Tag Archives: politics

Are Politicians Like Santa Clause?

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This is a portion of a post from the SFE blogger Isaac Morehouse.  Full post located here.

“…We demand to be promised a world without risk and without failure; interest rates that constantly fall and house and stock prices that constantly rise – as well as wages, but not CEO wages or profits.  These are mutually incompatible goals.  They are impossible to achieve.  Yet we demand that our politicians promise them and “do something” about them.  We might as well ask that they make it rain more and less at the same time.  Not only are they incapable of doing it, even if they could the goals are not realizable at the same time.”

FA Hayek Quote For Election Day

Posted on by razma766
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hayekimage1Kurt Bouwhuis, Mackinac Center Intern

“The successful politician owes his power to the fact that he moves within the accepted framework of thought, that he thinks and talks conventionally. It would be almost a contradiction in terms for a politician to be a leader in the field of ideas. His task in a democracy is to find out what the opinions held by the largest number are, not to give currency to new opinions which may become the majority view in some distant future.” — FA Hayek

Are We Slaves to the Median Voter?

Posted on by razma766
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Kurt Bouwhuis, Mackinac Center Intern

We all have seen the effects of a two party setup on our political system.  During the primaries, our presidential candidates tend to lean towards their respective parties (Republicans tend to be more conservative and Democrats tend to be more liberal).  After the two candidates have been selected, they tend to have a change in heart and lean towards the views of the median voter (moderate).  This should not come as a surprise to anyone, as a politician’s largest incentive is to obtain the maximum number of votes.

Take a look at this years election.  Both Obama and McCain will not take military invasion off the table when dealing with Iran.  Neither candidates will fix the issues in the health care industry – they will just dump government money into a broken system.  Neither of them understand what caused the financial crisis and therefore, have no idea how to fix the problem.  They do differ on some issues, but the margin is not as large as most of us are lead to believe.

But wait! – We have a third party candidate this election (as we do most elections).  This candidate has largely different views with policies not based on the median voter, but rather, on the principles of which he or she believes.  Don’t get too excited – few will vote for this candidate because we are lead to believe that no one will vote this candidate and thus, is considered to be throwing away your vote. This results in a portion of the voting population voting for the lesser of two evils.  The questions is, how many people think like this?

I am not saying that everyone should agree with the policies of the third party candidate.  What I am saying is this – If you want principle behind policy, rather than someone who allows politics to decide their policy, a third party candidate is most definitely the way to go.  Voting for a third party candidate is not throwing away your vote, but rather, relieving your actual preference!

If the population continues to vote within the two party system, our nation will not stray far from moderate views.

Mayor rated low, but DPS worse

Posted on by lmruhland
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–Lauren Ruhland, 2008 MCPP intern

If you didn’t get one of the 25 seats reserved for members of the public at the governor’s removal hearing for Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick this morning, the whole thing is being streamed on the Free Press’s website.

To coincide with the hearing, the business organization Detroit Renaissance released a poll of city voters’ opinions on different current and potential governmental leaders and city institutions.  A whopping 80% of Detroiters are dissatisfied with the direction the city is heading, and almost as many (73%) view the mayor unfavorably.  69 percent of respondents think Kilpatrick ought to resign.

Despite their largely unfavorable impression of the mayor, only 69.5% consider his performance to be “fair” or “poor.”  Contrast that with their rating of the performance of Detroit Public School board– 89.5% place it in those two categories.

In other words, an alleged perjurer, facing ten felony counts ranging from obstruction of justice to assault, who is being called to resign by two out of three constituents, is still percieved to be doing his job more effectively than the city’s school board.

2008 Elections

Posted on by razma766
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Kurt Bouwhuis, Mackinac Center Intern

Politician can truthfully promise you one of two things:
1. Increase government services and increase taxes
2. Decrease government services and decrease taxes

Despite the truth, we generally see politicians promise:
1. Increase government services and decrease taxes
2. Decrease taxes and do nothing to decrease spending

These are a couple ideas to keep in mind for the upcoming election.

Looking for help from Bombardier

Posted on by razma766
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Published: Saturday, July 26

David Descôteaux
Le Gardeur

I have a project: to publish a book. I have talent and I’m certain it will be a success. I ask each of Bombardier’s 70,000 employees to lend me $25. I will repay the entire amount ($1.7 million) in 10 years. Of course, it will be a zero-interest loan. And I will pay you back only if I sell my books. If I sell nothing, you get nothing.

You refuse? But my project will create economic wealth. The publisher will earn a profit, I’ll buy writing software, hire a research staff, buy paper, eat at restaurants near my house, hire a contractor to build me a decent office. Add the income tax of all these workers to the taxes generated by the sale of the books, and the government will make a fortune.

Besides, our book industry must be competitive. I heard that a French author, who writes on the same subject as me, receives subsidies from his government. It would be unjust and suicidal for our industry not to subsidize me, too.

