What’s the word? 2009-09-16
September 16th, 2009
- Had a discussion in class with my Micro prof because he said Diminishing Utility is an assumption, I disagree…Expect a blog post later. #
Categories: Twitter Updates
What’s the word? 2009-09-15
September 15th, 2009
- Reading: "Bob Murphy's response to Cochrane (who was responding to Krugman)" Brilliant essay! Austrians Must Read! http://bit.ly/rBJdx #
- Took a dozen calls to get thru to Sen. caseys office. Told them how upset and embarassed I am in his 'Nay' vote on Sen. Johanns amendment #
- Reading: Thomas Sowell has a good article today, about healthcare, but good advice in general. "Fables for Adults" http://bit.ly/1RkcrM #
- RT @LibertyMaven: 09/15/2009 Freedom Watch 31 w/ Ron Paul, Walter Block, Tom Woods VIDEO now ready: http://ow.ly/pyC8 #fw #tlot #tcot #c4l #
Categories: Twitter Updates
Why do Unions support Universal Healthcare?
September 15th, 2009
I was wondering why Unions are so pro-universal healthcare even though they already get Healthcare insurance as part of the Union negotiated collective bargaining agreements… then it hit me…
Same reason Unions support minimum wage even though they already get paid much more than min. Because both of these laws force their competition to become more expensive and less of a deal compared to themselves. If companies are suddenly forced to give healthcare to all workers then they are suddenly not as competitive with Union labor as they were prior to the required coverage.
Same reason for why Unions support single payer, then companies wouldn’t be burdened with the gigantic Union benefits costs and they’d be more competitive with other workers. Currently, Unions are terribly expensive for companies, but if they were to pass single payer then unions and non-union workers are on a more level playing field expense wise.
Unions aren’t looking to help ‘the little guy’, they just want to screw over ‘the little guy’ so they can’t compete with Big Union Labor.
Categories: Unions
What’s the word? 2009-09-14
September 14th, 2009
- Yet another Acorn prostitution and tax evasion exposé, this time NYC. That makes 3 different cities! http://bit.ly/9BgxF #
- Whoa…. http://usdebtclock.org/ #
Categories: Twitter Updates
What’s the word? 2009-09-13
September 13th, 2009
- Reading: Tom Woods beats the living bejesus out of "Che" – "Anatomy of an Economic Ignoramus" http://mises.org/story/3695 #
Categories: Twitter Updates
Court rules Employer must pay for Weight-loss Surgery
September 13th, 2009
A court in Indiana has ruled that a Pizza shop is required to pay the $20,000 to $25,000 required for weight-loss surgery of one of their employees. Apparently, a 340 pound empoyee had a run-in with a freezer door which caused him to require back surgery. The employer, and rightfully so, agrees to pay for the back surgery. One problem, the doctors can’t perform the surgery because the man is too obese. The employers disagree on paying for this elective procedure because the man was already obese when they hired him, sure he gained 40 pounds after the accident — which put him up to 380 pounds– but even at 340 pounds (at the time of the incident) he was too overweight for the back surgery anyway.
I think it’s appalling, for the reason that employers are not able to make a hiring decision based on a persons weight. Well, the court just ruled in effect that hiring Obese people exposes your business to the risk of paying substantially higher workmen’s comp.
If hiring a certain individual may increase your expenses in the future then why can’t the company make the fiscally responsible decision not to hire them?
This would force the Obese person to pay the cost of their decision not to maintain a healthy weight. Naturally, we can expect businesses to make hiring decisions knowing that hiring Obese people exposes them to additional financial burden — only now they will have to come up with some other reason for not hiring an individual. The whole situation is really a perversion of justice.
Categories: Healthcare, Law
The Role of Government in a Free Society – Walter Williams
September 12th, 2009
Just finished watching this lecture Walter Williams did back in 2005. It’s a fantastic lecture with a good Q&A period afterward. Highly recommended. Those of you familiar with the work of Walter Block and Hans Hoppe will find many of the arguments and analogies quite similar (great minds think alike eh?).
Categories: Role of Government
What’s the word? 2009-09-11
September 11th, 2009
- International Econ teacher mentioned I, Pencil. I said Leonard Reed, he shot back – Milton Friedman… #
- I remember sitting in 8th grade spanish class when they first told us over PA that there had been an attack. Won't ever forget 9/11 #
Categories: Twitter Updates
Obama puts Tariff on Tires from China
September 11th, 2009
Obama’s Protectionist colors shine through at last, so much for all his talk on free trade…. Feeling pressure from the United Steelworkers Union, Obama has caved in and will put a ‘temporary’ tariff on Chinese tires. This is the first case I’ve heard of Obama directly inacting protectionist measures.
The tariff will amount to 35 percent the first year, 30 percent the second year and 25 percent the third year.
Ouch! 35% extra on the price of tires!
Of course this is great news for the people who make the lesser demanded tires in the U.S., the Steelworkers Union. They get to keep their overpaid jobs — for now.
Unfortunately for the American consumer this means you will now be paying more for tires. Also, this tariff will probably upset China — one of our biggest trade partners — so it’s conceivable that they may reciprocate with a tariff on the import of some type of American product in the near future.
Anyone who has taken macroeconomics has seen that tariffs result in a net loss to society. It decreases supply, while increasing price. Either Obama has no knowledge of econ, which is unlikely, or he doesn’t care about the pocketbook of the average american and is more beholden to his union buddies — which is extremely likely.
Of course, this tariff will bring down the world market price of tires so other countries (Europe, Russia, etc.) can now buy much cheaper tires than they could have and probably are delighted that the U.S. is suddenly not buying from a serious producer of tires. You can thank Obama and his political cronies for the hefty tire bill you will be paying for the next few years — that’s IF this actually stays temporary.
Categories: Protectionism
Why is it so many don’t have health insurance?
September 11th, 2009
The answer my friends… is protein powder.
Excellent video below from Reason.tv
HT: E. Frank Stephenson @ DivisonofLabour.com
Categories: Opportunity Cost
