With US President Obama now seeking authorization from Congress to attack Syria, the already spirited debate surrounding the advisability of such military action is bound to get even more lively in the coming days. To make sense of all the
Archive for August, 2013
Minimum Wages and Slavery: A Rebuttal
A couple of days ago, I wrote an article about the minimum wage that received a fair bit of attention from commentators who accused me of wanting to reinstitute slavery and other such measured responses. Since I respect my readers
Why Legalize Marijuana?
Marijuana is the hot issue again. Legalize it or keep it criminalized, that is, in the black market? Personally, I like the black market idea. At least it remains untaxed and unregulated. Legalizing marijuana would increase the government’s revenue and
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The Origin of Specie, Pt. 1
Reprinted from FEE.org What role should the public sector play in an economy’s monetary framework? In other words, should money be provided by the market or by the government? Economists have been wrestling with such questions for centuries, but since
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The Minimum Wage Myth that Won’t Die
The economic theory behind why minimum wage hikes are not good for prosperity is so simple and has been repeated so many times, it’s almost not worth addressing anymore. Yet every year, some ill-informed politician comes out loudly proclaiming that
QE Sows the Seed of the Next Crisis
What “QE” means Financial markets have become increasingly concerned with the outlook that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) could abandon its policy of “quantitative easing” (“QE”). The Fed adopted the policy of QE in 2008 as a response to the
The State’s Dumb Strength
Many commentators expressed astonishment when thugs from the U.K. government recently ordered the destruction of hardware containing leaked government secrets belonging to the Guardian news outlet. Shortly before the deed went down, one of the shakedown artists was quoted as
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September Toronto Mises Meet!
In 1978, the R&B/Funk/Disco band Earth, Wind & Fire put out their now iconic number 1 jam, “September”. In it, they ask if you the 21st night of September. It was a song about young love, dancing, and carefree attitudes.
The Fallacy of the Public Sector
[This article is excerpted from Economic Controversies, chapter 21, “The Fallacy of the ‘Public Sector’” (2011). It originally appeared in the New Individualist Review (Summer, 1961): 3–7.] We have heard a great deal in recent years of the “public sector,” and solemn discussions
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Joining the Board of the Ludwig von Mises Institute of Canada
There are many defining moments during the growth and success of every organization and today is such a day for the Mises Institute of Canada. It is with great honour that we can officially announce the addition of Walter Block,
Canadian Property Rights Conference Coming Up
I’m writing to people who are active on social media to ask you to help make sure we spread word about the Canadian Property Rights Conference as far as possible. Our conference website is http://www.cprc2013.ca/, and includes registration and a list
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Welfare vs. Minimum Wage: A Study in Poor Incentives
Why do people work? There can be little doubt that many people create simply for the joy of creating. Idleness is fundamentally unfulfilling and antithetical to the human condition. But working at a job you love is not always compatible
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The Habeas Corpus Myth
Reprinted from Mises.org We know many things about habeas corpus. We know that it goes back to the Magna Carta and that the U.S. Constitution affirmed this bulwark of Anglo-American liberty. We know that habeasprohibits jailing people without cause, and that it
The Canadian Police State?
They’re watching you. Even if you’re not doing anything wrong – everything you do online is being recorded. Who are “they”? Well if you’re an American it’s the National Security Agency. But this distinction may be superficial. “There is no
Gupta Mea Culpa
Reprinted from Mises.org Dr. Sanjay Gupta has recently reversed his opposition to marijuana legalization and apologized for supporting marijuana prohibition. The brain surgeon and CNN medical correspondent obviously takes his own viewpoints very seriously and his mea culpa should be a big
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Wine and Big Issues
There are few joys in life that compare to drinking wine while smoking. The inhalant can be any tobacco-stuffed conduit, whether cigar or cigarette. The wine is best when deep, dark, and red - the kind which leaves you slightly
Prohibition in Ontario: A Brief History & Current Analysis
There is only one way Ontarians can buy alcohol for private consumption. You can’t buy beer at the bar and then take it home – like in Alberta. And you can’t buy beer at the grocery store – like in
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Canadian Documents Indicate Support for the Carbon Tax
Documents obtained from the Canadian government in accordance with open information laws indicate that there is some administrative support for a global carbon pricing scheme to reduce the effects of human-caused climate change. The goal, according to Environment Canada, is
What Doesn’t Kill You
Reprinted from FEE.org I’m so proud of Rebecca Black I can hardly stand it. She is among a growing number of young people who have become YouTube stars completely on their own. They have made use of user-controlled technology—from their
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The Nobel
A group of dewy-eyed activists has petitioned the Nobel Prize committee to award its prestigious honor of peace to U.S. Army private Bradley Manning. After spending years behind bars, Manning was just sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking
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