Commentary
Business & Economics
Tort reform can stop defensive medicine
David W. Oliker was absolutely right to identify tort reform as key to combating skyrocketing health care costs (Nov. 30 essay, “Quality, affordability, accessibility are all key”). Defensive medicine adds significantly to America’s health care bill. To protect themselves against costly and often frivolous medical-malpractice lawsuits, doctors and hospitals order ...
Agriculture
Synthetic biology is a key to energy independence
Barack Obama recently pledged to establish a $150 billion “Apollo project” for energy independence. A new field known as synthetic biology presents one of the most promising opportunities to achieve his goal, but influential interest groups within his own party are fighting to kill this technology in its cradle. Just ...
Commentary
The big, fat myth of government prevention programs
‘Tis the season to over-indulge and gain a few pounds. According to government statistics, the nation is fatter than ever. Dieting — or perhaps a forgiving tailor — may help us squeeze into that little black dress by New Year’s Eve, but the government has its own plan to help ...
Business & Economics
Does labor need Employee Free Choice Act?
AS THE election dust settles, attention turns to President-elect Obama’s governing agenda. If he prioritizes the labor-law changes he favored as a senator and candidate, he will inflict serious, lasting costs on American workers and the economy. The size of the federal deficit will constrain the taxing and spending initiatives ...
Business & Economics
Note to Obama: The FCC Needs Transparency
This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report accusing Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), of being deceptive and opaque in his management of the agency’s affairs. That a politician would pull such moves is no surprise, but the report should send a ...
Business & Economics
The South can boost prosperity
The South may abound in sunshine, but when it comes to economic freedom, the region is mixed, according to the 2008 U.S. Economic Freedom Index from the Pacific Research Institute. The Index measures how friendly or unfriendly each state’s government policies are toward free enterprise and consumer choice. Only Virginia, ...
Commentary
Hold the Fries, Avoid Dessert, and Skip the Counterfeit Xenical
Millions of Americans will look to weight-loss drugs to help them keep their New Year’s resolution to slim down. And if they can’t get a prescription from a doctor, many will go online to purchase the pills. But beware: Most of these websites are glossed-up fakes selling dangerous counterfeits. The ...
Commentary
Follow the Foster-Care Leader
SACRAMENTO—With approximately 80,000 children, California has the nation’s largest foster-care population, according to the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. Californians should keep a close watch on Arizona, where the fate of the country’s first K-12 scholarship program for foster-care students is now in the hands of ...
Commentary
Less Government Involvement Holds Key To Affordable Health Insurance
National Center for Policy Analysis, December 10, 2008 The U.S. Census Bureau’s report on health insurance statistics, which showed a decrease in the number of Americans uninsured last year, has been called into question by experts for overestimating and oversimplifying the number of uninsured. According to Sally Pipes, president and ...
Commentary
Government Monopoly Health Care in Quebec
Proud Canadian that I am, I like to keep my ears and eyes on my homeland. A couple of days ago, the province of Quebec had a general election. As always, in states where the government monopolizes “universal” health care, the permanent health crisis is a major political issue. You ...
Tort reform can stop defensive medicine
David W. Oliker was absolutely right to identify tort reform as key to combating skyrocketing health care costs (Nov. 30 essay, “Quality, affordability, accessibility are all key”). Defensive medicine adds significantly to America’s health care bill. To protect themselves against costly and often frivolous medical-malpractice lawsuits, doctors and hospitals order ...
Synthetic biology is a key to energy independence
Barack Obama recently pledged to establish a $150 billion “Apollo project” for energy independence. A new field known as synthetic biology presents one of the most promising opportunities to achieve his goal, but influential interest groups within his own party are fighting to kill this technology in its cradle. Just ...
The big, fat myth of government prevention programs
‘Tis the season to over-indulge and gain a few pounds. According to government statistics, the nation is fatter than ever. Dieting — or perhaps a forgiving tailor — may help us squeeze into that little black dress by New Year’s Eve, but the government has its own plan to help ...
Does labor need Employee Free Choice Act?
AS THE election dust settles, attention turns to President-elect Obama’s governing agenda. If he prioritizes the labor-law changes he favored as a senator and candidate, he will inflict serious, lasting costs on American workers and the economy. The size of the federal deficit will constrain the taxing and spending initiatives ...
Note to Obama: The FCC Needs Transparency
This week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report accusing Kevin Martin, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), of being deceptive and opaque in his management of the agency’s affairs. That a politician would pull such moves is no surprise, but the report should send a ...
The South can boost prosperity
The South may abound in sunshine, but when it comes to economic freedom, the region is mixed, according to the 2008 U.S. Economic Freedom Index from the Pacific Research Institute. The Index measures how friendly or unfriendly each state’s government policies are toward free enterprise and consumer choice. Only Virginia, ...
Hold the Fries, Avoid Dessert, and Skip the Counterfeit Xenical
Millions of Americans will look to weight-loss drugs to help them keep their New Year’s resolution to slim down. And if they can’t get a prescription from a doctor, many will go online to purchase the pills. But beware: Most of these websites are glossed-up fakes selling dangerous counterfeits. The ...
Follow the Foster-Care Leader
SACRAMENTO—With approximately 80,000 children, California has the nation’s largest foster-care population, according to the state’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care. Californians should keep a close watch on Arizona, where the fate of the country’s first K-12 scholarship program for foster-care students is now in the hands of ...
Less Government Involvement Holds Key To Affordable Health Insurance
National Center for Policy Analysis, December 10, 2008 The U.S. Census Bureau’s report on health insurance statistics, which showed a decrease in the number of Americans uninsured last year, has been called into question by experts for overestimating and oversimplifying the number of uninsured. According to Sally Pipes, president and ...
Government Monopoly Health Care in Quebec
Proud Canadian that I am, I like to keep my ears and eyes on my homeland. A couple of days ago, the province of Quebec had a general election. As always, in states where the government monopolizes “universal” health care, the permanent health crisis is a major political issue. You ...
