Public Policy

December 29, 2016

The end of black conservatism?

On December 27, 2016, at the age of 86, Thomas Sowell published his last column. After publishing dozens of books and hundreds of columns, Dr. Sowell’s retirement may mark the beginning of the end of an era of black intellectuals who were champions of political and economic liberty. Continue Reading...

December 29, 2016

It’s time to kill the penny

Over the past twelve months there have been considerable discussions of monumental public policy issues. But before 2016 ends we need to consider one more of (in)significant importance: what to do about the penny. Continue Reading...

December 19, 2016

Throwing Reconstructionist shade

Now that conservative Christians are something of a favored group by the executive branch of the US government again after a two-term hiatus, it’s time for many to dust off those old memes regarding the theocratic tendencies of the Christian Right. Continue Reading...

December 14, 2016

Trump nominee Betsy DeVos makes Interfaith Alliance naughty list

Your writer hates to be the one to do this, but sometimes it’s necessary to bring a necessary understanding of religion to those who deliberately misunderstand and mischaracterize it. In this specific instance, it’s the Interfaith Alliance, a group more intent on spreading progressive ideology than religious faith. Continue Reading...

December 13, 2016

ATMs, bank tellers, and the automation paradox

In September 1969 the Chemical Bank branch in Rockville Center, New York opened the first automatic teller machines. The first ATM was only able to give out cash, but by 1971 the machine could handle multiple functions, including providing customers’ account balances. Continue Reading...

December 12, 2016

Samuel Gregg: Trade agreements are not free trade

Free trade and trade agreements are not the same thing. In fact, they are often times in direct contradiction with each other. Acton Director of Research Samuel Gregg recently wrote an article about this at The Stream. Continue Reading...

December 09, 2016

What standard should we use to judge school choice?

The United States spends a lot of money each year on public schooling. As a percentage of GDP, government expenditures on public education (five percent) exceed the amount we spend on defense (four percent) or welfare (two percent). Continue Reading...

December 01, 2016

What happens when the government ‘forgives’ $108 billion in student debt?

To reduce the number of people defaulting on student loans, President Obama has been promoting income-driven repayment plans. The most widely available income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans—the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan—provides payment caps based on a borrower’s family size and income (150 percent of the poverty level). Continue Reading...

November 29, 2016

Financial deregulation expands opportunity

The Dodd-Frank Act became law in 2010, adding more regulation to a banking industry that was already heavily regulated. The main purpose of this 2,300 page act was to give consumers protection against big profit seeking banks but the unintended consequences prove to be much greater. Continue Reading...

November 21, 2016

Washington showdown looms over Ex-Im Bank and cronyism

Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican from South Carolina, wants to change the rules of one of the biggest crony capitalist organizations in Washington. He wants to make it easier for the Export Import Bank to dish out large amounts of corporate welfare to companies such as Boeing, which already brings in revenues upward of $95 billion per year. Continue Reading...

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