Commentary
Business & Economics
Will California’s ‘Top Two’ Primary Work?
California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which replaces traditional partisan primaries in state and Congressional races. Starting in 2011, candidates for an office would be on a single ballot, regardless of political affiliation, and the top two vote-getters (even if from the same party) would advance to the general ...
Business & Economics
Drowning In A VAT Of Taxes
The debate over a national sales tax, or valued-added tax, to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems has intensified as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should be clarified–if ...
Business & Economics
Casino Jack versus Casino Government
Casino Jack versus Casino Government By Julie Kaszton, policy fellow, Economics and Environment Casino Jack and the United States of Money, which delves into the most egregious lobbying scandal in decades, is playing to California audiences. The Magnolia Pictures documentary depicts Jack Abramoff as a deceptive super-lobbyist with powerful connections ...
Charter Schools
N.Y. Times misses the real lesson of charter schools
A recent lengthy New York Times article on charter schools, which are deregulated publicly funded schools of choice, came to the conclusion that the record of these schools was mixed, with some charters doing better than regular public schools, while others perform about the same or worse. That’s no surprise ...
Business & Economics
Seriously folks, these folks aren’t
Sacramento – The Australian radio announcer interviewing me last week about the dreadful state of California’s budget and economy wanted to know what she would find if she landed at LAX and drove around the state. It’s not like “Blade Runner,” director Ridley Scott’s 1982 film depicting a dystopian future ...
Business & Economics
TN tax structure helps, but state, cities spend too much
As the bad memory of April 15 fades, my fellow Tennesseans may be curious to know how our state compares to others in terms of taxes. The good news centers on the methods state and local governments take to extract revenue. Here, at least, we fare quite well compared to ...
Business & Economics
A dishonest debate on VAT
The debate over a national sales tax, or value-added tax (VAT), to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems is becoming fiercer as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately, the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should ...
California
Cops Bust Hamburglar!
By John R. Graham, director of Health Care Studies Santa Clara County, California: Sheriff’s deputies raid a fast-food restaurant, line up a dozen workers against the wall, and block the doors. The manager nervously tries to assure that everything is in order, but one of the deputies catches a glimpse ...
Commentary
Mass. health meltdown is your future
New York Post, May 25, 2010 The future of US medicine under ObamaCare is already on display in Massachusetts. The top four health insurers there just posted first-quarter losses of more than $150 million. Most of them blamed the state’s decision to keep premiums at last year’s levels for individual ...
Business & Economics
Lessons from Lorena
Vol. 14 No. 06: June 1, 2010 Lessons from Lorena By Sally C. Pipes, President and CEO, Pacific Research Institute As Contrarian readers know from my 2008 column on Billy Jean King, my game is tennis, not golf. I greatly admire, however, those who achieve success in that difficult sport, ...
Will California’s ‘Top Two’ Primary Work?
California voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 14, which replaces traditional partisan primaries in state and Congressional races. Starting in 2011, candidates for an office would be on a single ballot, regardless of political affiliation, and the top two vote-getters (even if from the same party) would advance to the general ...
Drowning In A VAT Of Taxes
The debate over a national sales tax, or valued-added tax, to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems has intensified as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should be clarified–if ...
Casino Jack versus Casino Government
Casino Jack versus Casino Government By Julie Kaszton, policy fellow, Economics and Environment Casino Jack and the United States of Money, which delves into the most egregious lobbying scandal in decades, is playing to California audiences. The Magnolia Pictures documentary depicts Jack Abramoff as a deceptive super-lobbyist with powerful connections ...
N.Y. Times misses the real lesson of charter schools
A recent lengthy New York Times article on charter schools, which are deregulated publicly funded schools of choice, came to the conclusion that the record of these schools was mixed, with some charters doing better than regular public schools, while others perform about the same or worse. That’s no surprise ...
Seriously folks, these folks aren’t
Sacramento – The Australian radio announcer interviewing me last week about the dreadful state of California’s budget and economy wanted to know what she would find if she landed at LAX and drove around the state. It’s not like “Blade Runner,” director Ridley Scott’s 1982 film depicting a dystopian future ...
TN tax structure helps, but state, cities spend too much
As the bad memory of April 15 fades, my fellow Tennesseans may be curious to know how our state compares to others in terms of taxes. The good news centers on the methods state and local governments take to extract revenue. Here, at least, we fare quite well compared to ...
A dishonest debate on VAT
The debate over a national sales tax, or value-added tax (VAT), to tackle the country’s deficit and debt problems is becoming fiercer as we approach the fall election. Unfortunately, the facts are becoming more obscure, and the narrow scope within which a VAT makes sense is being lost. This should ...
Cops Bust Hamburglar!
By John R. Graham, director of Health Care Studies Santa Clara County, California: Sheriff’s deputies raid a fast-food restaurant, line up a dozen workers against the wall, and block the doors. The manager nervously tries to assure that everything is in order, but one of the deputies catches a glimpse ...
Mass. health meltdown is your future
New York Post, May 25, 2010 The future of US medicine under ObamaCare is already on display in Massachusetts. The top four health insurers there just posted first-quarter losses of more than $150 million. Most of them blamed the state’s decision to keep premiums at last year’s levels for individual ...
Lessons from Lorena
Vol. 14 No. 06: June 1, 2010 Lessons from Lorena By Sally C. Pipes, President and CEO, Pacific Research Institute As Contrarian readers know from my 2008 column on Billy Jean King, my game is tennis, not golf. I greatly admire, however, those who achieve success in that difficult sport, ...
