Los Angeles has been “gentrified” and made more stable in many of its areas by immigrant settlement, but the phenomenon of Anglo gentrification by what used to be called “yuppies” or their more contemporary counteparts (most of the original “yuppies” […]
Politics
Envy Isn’t Just a Left Wing Vice
Envy is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and it involves wanting to deny other people things whether you have them or not. We generally think of it in terms of what the Australians call the Tall Poppy Syndrome; the […]
Taxes to Raise, Taxes to Lower
I thought that I had better get this out, because April 15 is just around the corner. Taxes that should be raised: The gasoline tax, by $.50 to $1 a gallon. I oppose cap and trade, however, because it is a bureaucratic […]
Now That Health Care Has Passed
In general, I think that the new health care bill is an improvement over the old order. I hope it is not repealed, but I’m sure that some adjustments will be necessary. Does this make America a more compassionate nation? […]
Obama and the Allergy to Antithesis
The so-called “progressives” are going to be more and more disillusioned with President Obama in the immediate near future, I predict. And not because he is a “moderate.” He is manifestly not. At least in his ultimate aspirations, he is […]
Global Warming: If You Can’t Beat It, Join It.
This recent article in Reason Magazine by Ronald Bailey raises the issue of whether Global Warming is worse than the sort of society and government it would take to stop it. Actually, I think a more efficient way of dealing […]
Tax Auditors Keep Tabs on Bars by Imbibing…
I have never considered running for office, but I think I shall now consider running for the Board of Equalization. And I promise to anyone who votes for me that I will not delegate the important matter of liquor taxes […]
San Jose Mercury News: Tech Group’s Poll Suggests Candidates Should ‘Friend’ Voters
I’m not surprised on the least. They already “friend” anyone who gives them more than $100 – more than that, if you do that, they will structure a whole social life for you. If I was lonely and single, that […]
More on Healthcare: A Libertarian Speaks Well of the French System
Readers of the libertarian magazine Reason were shocked recently to find that one of the editors of that magazine, Matt Welch, has spoken highly of the French health care system. Mr. Welch is married to a French woman, and he […]
My Long Awaited Healthcare Post (In the Form of a Book Notice)
T. R. Reid, The Healing of America: a global quest for better, cheaper, and fairer health care. New York: The Penguin Press, 2009. T. R. Reid is a correspondent for the Washington Post and a commentator on National Public Radio. […]