What happens when the “public square” is guarded by gatekeepers eager to censor anything they view as inappropriate political speech? That’s a question many conservative and libertarian activists are now asking, as “progressive” social-media companies accelerate their crusade against anything that gets labeled as hate speech, online bullying and fake news. At its outset, … [Read more...] about Free Speech? Social Media and its Gatekeepers
Just Because It’s Bipartisan, Doesn’t Mean It’s a Good Idea
During the tumultuous presidential primaries in 2016, one candidate promised to impose huge tariffs on Chinese goods, “until they stop dumping steel into the United States,” thus restoring the American steel industry to its former glory. The candidate I’m thinking about was actually the self-described socialist senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders — but it just as easily … [Read more...] about Just Because It’s Bipartisan, Doesn’t Mean It’s a Good Idea
Encourage Businesses to Invest in Education: Expand Educational Choice
Democrat gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak unveiled his education platform last month and, despite his best efforts, he unintentionally made a strong case for expanding Nevada’s only funded educational-choice program: Opportunity Tax-Credit Scholarships. “People want to help” improve education, said Sisolak, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Businesses want to … [Read more...] about Encourage Businesses to Invest in Education: Expand Educational Choice
The Doublethink of Modern Politics
In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, he introduced his readers to the concept of “doublethink” — the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. Orwell concisely illustrated the concept with his fictional government’s contradictory slogan for the people: “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is … [Read more...] about The Doublethink of Modern Politics
Stop Calling Higher Taxes a ‘Reform’: Property Taxes in Nevada
It’s not very often that a bad tax system actually benefits taxpayers — but that’s the case with Nevada’s property tax. Both policy experts and local governments have repeatedly called for reform to the state’s convoluted property tax structure — albeit for entirely different reasons. Many policy experts dislike the current system because it’s unnecessarily complex, and … [Read more...] about Stop Calling Higher Taxes a ‘Reform’: Property Taxes in Nevada
We Shouldn’t Have to Get Government Permission Slips to Earn a Living
Music therapy, according to Nevada law, is “the clinical use of music interventions” within a therapeutic relationship — including dance, song writing, lyric discussions and even simply listening to music. Nevada law also states that, without the government’s express permission, practicing “music therapy” is a criminal offense. So too is giving professional interior … [Read more...] about We Shouldn’t Have to Get Government Permission Slips to Earn a Living
The “Green Energy” Lobby is About Cronyism —Not Polar Bears
It comes as no surprise that the Nevada legislature is, yet again, going to try to micromanage the energy market through a variety of new renewable energy mandates and subsidies. Sadly, it is even less of a shock that opposition to these initiatives is scarce, to say the least. After all, the “green energy” movement has done a fantastic job portraying itself as the … [Read more...] about The “Green Energy” Lobby is About Cronyism —Not Polar Bears
‘Obamacare Lite’ Is Not the Free-Market Solution We Were Promised
When Republicans recently unveiled their first attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, it became obvious the leadership was more focused on repackaging and rewriting than repealing and replacing. Certainly, some changes were suggested that would have boded well for businesses and individuals. While the individual and business mandates would remain a part of the law, … [Read more...] about ‘Obamacare Lite’ Is Not the Free-Market Solution We Were Promised
Lawmakers Should Focus on Consequences of Minimum Wage Hikes – Not Mere Intentions
It didn’t take the new Nevada legislature long before it started toying with the idea of raising the minimum wage. Introduced within the first week of Nevada’s 79th legislative session, SB106 would incrementally increase the minimum wage from the current $8.25 per hour to a grand total of $12 per hour. Another more aggressive proposal — AB175 — was introduced the following … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Should Focus on Consequences of Minimum Wage Hikes – Not Mere Intentions
Federal Land Is About Control, Not Conservation
In the final months of his presidency, President Obama used his executive authority to place millions of acres of western lands “off limits” to development — and big-government environmentalists cheered the move. Certainly the protections put in place by declaring large swaths of western lands “protected” is a policy result that pleases the ecologically concerned — but … [Read more...] about Federal Land Is About Control, Not Conservation
Thanks to Capitalism, the Future Is Quickly Arriving
The future is apparently upon us. It’s true that we don’t yet have flying cars, cities built on clouds or Back-to-the-Future-style hover boards. But we are on the verge of having self-driving cars. And we already have telephones with more computing power than the system that successfully landed men on the moon. And now, thanks to retail giant Amazon, we will soon have … [Read more...] about Thanks to Capitalism, the Future Is Quickly Arriving
Transferable Tax Credits
Private hands in taxpayers’ pockets It might be illegal under the Nevada Constitution for the government to give any private business a direct “gift” or subsidy — but since when does the ruling class let little things like constitutional intentions get in their way? The purpose of the constitutional ban on giveaways and subsidies to private corporations makes sense. Such … [Read more...] about Transferable Tax Credits
The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning
For far too long now, Nevada has been increasing the regulatory and tax burden on businesses, while simultaneously giving special handouts to politically connected companies and industries. It’s an environment that is ripe for corruption, abuse and political shenanigans. It breeds “protectionist lobbying,” allowing politically connected companies to squeeze out small … [Read more...] about The Elections Aren’t the End: They’re Just the Beginning
The Immoral Crusade for More: Government Intervention Needs to Stop
It seems that whenever someone attacks the core principles of free-market capitalism, they do so with a self-righteous attitude of moral supremacy. After all, the push for redistributing wealth, regulating businesses and expanding government always seems to be “for the greater good,” so it’s easy to see why big government advocates are so smitten with themselves. As such, … [Read more...] about The Immoral Crusade for More: Government Intervention Needs to Stop
Political Elites Send a Message: ‘Dissent Will Not Be Tolerated’
Nineteen U.S. senators, organized by global-warming alarmist groups, took to the Senate floor recently in an attempt to smear anyone who dares publicly criticize Big Government’s “green energy” schemes. Harry Reid led the charge — singling out the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI), by name. “Those who ignore the climate crisis, or deny it exists, do not have a valid … [Read more...] about Political Elites Send a Message: ‘Dissent Will Not Be Tolerated’