americans would be much wealthier.
Today’s Schools Are Yesterday’s Streetcars: How Technology Will Transform Education (5/30/2019)
In his award-winning TED Talk, Newcastle University professor Sugata Mitra explained how children teach themselves without institutional schooling.
In his award-winning TED Talk, Newcastle University professor Sugata Mitra explained how children teach themselves without institutional schooling.
What the War on Poverty and the Vietnam War Had in Common (5/29/2019)
The War on Poverty and the Vietnam War have more in common than you can imagine. Robert McNamara applied to Vietnam the same principles of industrial management that he learned at Harvard Business School and successfully used while CEO of Ford.
The War on Poverty and the Vietnam War have more in common than you can imagine. Robert McNamara applied to Vietnam the same principles of industrial management that he learned at Harvard Business School and successfully used while CEO of Ford.
For Affordable Housing, Let Supply Meet Demand (5/29/2019)
A cursory look at some of the most unaffordable cities in the country—San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago—shows that subsidies are not making housing more affordable.
A cursory look at some of the most unaffordable cities in the country—San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago—shows that subsidies are not making housing more affordable.
Why a 15% Interest Cap on Loans Would Hurt the People It’s Intended to Help (5/29/2019)
The history of small-dollar loans and their regulation shows why Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez should rethink their proposal or risk emboldening the type of lending they hope to stamp out.
The history of small-dollar loans and their regulation shows why Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez should rethink their proposal or risk emboldening the type of lending they hope to stamp out.
Adam Smith Reveals the Rub in the SAT’s “Adversity Score” (5/29/2019)
Higher education has changed a lot in the last 300 years, but human nature has not. That’s why Adam Smith, 18th-century moral philosopher and economist, can still teach us a great deal about the new SAT “adversity score.”
Higher education has changed a lot in the last 300 years, but human nature has not. That’s why Adam Smith, 18th-century moral philosopher and economist, can still teach us a great deal about the new SAT “adversity score.”
Tariffs on Chinese Goods Cost American Households $831 Annually, Fed Study Finds (5/29/2019)
The New York Fed published a study detailing the costs of the US-China trade war.
The New York Fed published a study detailing the costs of the US-China trade war.
Ocasio-Cortez’s Gardening Advice Echoes the Hubris of Mao’s Great Leap Forward (5/29/2019)
For Ocasio-Cortez, some vegetables are too “colonial” to grow. We may laugh at Ocasio-Cortez’s boundless hubris, but let’s learn from history.
For Ocasio-Cortez, some vegetables are too “colonial” to grow. We may laugh at Ocasio-Cortez’s boundless hubris, but let’s learn from history.
Is the Third-Person Effect Driving Calls to Regulate Facebook? (5/28/2019)
Respondents to a recent survey believed that Facebook affects other people’s perceptions much more strongly than it affects their own. The more they thought that others were more vulnerable than they were, the more they wanted to rein Facebook in.
Respondents to a recent survey believed that Facebook affects other people’s perceptions much more strongly than it affects their own. The more they thought that others were more vulnerable than they were, the more they wanted to rein Facebook in.
Why Lessons of Liberty Are Crucial for Children (5/28/2019)
The ability to speak freely, share and explore different ideas, and even protest, are all critical aspects of growth and development. We must take control of the future of liberty and safeguard its survival through parental patriotism and the continued effort to educate the next generation.
The ability to speak freely, share and explore different ideas, and even protest, are all critical aspects of growth and development. We must take control of the future of liberty and safeguard its survival through parental patriotism and the continued effort to educate the next generation.
What’s Really Behind the High Overdose Rate of Fentanyl (5/28/2019)
All opioids can cause overdoses if used in excess (like many legal products). But opioids can also be used indefinitely if consumed in an appropriate dosage.
All opioids can cause overdoses if used in excess (like many legal products). But opioids can also be used indefinitely if consumed in an appropriate dosage.
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