““Government has three primary functions. It should provide for military defense of the nation. It should enforce contracts between individuals. It should protect citizens from crimes against themselves or their property. When government-- in pursuit of good intentions tries to rearrange the economy, legislate morality, or help special interests, the cost come in inefficiency, lack of motivation, and loss of freedom. Government should be a referee, not an active player.””
     — Milton Friedman

Tags: Milton Friedman ∙ goverment ∙ military ∙ contract law ∙ mala in se ∙ good intentions ∙ morality ∙ special interests ∙ inefficiency ∙ motivation ∙ freedom ∙ referee

Our heroes are defined by what they have done and how they inspire us.

Tags: Crux Files ∙ Robert A. Heinlein ∙ Lawrence W. Reed ∙ certainty ∙ perfection ∙ government ∙ promises ∙ good intentions ∙ price distortions ∙ prudent person ∙ Congress ∙ new regulations ∙ second order consequences ∙ third order consequences ∙ feedback loop ∙ politicos ∙ loan game ∙ free money ∙ something for nothing ∙ Second Amendment ∙ neither help nor hinder ∙ Christians ∙ outsourced wages ∙ industrial nations ∙ free to choose ∙ Judeo-Christian ∙ Christianity ∙ Constitution ∙ E pluribus unum ∙ one from many ∙ united we stand ∙ codified law ∙ public morality ∙ religious system ∙ The Moral Authority ∙ personal morality, ∙ multiple faiths

Headlines that don't merit their own entry

Tags: ethanol ∙ Congress ∙ gasoline ∙ cellulose ∙ food crops ∙ subsidies ∙ food prices ∙ good intentions ∙ bad law

There's no incentive to make it better

Tags: government ∙ choice ∙ Milton Friedman ∙ three primary funtions ∙ military defense ∙ enforce contracts ∙ protect citizens ∙ good intentions ∙ referee

Very silly.

Tags: global warming ∙ internet ∙ public science ∙ modern liberal ∙ good intentions ∙ religion

Power to control

Tags: informed choice ∙ public science ∙ good intentions ∙ for your own good ∙ economic freedom ∙ global warming

So no matter what I’ve said before now, no matter what I’ve done before now, if I fail to do this now, I’m racist.

Tags: goal is freedom ∙ personal responsiblity ∙ Arizona ∙ good intentions ∙ criminal foreiture ∙ human rights ∙ reciprocity ∙ progressive ∙ mala prohibita ∙ victimhood ∙ civil forfeiture

I believe that economics and morality should be based in free choice.

Tags: conservative ∙ good intentions ∙ parity test ∙ freely chosen ∙ religion

How a benevolent and socially progressive government drags people down

Tags: Original Vigil ∙ freely chosen ∙ classic ∙ victimhood ∙ Social Security ∙ favorites ∙ flood insurance ∙ good intentions ∙ bad choices ∙ compassion