Life is good, but let's make it better.

laliberty: Keynesianism

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:58:47 -0500

laliberty:

Keynesianism

Perfect

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:05:02 -0500

Perfect

Me

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:47:18 -0500

Medallion madness

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:31:19 -0500

Medallion madness:

Two New York City taxi medallions were sold last month for $1 million apiece. That’s the highest price ever paid for the right to operate a car as a taxicab in The City That Never Sleeps. It’s also an expensive lesson in the harm caused to consumers and would-be entrepreneurs by overregulation and the strangling of competition.

By law, every cab in New York has to have an official medallion — the numbered metal plate nailed to the hood — but the number of medallions is fixed at 13,237. When the city first issued taxi medallions in the 1930s, they cost $10 each. But before long the demand for taxi ownership had outstripped the limited supply of medallions. Since City Hall wasn’t issuing new ones, the only way to get a medallion was to buy one from an existing owner. Over time the value of those metal tags went through the stratosphere. …

In a rational market, [this secondary industry of selling taxi medallions] wouldn’t even exist. A taxi medallion, after all, has no intrinsic value — it is merely the government’s permission to use a car to transport passengers for a fee. Acquiring a medallion isn’t like acquiring a dental practice or some other going concern: It doesn’t come with a built-in customer base or first dibs on popular routes. It doesn’t include the price of gas or insurance, let alone a car. A medallion represents nothing but official approval to be in the cab business. No one has to invest a fortune to get the government’s OK to sell tacos or put out a newspaper or practice podiatry. Why should anyone have to invest a fortune — or hire a “taxi financing specialist” — to get the government’s OK to own a cab?

The medallion system is a classic illustration of what economists call “rent-seeking” — manipulating the political system to gain economic benefits without providing any additional value to society in exchange. Imposing caps on the number of taxis enriches existing owners with windfall profits. But by making the cost of cab ownership obscenely high, it prevents countless would-be cabbies from going into business for themselves. And by stifling competition, it drives fares through the roof while lowering the quality and availability of service.

I don’t see how anyone could defend this, and for that matter I don’t see how anyone can defend govt intervention

I’m Jake Hansard, libertarian, and I approve of this...

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:51:26 -0400

I’m Jake Hansard, libertarian, and I approve of this image.

First Circuit Affirms Right to Record the Police

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:41:31 -0400

First Circuit Affirms Right to Record the Police:

Gathering information about government officials in a form that can readily be disseminated to others serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting “the free discussion of governmental affairs.” Moreover, as the Court has noted, “[f]reedom of expression has particular significance with respect to government because ‘[i]t is here that the state has a special incentive to repress opposition and often wields a more effective power of suppression.’” This is particularly true of law enforcement officials, who are granted substantial discretion that may be misused to deprive individuals of their liberties. Ensuring the public’s right to gather information about their officials not only aids in the uncovering of abuses, but also may have a salutary effect on the functioning of government more generally.

We can now record cops doing dickish stuff without getting reprimanded!

“25 States allow anyone to buy a gun, strap it on, and walk down the street with no permit of any...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:32:15 -0400

“25 States allow anyone to buy a gun, strap it on, and walk down the street with no permit of any kind: some say it’s crazy. However, four out of five US murders are committed in the other half of the country: so who’s crazy?” – Andrew Ford

I could go days speaking on this subject

"I want to legalize freedom. What’s so bad about that?"

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:49:05 -0400

“I want to legalize freedom. What’s so bad about that?”

- Ron Paul (via laliberty)

Yes legalize it, I agree, but I want Ron Paul in office and this...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:37:09 -0400

Yes legalize it, I agree, but I want Ron Paul in office and this should not be the main topic for the campaign trail…

Afghanistan troop withdrawal won't bring us back to pre-Obama levels

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:34:00 -0400

shortformblog:

65k number of US troops in Afghanistan once the withdrawal is complete (September 2012)

33k number of US troops in Afghanistan when Barack Obama took office (January 2009) source

Case and point, let me know when Obama doesn’t twist the truth, maybe then I will at least respect him

arm yourself, you’ll utilize it before you die, I promise...

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:41:20 -0400

arm yourself, you’ll utilize it before you die, I promise you that

sirmitchell: Can’t argue with that.

Sat, 14 May 2011 20:11:28 -0400

sirmitchell:

Can’t argue with that.

I throughly agree with this and will practice it when I have...

Wed, 04 May 2011 03:44:16 -0400

I throughly agree with this and will practice it when I have kids. There are responsible reasons for guns and the media does not teach them, take it upon yourself as you should to create responsible gun ownership.

I love the 90s

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:31:54 -0400

I love the 90s

The Smell of Privacy

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:31:33 -0400

The Smell of Privacy:

laliberty:

A small victory:
This week the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that the odor of burning marijuana is not sufficient reason for a police officer to order a motorist out of his car. The Court noted that Question 2, a 2008 ballot initiative approved by 65 percent of voters, made possession of an ounce or less of marijuana a citable offense (similar to a traffic violation) rather than a misdemeanor. “We conclude that, to order a passenger in a stopped vehicle to exit based merely on suspicion of an offense, that offense must be criminal,” Chief Justice Roderick Ireland wrote for the majority. “Ferreting out decriminalized conduct with the same fervor associated with the pursuit of serious criminal conduct is neither desired by the public nor in accord with the plain language of the statute.”

Christina Grimmie singing ET by Katy Perry

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 06:11:06 -0400

Christina Grimmie singing ET by Katy Perry:

I just want a girl who can sing….. Preferably like this

laliberty: alexholzbach: If you’re in Tallahassee on Thursday,...

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:48:26 -0400

laliberty:

alexholzbach:

If you’re in Tallahassee on Thursday, please come see him! He’s also going to be doing a book signing earlier that day; message me for more information.

F-22 Raptors flying in formation over Ron Paul’s head?

The most expensive fighter jets ever?

Stealth fighter jets that Ron Paul, the non-interventionist and government penny-pincher, had been against and production of which was halted in 2009?

Probably not the most appropriate imagery.

I’m going!!

Photo

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:59:15 -0400

Photo

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:27:39 -0400

Tricky….

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:22:45 -0400

Tricky….