No, slavery is not forced labor. It is not a legal term. It is not a form of property. It is not racism, or nationalism, or an empire. These things are the symptoms of slavery, but they are not its essence.
Full Story »Make Money, Buy Socialism, and See What Happens
December 7, 2000. I was sitting at the Greyhound Bus Station in Springfield, Missouri, waiting to board the bus to Detroit. My friend Will and I were watching CNN on the TV set in the lobby. CNN was reporting about the shortage of electric power in California, the blackouts affecting hundreds of thousands of people, and then Governor Gray Davis’ intention to declare a state of emergency.
Full Story »The Politics of Poverty
In a study released in Financial Times in late 2006, it was revealed that the richest 2% of adults in the world own more than 50% of the total assets, while the poorest half of the population hold a mere 1%. Statistics like this were highly prevalent during the Obama presidential campaign, and they are gaining resurgence from Michael Moore’s recent bit of uninformed celluloid propaganda, Capitalism: A Love Story. Although these statistics may help to foster greed and envy among the poor of the world, they really only confirm the "Golden Rule" of politics – i.e. he who has the gold makes the rule – a point that is well-made by Hernando de Soto in his book The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else.
Full Story »Learn About Healthcare in France
Several years ago I had a conversation with a professor in a European university. She was a staunch proponent of European socialism against American “cowboy” capitalism.
Full Story »Do We Need Social Justice?
The concept “social justice” means different things to different people. Justice is often equated with social equality, a mistaken notion if there ever was one. In looking for a helpful way to explain the meaning of justice, baseball comes to mind. Rarely are teams equal in ability. This is especially true with the younger age groups. What if umpires had the jurisdictional authority to level inequities at the request of a manager who believes that the opposing team has better players? Both teams know the rules going into the game. Umpires are present to ensure that the rulebook is followed to the letter. As long as the players and coaches follow the rules and umpires enforce the rules, justice prevails even if there are inequities. It is not the job of an umpire to eliminate disparities. Who would ever want to play the game if the rules always change at the discretion of an umpire?
Full Story »Why We Need Rich People
The rich often get a bum rap. Liberals are incensed when it is suggested that “the rich” get any type of tax reduction even though the top 50% of wage earners pay 96% of all income taxes. Since they spend more money, the rich also pay a disproportionate amount in sales, property, entertainment, and excise taxes. Without the rich, most people would not have jobs.
Full Story »Big Brother or Free Enterprise?
When was the last time you visited a Chick-Fil-A restaurant? If your experience was anything like mine, you were treated to great customer service, an affordable tasty meal, and a clean restaurant.
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