The New Conservatism
The contemporary movement that now goes by the name of “Conservative” isn’t conservative. Today’s conservatives, the New Conservatives, pay only lip service to those golden ideals that did make America great. They have morphed into cheerleaders of Big Government. read more…
2020 Hindsight
I’m going to make predictions about 2020—a fool’s errand for sure. But this fool’s guess is probably just as valid as anyone else’s—I do follow economic trends. Being diligent readers, you will save this article and pull it out on January 1, 2021 to see if I was right. It will be fun.
Bernie And Elizabeth’s Politics Of Envy
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are angry critics of free markets and rich people. They paint a bleak picture of America as a population of downtrodden, defeated people subjugated by billionaires and capitalism. The record is just the opposite, so one wonders why they and their supporters have this view of our world. The answer is that their anger is driven by envy and a desire to deprive successful people of the fruits of their success, a thing the envious have never achieved. Politicians exploit this primitive emotion for their own political ends which is the power to control us.
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.
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