The Late Great State of California
A recent poll stated that half of Californians have thought of leaving the state. Once the land of golden opportunity, California is losing its dynamism. The reason for that is that it is by far the most regulated state in the union and it has the highest tax rate among the states. Now two new laws, one trying to kill off the gig economy, the other statewide rent control, threaten the promise that once made California the land of opportunity. (UPDATED Oct. 18, 2019)
These New “Conservatives” Are Destabilizing World Order
read more…By supporting Trump’s disastrous trade policies, his apologists are fomenting the destabilization of a world order of prosperity and peaceful coexistence created by free trade. These new “conservatives” are not conservatives, but Big Government advocates who seek the reins of power.
An Ode To Skepticism (You’ll Be Better For It)
The beauty of history is that, with the passing of time, it’s easy to see the flaws of conventional wisdom. In science, medicine, economics, finance, and public policy, the years eventually reveal the errors of what people then thought were incontrovertible facts. Society would have been better off being skeptical of conventional wisdom. You would be better off being skeptical of conventional wisdom. Here’s why.
How To Kill Off Civilization
There are lots of ways to kill off a civilization. Wars, politics, economic collapse. Rome did it. Could we do it? If we follow the Progressives and allow them to implement crackpot ideas like Modern Monetary Theory we could be on our way.
There is No Justice in Just Cause Eviction Ordinances
Just cause eviction ordinances have more to do with politics than “justice”. The unforeseen consequences in tight rental markets in California will be to reduce housing opportunities for poor tenants as apartment owners with less control over their property will be much more selective in choosing tenants.
How To Have A Closed Mind
I hear this a lot from readers: “I like your columns but I don’t agree with you.” When I ask why they disagree I get stonewalled. “I just don’t.” People just aren’t open to changing their minds. This is a dangerous evolutionary relic which trumps reason and logic. It divides us into critical thinkers or sheeple. Which are you? read more…
Bellosguardo: Santa Barbara’s White Elephant
An eccentric 104-year old woman left her $100 million Santa Barbara mansion to a foundation to “foster the arts”. Instead of benefiting many deserving existing arts organizations, her fortune will be tied up in a money pit property which will end up as a tourist attraction. The property should be sold and the income generated from its endowment used to foster local arts organizations.
Gender Neutered
Progressive feminists and transgender advocates wish to control language and thus control people’s behavior. There is a movement to ban the gender pronouns “he” and “she” in an attempt by these groups to gain political power. New York City criminalizes behavior not conforming to new politically acceptable pronouns. It is an Orwellian attempt to curtail free speech for political ends.
California’s Feminist Corporate Coup
California’s new law requiring publicly-held corporations to appoint women to their corporate boards is a triumph of feminist-Progressive identity politics. Mandating identity over competency is one more attack on corporate sovereignty by California’s politicians. This, along with the other 900 new laws passed, will continue to drive businesses out of the state.
Bernienomics Redux
In my Bernienomics article, I lamented the current fashionableness of socialism, formerly a subject that people would not discuss in polite company. I placed a lot of the blame on Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and his rising popularity. I received several comments from readers which you may read along with my replies.
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