Politics

The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 had a vision: to “provide Congress and the public a clearer picture of the programs that exist across the Federal government.” Like most things in government, it failed to live up to its goals.

Despite a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”, I have found myself told time-and-again, “You’re on your own”.

Here is one of the most brilliant breakthroughs in all of food science and how it relates to almost every aspect of life.

A mob boss exercises absolute control over his many followers and profits from the often criminal activities of his organization.

It is illegal to sell contacts in the United States without requiring a prescription. A Federal Trade Commission regulation provides penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

The United States is the only country that imposes a tax on all income the company makes whether it is earned within or outside the country.

Does the Joint Economic Committee live up to anything in its name?

These noble-sounding goals intuitively appear useful, but the federal government has only two ways to encourage change and neither of them helps in this case.

Unfortunately, Obama’s good intentions are thwarted by the economic principle formulated by banker Charles Goodhart.

Increased pressure will only force more teachers to choose between their integrity and their salaries.

The average factory-farmed frozen turkey from a grocery story is sold for as little as $0.67 per pound. Economics can offer five explanations.

Unless McConnell is willing to risk a government shutdown, he will ultimately have to acquiesce to Obama’s wishes.

David John Marotta was interviewed discussing government waste and what would happen if parts of the government were shut down.

There are thirteen states so far. Does your state allow them?

Last year plans were being cancelled. This year, citizens are receiving notifications of rate hikes in the double digits. Is this really happening?

As a libertarian and former chess prodigy, I enjoyed very much an address by Gary Kasparov at the Cato Institute entitled, “The Influence of American Values.”

While I agree with the study, I don’t know that I agree with the prescribed solutions suggested.

We e-mailed all the senatorial candidates inviting them to be interviewed on our blog. Of all the candidates, Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian 2014 Virginia Senatorial candidate, was the only one to respond.

What if only enough redistribution were applied so that the top 1% (or whatever top segment) has just 15% of all wealth instead of 40% or whatever it is now?

Government-run lotteries have a sordid and monopolistic past. Should we enforce a separation of sin and state?

The Whiskey Rebellion established the sovereignty of “we the people” to tax and oppress any selected group.

There are five ways that both you and the government could make charitable giving more significant.

We must return, as much as possible, to a fee-for-service approach to health care and restore the traditional doctor-patient relationship.

We can only afford to allow others the freedom to strive against death when we are not trying collectively to subsidize it.

Individuals should be free to weight the healthcare costs and benefits, risks and savings, and make the decision that best fits their circumstances.

Again, we were asking if such screening saved insurance companies money, and the answer is, “No.”

“Shouldn’t patients and their families have some skin in the game as a brake on the profligate spending of other people’s money for health care?”

Next time you receive an unintelligible medical bill, remember how hard it is for your doctor to get paid.

Those who don’t understand or experience regulatory capture wrongly believe in a team of angels at these federal agencies tirelessly working for the common good.

Asians in New Jersey have the best life expectancy of any racial or ethnic group.

David John Marotta was interviewed on radio 1070 WINA’s Schilling Show discussing the economics of third party payer systems.

Now there is absolutely no charge for a costly set of test and procedures on the all-you-can-spend preventive care buffet.

After the birth of my (David’s) first child, my wife and I noticed we were being billed for a very expensive bedpan and box of tissues that we had never used.

Anytime a third-party-payer system exists market forces will not hold down costs as much as they would otherwise.

How much do the political parties agree that the government should be nudging people in as many ways as possible? What is the social cost of such nudging? Does it do more harm than good?

Why shouldn’t we just institute price controls in America?

It is difficult to reason with people who lie and mislead in their statistics because they believe that they have the moral high ground.

Listen to David Marotta discuss the dangers of government regulation, especially when invited by an industry to suppress competition in the name of “safety.”

These quotes are provocative for what they say about us as Americans.

“When institutions protect the liberty of individuals, greater prosperity results for all.” – Adam Smith

If you are not paying for the product, you are the product.

In truth, the best way to mollify negative feelings might be to give up your Facebook account entirely.

Government has never been known for customer service. But today it is known primarily for being against the very people it is supposed to serve.

Michael Kirsch, a practicing physician and newspaper columnist, laments that there are questions he can never answer satisfactorily for his patients. His questions are central to the public policy debate increasingly being decided by voters and politicians rather than physicians and economists.

Beware of government regulation, especially when a portion of the industry thinks it’ll be good for business.

We are all embarrassingly honest with search engines.

Even half of what they collect in Social Security could provide a better private benefit.

Those who stand by and do nothing are complicit in aiding the loss of freedoms for others.

“We don’t have concentration camps and political dissidents and large numbers being hauled into prison because we don’t need that because we have effectively put prisons inside people’s minds.”

“Estimates range from $5,000 to $20,000; sharp opposition to Finra getting involved.”