Originally published at the Mises Institute. Understanding taxes is pretty simple. When the government takes a dollar away from a citizen, it makes him and society poorer. When it takes less, the opposite happens. We have to give it more thought to understand why government pulls in more after cutting tax rates. Moreover, there are…
Turning campaign donations into city contracts Ordinance. San Antonio Express-News. Ordinance. Ordinance. Ordinance. Lawyers creating work for other lawyers at taxpayer expense Campaign donations from groups promoting human rights is fine, in my opinion. Donations from those who are/might be up for lucrative city contracts is not. They give the impression that donors…
Originally published at RealClearMarkets, Mises Wire, Free the People and rejected by the San Antonio Express-News Ever since I can remember, there’s been a notable imbalance between the attention and credit given to the demand side of the economy, and that given to the supply side. I try to ensure that my students see the…
Originally published on the Mises Institute Power & Market Blog We just concluded a national, state and county election season where crime and economic volatility were at the forefront. These issues are likely to occupy the minds of voters through May’s municipal elections. Staying Strapped Though economic stability is more important to public safety than…
I got a D the first time I took economics in college. I was right out of high school and directionless. I was content living at home, working at a video store (remember those?), golfing and partying. Plus, I was obsessed with my instructor’s uneven sideburns and the girls in class. Not the model student….
I think I missed an opportunity by not going to the abortion resolution debate at City Hall recently. In case you don’t know, it was little more than a statement made by the city council after the U.S. Supreme Court returned the issue to the states, to be democratically-decided, by overturning Roe vs. Wade. The…
Couple thoughts on this last Sunday in August, as I start to dig into the details of the city’s proposed budget … First, props to those I’ve seen aggressively protest their #propertytaxes 👏👏👏 I’ve seen a couple big victories. What saddens me, as always, is the time required for #citizens to do this. I’m realistic…
Here are a few thoughts I had on the city’s proposed budget for next year: $10 million for the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Few would dispute the need to protect our source of water. It is the epitome of a public good, one which the private sector is least able to provide. Unfortunately, the sales…
A few weeks ago I was invited to a discussion group on the UIW campus put on by Moms Demand Action. I couldn’t quite remember where I’d met them, but when I saw “gun sense” on their signs it cleared-up; my campaign manager and I met them at a gun-control rally downtown a couple weeks…