You still refuse? You prefer to put your $25 in a safe investment, earning an eight-per-cent compounded annual return that will add up to $54 in 10 years, instead of the uncertain $25 I’m offering you? You say it’s more important for you to keep this money for your daughter’s college tuition than to use it to make planes? I don’t get it.

But it doesn’t matter what you think. You have no choice. My good friend the politician will make you lend me the money. If you refuse, he’ll send you to jail. He thinks it’s a good project. After all, who are you to know what to do with your money?

I found this at cafehayek.typepad.com

…but I WANT it!

Posted on by lmruhland
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~Lauren M. Ruhland, 2008 MCPP intern

I’ve seen too many headlines in the format (politician) WANTS (some particular goal) lately.  These articles are invariably heavy on empty rhetoric and emotional appeals, but light on politically and economically feasible ways that we could implement the pol’s preferred system.  As a little experiment, I thought I’d take a look and see what the two major parties’ presumptive candidates have been wanting lately.  It was as easy as typing “(politician) wants” into my Google searchbar.

Barack Obama wants:
“…Michigan factories retooled for alternative energy products,” August 4.
“…U.S. to be first in space,” August 3.
“…Florida, Michigan [delegates] restored in full,” August 3.
“…More from Germany,” July 25.

John McCain wants:
“…U.S. government to go green,” June 24.
“…More Afghanistan troops,” July 15.
“…to stay out of Favre controversy,” July 31.
“…a man on Mars,” June 5.

To be fair, seating the Michigan and Florida delegates is the Democratic Party’s issue to deal with, and few people are going to choose a candidate over his position on Brett Favre–at least, few outside Wisconsin and the western U.P.  However, grand visions of space travel, top-down industrial restructuring, and major foreign policy shifts aren’t going to happen just through wanting it so.

Other presidential hopefuls have slightly more humble wants. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr “wants America to take him seriously,” while independent and former Green Party candidate Ralph Nader just wants your attention. Current Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney hasn’t been wanting lately, though in 2005 she did “want [the] government to open files on 2Pac’s life and murder.”

UPDATE:  There’s even more fun to be had if you search for “(politician’s name) pledges,” “calls for,” and “promises!”

Mackinac Center Current Comment :: 24 July 2008

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<>< Josh Rule : : 2008 MCPP Intern

Trying Liberty’s Kurt Bouwhuis wrote today’s Current Comment at the Mackinac Center, which is actually a modified version of his previous post, Thoughts of Michigan’s Unemployment Rate.  In it, Bouwhuis shows that the official explanations for Michigan’s high unemployment, an influx of young labor and high gas prices, simply do not hold up under scrutiny.  Instead, he proposes that it is government interventions which are wreaking havoc on Michigan’s economy.

A Simple Question

Posted on by jsrule
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from 53x.org

from 53x.org

<>< Josh Rule : : 2008 MCPP Intern

I attend university in Illinois, and the past couple of years, a new law (well, lots and lots of laws actually…) has gone into effect.  It’s the ban on smoking in public facilities across the state of Illinois.  Most of the individuals I have talked with really appreciate this law, because it makes the air in restaurants, hotels, and most other public venues that much cleaner.  In fact, I am very appreciative of this law, because I simply don’t like cigarette smoke.

Yet, this law is in absolute defiance of the freedoms held by individuals and entrepreneurs throughout the state.  Why, many of the smoke shops have had to shut down their smoking rooms!  How is a quality cigar and pipe dealer supposed to do business?  Well, I know the answer to this question… repeal the law.  That is really the only way to restore people’s freedoms – get rid of the impediments.  Yet, what can the private sector continue to do, especially individuals, to encourage public facilities to go smoke-free?  Any ideas?  Let me know in the comments.

More Commentary on the Proposed RMGN Amendment

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<>< Josh Rule : : 2008 MCPP Intern

(Remember, the views expressed at these links are not necessarily the views of Trying Liberty or the interns who blog here.  Thanks.)

Grand Rapids Pundit:  Grand Rapids Pundit also had a thing or two to say.

Greedy Capitalist: Greedy Capitalist writes a few paragraphs with its view of the situation.

Point of Law: Point of Law posted a follow up piece that simply notices how pervasive the RMGN powerpoint seems to be in the Michigan political blogosphere today.

Michigan Liberal: rich talks about how the proposed RMGN amendment is nothing like the reform it proposes to be.

Right Michigan: A bit of a rant, accompanied by a funny Youtube clip.

Mackinac Center: Mackinac Center Director of Labor Policy Paul Kersey thanks Jim Vote, the intern who discovered the powerpoint (and an ocassional blogger here at Trying Liberty) for his dedication and hard work.

Detroit News: Charlie Cain on the proposed Michigan Chamber of Commerce lawsuit against RMGN.

Detroit Free Press: Dawson Bell on the proposed Michigan Chamber of Commerce lawsuit against RMGN.

Michigan Liberal: Michigan Liberal devotes an entire section of Friday’s ‘Coffee Talk’ post to the Mackinac Center’s discovery.

