The State Protects Us...
...from overgrown grass.
Code enforcement officers, or “grass cops,” roam Maryland neighbourhoods to check on residents who are not in compliance with rules about overgrown lawns. The AP article states that letting grass grow more than a foot high is illegal. 8 inches is the limit in Baltimore City. But, don’t fret, if you forget to cut your grass, friendly officials will cut your grass for you.
The rationale?
The Oil Price Mirage
The recent run-up in oil prices drew interesting reactions.
Big Company Helps Small Companies
In some of my circles I hear a lot about the wickedness of business concentration and the terrible fate of the small businessman or shop owner in a free economy. Here’s an interesting argument to the contrary in the world of publishing. It turns out that Amazon.com, a veritable behemoth, is the best thing that ever happened to small publishers! We all knew this, of course, but it’s nice to see the case laid out. Read the story here.
Education Investment (not Loans)
Whenever people whine about the need for government-funded student loans, I always wonder why there aren’t easier private routes. Well, there’s MyRichUncle. I haven’t researched this, so maybe it’s not truly private sector, but on the surface it appears to be a pretty straightforward scheme to foster mutually advantageous trades.
Capitalism is a Scheme for Peaceful Nations
I remember receiving several coarse emails a couple of years ago for citing William Nordhaus‘ 2002 study that estimated the Iraq War would cost around $1.2 trillion over ten years. Read the full study here. WARNING: Large download. (A summary table can be seen here.)
V for Vacation
It looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for the downfall of a corrupt regime on the big screen. Warner Bros. has postponed the release date of the Wachowski brothers’ “V for Vendetta” from Nov. 4 to March 17, citing post-production delays. Of course, this has nothing to do with the recent violence in London. Nevertheless, “people should not be afraid of their governments.
Stable Money: Myth and Reality
What constitutes stable money? Most people today would likely say that money is stable if the price level of a given basket of consumer goods and services remains constant over time, or at least rises no more than around 2% on an annual basis.
The Grave Danger of Catfish Terrorism
When the State of Alabama recently announced that it was banning the importation of Vietnamese basa fish, writes William Anderson, officials even intimated that some sneaky terrorists might use it kill Americans.
The Myth of the Magical Multiplier
The August 8, 2005, headline in the Wall Street Journal has declared “If Savings Rate Rises, Retailers May Take a Hit”:
