Ideas Matter

The Economic Way of Thinking and Politics Without Romance

Okay, now that you've watched this video, ask yourself: what if you apply the economic way of thinking to political action? In other words, even though we don't need politicians to get the "good orders" we see around us, we nevertheless have to live with these characters. So what do actions, interactions and consequences have to do with the results we see in the public sphere (that we're so often troubled by)?

Rules of Power Politics - Machiavelli Meets Tullock

This video is not just an outline for aspiring politicians. Bruce Bueno de Mesquita actually describes, however indirectly, the architecture of power. I can't wait to read his book. It sounds to me like what you get when you marry Machiavelli with Buchanan and Tullock (public choice theory). So what do we mean by the architecture of power?

Ron Paul's Victory

Okay, leading off with the (Ron) Paul vs. Paul (Krugman) debate is pretty cheap. But please read on now that I've (hopefully) sucked you in. 

Keynes's Magic Dipping Ladel

John Maynard Keynes probably didn't mean to supply justification for any road to serfdom. But he did. We're left with a mythology of job creation that only creates phantom jobs -- namely visible jobs contrived from the largess (but corresponding invisible job losses somewhere else). This is what happens when you divert resources from productive uses to less productive uses -- all in the name of "stimulating" the economy.

Government Distorts Healthcare: Obamacare Doubles Down

The U.S. healthcare system is not a free market. Not even close. There are five major things wrong with the system that make it less free and, therefore, more expensive -- both in terms of insurance and in terms of care. Most are mentioned in this video. But here's my list:

 

Charles Murray on America's Coming Apart

Charles Murray is a really interesting fellow. Normally I don't post thirty minute videos. I think our Ideas Matter readers generally want quick contact. Few of us have thirty minutes to spare. But occasionally we have those videos that get to some of the deepest issues of our time. And they require more. I hope you get a lot out of this Reason interview with Murray (the excellent Ron Bailey is the interviewer).

And if you enjoy the video I hope you'll enjoy my own 2006 interview with Murray below the fold:

Obama Bucks: A Glimpse into the Welfare State

(Hat tip to a reader, Rafael.) There are a number of religious celebrations going on right now. As you consider the situation in your family or community -- and how best to help the poor -- watch this video and ask yourself: what percentage of Americans have been paid and trained by the state to think like these men?

Stolen Childhood?

My wife is starting a new school. (Really, she is.) Some of her motivation comes from the kind of thing you're seeing in the trailer above. Some of her motivation comes from what you might have seen in The Cartel. It's abysmal. And it's got to change. It's time to criticize by creating. It's time for the rise of the edupreneur.

Milton Friedman on Bureaucracy in Education

We're running full steam celebrating Milton Friedman's Century. In this exclusive archival footage from Free To Choose Network, Friedman asks: In what sphere of life would we reduce the feedback mechanism of the customer and centralize the power of the producer? In one of the most important spheres of life, of course: education. No wonder our public education system has flatlined. So what do we do about it?

Doreen's Story: Thank goodness for Britain's safety net

I'm off today to fly away to a rather nerdy conference about higher education reform. In the meantime, check out this hilarious video by a British, "black-country" welfare baby. You may have to play it a couple of times to get the accent (near Birmingham UK). But imagine Ozzy Osborne's accent amplified by 10. Then you'll start to hear things like "lazy cow" being her doctor's diagnosis, for example.

This is not where we're headed folks; this is where we are. Welcome to the dependency state. This is only funny because we're familiar with it. And we laugh at absurdity.

What is it that Calvin says?