Daily Archives: December 9, 2011

We should never forget the Gulag

Written on December 9, 2011 at 3:08 pm, by

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has produced a new online Gulag Exhibit. The introductory video here is well worth viewing. In addition to exclusive essays written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anne Applebaum, eminent Soviet historian Dr. Richard Pipes, and Estonian author and journalist Imbi Paju, the exhibit features a detailed, interactive 3D virtual GulagContinue Reading

N.C. Supreme Court flips appellate court decisions in four of six cases

Written on December 9, 2011 at 2:07 pm, by

Four of the six opinions released from the N.C. Supreme Court today either reverse or vacate decisions from the N.C. Court of Appeals. A fifth opinion takes no official stance, allowing the appellate decision to stand. Only one of the six new Supreme Court opinions affirms the appellate judges’ opinion in a modified form. ThoseContinue Reading

The Biggest Threat to Compensating Forced Sterilization Victims

Written on December 9, 2011 at 1:26 pm, by

I have been a very strong supporter of compensating the victims of North Carolina’s forced sterilization program.  This issue means a lot to the victims and is one of the most important issues I’ve ever worked on. Unfortunately, there’s one policy proposal that could and should stop any type of compensation system.  If attempts areContinue Reading

Obama (and other pols) love light rail

Written on December 9, 2011 at 12:33 pm, by

Randal O’Toole writes here about Obama’s support for a new light rail mass transit system in Detroit. Detroit is a dying city (thanks to decades of statism) and it already has a “People Mover” that very few people ride, but clueless politicians like Obama and Michigan senator Carl Levin seem to think that Detroit willContinue Reading

Keynesians fear Hayek

Written on December 9, 2011 at 11:46 am, by

Today’s Freeman column by Sheldon Richman is about the way Keynesian economists are “dissing” Hayek, evidently out of fear that his way of thinking of about economics — which rejects their silly reliance on aggregates — is catching on. Writers like Paul Krugman say that Hayek was not an important macroeconomist, to which deeper thinkersContinue Reading

Perdue is unpopular, and Faison is really unpopular

Written on December 9, 2011 at 11:32 am, by

The Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling finds that N.C. Rep. Bill Faison, D-Orange, is even less popular among Democrats than Gov. Bev Perdue. Faison recently encouraged Perdue to pass on running for a second term, though he’s said he wouldn’t challenge Perdue in a primary. From PPP: Faison’s recent statements appear to have antagonizedContinue Reading

There is no such thing as a free (school) lunch

Written on December 9, 2011 at 10:59 am, by

The News & Observer tries to do “cute” in their editorial on school lunch requirements. Well, maybe it’s no way to talk to adults. But they’ve got it coming. So to those members of Congress who want to relax sensible government requirements on school lunch regulations: shame on you. And step up here so weContinue Reading

“Yes, we can!” (shut down Obamacare, that is)

Written on December 9, 2011 at 8:39 am, by

Michael Cannon argues in this podcast that the states can block Obamacare. Under the Constitution, they should because Obamacare is beyond the constitutional authority of Congress. As a matter of policy, they should because the politicization of health care will have bad effects for almost everyone — like the politicization of food did in theContinue Reading