The education BLOB, made up of teachers' unions, parent-teacher associations and school bureaucrats, is embarrassed by schools that perform better than the BLOB. Maybe that's why the BLOB in Oakland, California voted to shut the highly successful American Indian Public Charter Schools. In this week's syndicated column, I explain how the schools' egotistical founder, Ben Chavis, gave the BLOB an excuse by running the schools like a business... continue reading »

In my syndicated column this week, I discuss celebrities' new campaign against fracking - the process of injecting chemicals into the ground to crack rocks to release oil and gas.

With everyone saying they want alternatives to foreign oil, I'd think celebrities would love fracking... continue reading »

In my syndicated column this week, I look at some of the conflicts between libertarians and Republicans.

Conservative pundit Ann Coulter told me and a thousand young libertarians that we libertarians are puss- -- well, she used slang for a female body part. ... continue reading »

Obama outlined new government programs in his State of the Union speech the other week. But they won't work, I argue in my syndicated column this week:... continue reading »

Last night, in his State of the Union speech, President Obama claimed: "both parties have worked together to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion - mostly through spending cuts".

What? That's ridiculous. The "reductions" were mere promises to increase future spending less.

Here's a graph of inflation-adjusted federal spending. Can you spot any president's spending cuts?... continue reading »

This year, Super Bowl fans legally bet a record $98.9 million in Nevada... that's just a fraction of what was bet illegally.

In my syndicated column this week, I discuss the politicians' eagerness to have government force intrude on most every game... continue reading »

The pomp surrounding Obama's recent inauguration ceremony surprised me. That's the subject of my syndicated column this week:

It looked like a new king was being crowned. Thousands cheered, like subjects worshipping nobility. At a time when America faces unsustainable debt and terrible economic troubles, why such pomp?

Maybe it's because so many people tell themselves presidents can solve any problem, like fairy-tale kings - or gods... continue reading »

People have short memories when it comes to big government. We forget the lessons of central planning failure in the USSR. So I'm grateful to states like California and Illinois! Because they spend and regulate so much--they remind us how we DON'T want to live.

In my syndicated column this week, I look at population shifts:

In the last decade, 2 million people left California... continue reading »

When new environmental concerns appear, the media routinely cover them without context.

in my syndicated column this week, I look at the consequences of scare stories about things like genetically modified foods:

Reporters and environmental activists have incentives to leave out details that might make the story boring. It's useful if you think you're in danger... continue reading »

On day 1 of Economics 101, you're taught that people respond to incentives. So why do politicians ignore that? Their efforts to help the most vulnerable often do more harm than good.

In my syndicated column this week, I look at why so few people break free of Section 8, the housing assistance program:... continue reading »