Monthly Archives: December 2009

13 Attorney Generals Push the Dislike Button

By Josh Weil | Published: December 31, 2009
In an earlier post I lamented but accepted the political deals that enabled the passage of the Senate version of the health care bill (note: I won’t call it reform). Apparently not everyone is as accepting as I was with how it happened. Attorney Generals from thirteen states are threatening to sue over the Nebraska [...]
Posted in Berkeley, Health Care | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pareto Efficiency: Rides Home Edition

By Charlie Deist | Published: December 28, 2009
Economists often speak of efficiency, which I fear might further people’s perception of economics as a calculating, dismal science, unconnected to more “human” social sciences. I think that the word “efficient” carries the negative connotation of a robot-like, profit-maximizing corporation, concerned only with the bottom line. This is an unfortunate mischaracterization, because many economic definitions [...]
Posted in Our Economic World | Tagged | Leave a comment

Another RI Blogroll Blogger Bashes the Axiom

By Charlie Deist | Published: December 27, 2009
I’ve continued to think about Will Wilkinson’s post on the axiom of non-coercion and its inapplicability in reality, and while I recognize the limits of any axiom, I still have a problem with the way that he phrased the post. Wilkinson has a new ally on my blogroll in Robin Hanson, at Overcoming Bias. Frustratingly, Hanson takes [...]
Posted in Axiom of Non-Coercion, Freedom, hayek | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

THE AXIOM

By Charlie Deist | Published: December 27, 2009
I don’t know how long this idea is going to be on my mind, but recently it’s been the main subject I’ve wanted to blog. I decided that I want to start referring to the axiom of non-coercion simply as “the axiom” from now on, on this blog. First, just to clear things since I [...]
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Tis the Season

By Josh Weil | Published: December 25, 2009
On this December 25th of the year 2009, I’d like to wish everyone out there happy holidays, whatever you celebrate. Social Bookmarking
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Richard Epstein on Happiness

By Josh Weil | Published: December 25, 2009
The best EconTalk I’ve heard in a long time. Epstein’s humanity really comes through in a way that’s not often felt. Insightful on both individuals and social institutions. Social Bookmarking
Posted in Psychology & Behavior | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wilkinson on the Axiom of Non-Coercion

By Charlie Deist | Published: December 24, 2009
Will Wilkinson claims that the axiom of non-coercion, popular among some hardcore libertarians, stands on weak ground. The axiom states that coercion, or the initiation of physical force against a person is inherently illegitimate. He suggests (or rather agrees with another blogger) that coercion is in the eye of the beholder. As part of his argument, he [...]
Posted in Freedom, Philosophy | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Libertarians and Conservatives: Strange Bedfellows (pt. 2)

By Charlie Deist | Published: December 24, 2009
“Libertarians worry primarily about constraints imposed by government, while liberals worry most about constraints imposed by birth and the play of economic forces.” –Brink Lindsay, Cato Institute In the comments of part one of this post, Paul doubted my conclusion that conservative tea-party type people have been a primary force in limited the size and scope [...]
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Economic Sanctions Harm Innocent People

By Josh Weil | Published: December 22, 2009
Sanctions don’t work in countries with strong governments. They haven’t worked for past the 45 years in Cuba. They haven’t worked in North Korea. Kim Jong Il will still get his Gucci sunglasses while ordinary North Koreans suffer from our blockade. For whatever twisted logic or folk economics, on December 15th the House of Representatives voted [...]
Posted in Folk Economics, Unintended Consequences | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Why I’m Not Tripping Over The Louisiana Purchase

By Josh Weil | Published: December 21, 2009
The 2009 Louisiana Purchase: “Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, provided one of the last two votes needed to bring the government health care takeover to the Senate. She didn’t even blush about selling her vote. “I am not going to be defensive. And it’s not a $100 million fix. It’s a $300 million fix,” Mrs. [...]
Posted in Government Spending, Self Interest | Tagged , , | 1 Comment