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News
Recent posts and articles from IGEG fellows, advisers, experts and scholars.
Obama Loyalists Reckless and Lawless Obama loyalists have replaced the rule of law with political gamesmanship
During the past two weeks, officials in the Obama “Justice” Department almost caused a new global financial crisis, because they put political considerations above the national welfare. Government is supposed to protect person and property, not put the citizens at...
The Russian Enigma and the U.S. Election Why would Putin favor Trump after investing in Hillary?
Does Vladimir Putin want Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump to win the presidency? Those supporting Hillary claim that Mr. Putin wants Mr. Trump to win, and they claim that is why WikiLeaks is putting out the Hillary emails and speeches. Specifically, John Podesta,...
The Heavy Price of Hypocrisy Rude banter doesn’t match threats to life and economic well-being
Were you shocked when you heard Donald Trump’s lewd comments? Were you shocked when Hillary Clinton, the leader of “destroy-the-women-victims-of-Bill-Clinton’s bimbo eruptions” and a notorious potty mouth herself, said Mr. Trump was unqualified to be president? Were...
Separating Economic Sense and Nonsense Even many economists don’t know what they don’t know
Why is it that many politicians and journalists can quickly grasp the idea that if the tax on cigarettes or soft drinks with sugar is increased, the demand for them will decline, but seem unable to understand that increasing a tax on labor, like a mandated increase in...
A Reality Check of the Election Returning to the Reagan playbook for ‘political courage’ is in order
Government spending and borrowing are once again growing as a percentage of GDP. The federal debt held by the public was 35 percent in 2007. It is 74 percent today, and is projected to be 140 percent in 2046 — provided nothing goes wrong. Neither Hillary Clinton nor...
Why Equal Justice Matters Tyranny emerges from a double standard that favors the elites
More than two years ago, several independent researchers, investigative journalists and columnists (including yours truly) began providing evidence and reporting on apparent funds from Russian government-controlled entities funneling into U.S. environmental groups....
Tax Malpractice in the EU By not abolishing or lowering corporate income taxes, the EU and Apple practice mismanagement
Why would the Irish government argue against receiving $14.5 billion (yes that is a billion with a B) in income taxes that the European Union says Apple owes it? The amount is greater than the entire Irish budget, yet they are saying, “No thank you.” Both the EU and...
Gains on Commodity Sales a Real Loser of a Tax The IRS forces taxpayers to shell out for imaginary gains on commodity sales
Would you be in favor of a tax that loses money for the government, and penalizes entrepreneurship, job creation and economic growth? Only muddy-brained or mean-spirited people would favor such a tax — yet many such people are found in the Internal Revenue Service and...
Causing Less Harm by Doing Nothing Climate change projects spend enormous sums with no effect
It has not only been a waste of money, it has done real harm. Some trillions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars have been spent to combat global warming over the last three decades. Has the expenditure of all of this money reduced global temperatures from where they...
The Case for Free Trade Commerce grows best unencumbered by high tariffs or taxes
Do you support free trade? Many business people, politicians and workers say they are in favor of free trade, “but with conditions” — because they can see and feel the job losses but not the job and income gains. Consumers benefit from free trade — in terms of lower...
Stepping on the Bureaucrat’s Cape Congress must rein in special immunities for federal employees
Should government employees have privileges and legal immunities that the rest of us do not have? The government shutdown battle is, in part, a dispute about the extra subsidies members of Congress and their staffs are slated to get from Obamacare. Civilian government...
Wild Charges over Hacking of the DNC If Putin wanted to help a candidate, he would choose Hillary
Did the Russians hack the emails of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton? The answer is almost certainly “yes,” but that does not mean that the DNC and other emails were released on behalf of the Kremlin to help Donald Trump. The basis for my...
A Regulatory Plague from Austin Liberal cities are always on the scout for new rules to impose
All plagues, whether they are biological or destructive policy ideas, begin at some specific place and time. The city of Austin, Texas, is now the place of origin of what could be a very costly experiment. Unneeded and ill-considered regulation is annoying, costly and...
Book Burners and Gun Banners Fascists have set their sights on the first and second amendments
Environmental zealots and the politically correct have become modern-day book burners in their attempts to criminalize and repress the speech of those who disagree with them. The Nazis and other dictatorial regimes used the old practice of book burnings and gun...
It’s Better than You Think Away from the shocking headlines, progress is improving human life
It is the worst of times — well no, not really. This past week we had shootings of police and shootings by police. The world economy and political situation is a mess. It is a time of crisis — without an apparent Churchill, Thatcher or Reagan. Yet, in many ways,...
Too Big to Succeed Good intentions have created an administrative state too big to manage
Have you ever wondered why it is that even the most successful companies invariably stall out in terms of growth and profits? The reason is that any organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit, or a government, reaches a point where it can no longer be managed...
Revolt against the Unaccountable ‘Brexit’ represents rejection of the international establishment
The Brexit vote is just the beginning of the revolt against unaccountable institutions and persons. The global political-economic class reacted with horror when a majority of British citizens said “enough is enough,” by voting to leave the EU. Rather than government...
Constitutional Fix to Overspending Supermajority amendment would make it harder to raid the public purse
Tea Party members are going to be very unhappy. Many of the new members of the House and Senate that the Tea Party helped elect are already becoming part of the political class, as evidenced by their votes for continued farm subsidies, refusals to put reasonable...