Daily Archives: October 25, 2011

Biting the hand that feeds?

Written on October 25, 2011 at 5:05 pm, by

Ashe Schow of Heritage Action examines the degree to which Democrats have reaped the benefits of Wall Street campaign cash, despite their support for Occupy Wall Street protesters. [President Obama has] actually raised $3.9 million just this year so far. But, he has raised nearly $12 million in Wall Street donations for the DNC. InContinue Reading

One in four high school graduates are “college-ready”

Written on October 25, 2011 at 3:29 pm, by

According to a New York Post article, Just one out of every four [New York City public school] students who started high school in 2007 went on to graduate in 2011 prepared for college under a first-ever city measure aligned with City University of New York entrance requirements. The measure is marginally different from aContinue Reading

The college mania is getting in the way of job creation

Written on October 25, 2011 at 2:59 pm, by

That’s the argument in this New York Times piece. The author says that most job growth comes about not from large business, and not from small business either, but from new businesses. What the country needs is more entrepreneurs, but college does little if anything to encourage people to take risks and start businesses. SoContinue Reading

Further the Fame

Written on October 25, 2011 at 12:46 pm, by

Many thanks to the Daily Tar Heel‘s Brendan Cooley for some great publicity today for yours truly and the Pope Center. Cooley quoted me criticizing the rapid expansion of UNC Health Care, the state government-owned hospital chain. (I’ve written about the subject here and here. Also, the rapid expansion of state-run health care via universityContinue Reading

Life’s good in the capital of crony capitalism

Written on October 25, 2011 at 12:18 pm, by

Cato’s Gene Healy gets an A for this piece on the affluence of DC and its environs, thanks to the government’s absorbing more and more of the wealth that is created elsewhere.  

What’s the Biggest Problem for Small Businesses?

Written on October 25, 2011 at 11:05 am, by

According to a new Gallup Poll, “Small-business owners in the United States are most likely to say complying with government regulations (22%) is the most important problem facing them today, followed by consumer confidence in the economy (15%) and lack of consumer demand (12%).” That’s surprising even to me who understands and appreciates the excessiveContinue Reading

The sound and fury of Occupy Wall Street

Written on October 25, 2011 at 10:37 am, by

In the realm of ironic unintended consequences, this one takes the cake. Bloomberg reports that Occupy Wall Street protesters are stifling some local businesses in Manhattan’s Financial District, to the point that shops and eateries might have to close their doors. These are small businesses not owned by the corporate giants, mind you. From the story:Continue Reading

World’s dumbest roundabout comes with an instruction booklet

Written on October 25, 2011 at 10:17 am, by

The News & Observer reports today that Drivers on Hillsborough Street are still flummoxed by a twin-ring roundabout that replaced the stoplight at Pullen Road more than a year ago. And they’re still crashing their mopeds, bikes and cars there. Eighty accidents have been reported since traffic began rolling around the two-lane circle in JulyContinue Reading