Lansing State Journal: LSJ reporter Derek Wallbank characterizes the powerpoint as an “epic fail”.

MIGOP: MIGOP mentions in a link-list post (like this one, really) the opinion from the other part of the partisan game.

Political Debris: Bill Baker writes a brief introduction to the Charlie Cain article mentioned later in this post.

Taking Care of Business: A quick blurb announcing the Mackinac Center discovery.

Our Midland: Midland Daily News-based forum with a thread on the proposed RMGN amendment.

Detroit News: Another Kathy Barks Hoffman article on the RMGN powerpoint discovery by a Mackinac Center intern.

mlive.com: Peter Luke writes a fairly long post about the discovery of the powerpoint, and how the proposal has been viewed by the Democratic Party prior to the Mackinac Center’s announcement.

American Courthouse: Dan Pero writes at American Courthouse and calls for action.

Point of Law: James R. Copland writes briefly with a slightly more legal analysis.

Detroit News: Charlie Cain comments on the discovery of the powerpoint, what it means, and how groups around the state, including the UAW 1-C and the MEA, have reacted.

Associated Press: Associated Press coverage of the news as it broke, by Kathy Barks Hoffman.  It is showing up on the mlive.com, examiner.com, Chicago Tribune, Detroit News, and Oakland Press websites, among others.

Detroit Free Press: Dawson Bell, Free Press Lansing Bureau, and his opinion on the matter.

Detroit Free Press: Ron Dzwonkowski wonders if the situation is “A partisan gotcha?”

Detroit Free Press: Stephen Henderson asks, “Does Anyone Play Fair?”

Mackinac Center: Official Mackinac Center commentary from President Lawrence Reed, Paul Kersey, Michael Jahr, as well as links to the original story from Trying Liberty and the powerpoint.  Mackinac is also tracking additional news stories.

The Frank Beckmann Show: WJR’s Frank Beckmann talking with the Mackinac Center’s Paul Kersey and Patrick Wright about the powerpoint and its significance.  The recording finishes with comments from Dianne Byrum, who spoke on the 16 Jul 2008 show.

Ballotpedia.org: The ‘Michigan Legislative and Judicial Restructuring Initiative (2008)’ page on Ballotpedia mentions that a Mackinac Center intern “discovered a PowerPoint presentation.”

Jack McHugh’s post:  Jack has just been cross-posted at SFE (Students for a Free Economy), RightMichigan, and RedState.

Grand Rapids Libertarian:  loungedaddy at Grand Rapids Libertarian has some fairly pointed dialogue on the issue.

RightMichigan:  Nick at RightMichigan breaks down what he thinks are some of the more important ideas presented in the powerpoint describing the RMGN proposal.  It has been crossposted on colecurtis-colecurtis.

Yahoo!:  Yes, the discovery has made it to Yahoo! news.

(This post will probably be quite fluid in the next days and weeks.  Please continue to check back for additional links relating to Jim Vote’s discovery of the seemingly partisan nature of the proposed Reform Michigan Government Now constitutional amendment.)

More to Come…

Mackinac Center Current Comment :: 17 July 2008

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<>< Josh Rule : : 2008 MCPP Intern

Director of the Mackinac Center’s Property Rights Network, Russ Harding has an incredible Current Comment today.  Incredible in the sense that I can hardly believe that what He is writing is true, but I do not deny that it is.  It seems that yet another state agency in Michigan is trying to shape Michigan’s economy to its own desires through central planning.  The Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) has been doing this type of central planning since 1995, and during that time Michigan has continued to fall further and further behind, economically.  I am not saying that  MEGA caused the state’s economic woes, but they certainly have not helped to prevent or remediate them.

Yet, MEGA is not the culprit here.  Instead, it is the Department of Environmental Quality.  Someone in the department “dedicated to protecting human health and to preserving a healthy environment” has decided that the best way to protect & preserve is to selectively choose which businesses are best in which parts of the state and deny access to others based on primarily social reasoning.  Truly, this development is a dangerous one, but to find out precisely why, I encourage You to go ahead and read Russ Harding’s Current Comment.

Mackinac Center Current Comment : : 15 July 2008

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<>< Josh Rule : : 2008 MCPP Intern

Mackinac Center Director of Communications Michael Jahr wrote about the proposed Reform Michigan Government Now constitutional amendment in today’s Current Comment.  The new amendment seeks to make at least 30 significant changes to the way state government operates in Michigan, including changing the number of justices on its Supreme Court and eliminating several seats in the legislatures.  Wanting to change government to make it smaller and more accountable to the people is a wonderful desire.  It must be tempered, though, by reason and realism.

Perhaps it would be better to propose these changes in smaller, more manageable amendments, rather than trying to cram everything in at once.  Taking small bites takes a bit longer to eat the full meal, but it is often more enjoyable and certainly easier to stomach.  Trying to eat the entire meal in one gigantic bite is not only inadvisable in most cases, but often impossible.  So, while we should continue to dream great dreams about freedom and the respect of human intelligence, we must also be shrewd in achieving them.