Stephen W. Carson Archive
July 30, 2009 8:17 PM
by
Stephen W. Carson
After barely a week in full-tilt operation the "Cash for Clunkers" program has been suspended. As recently taken apart in a Mises Daily, this program is a particularly absurd example of the broken-window fallacy. But the suspension of the program has brought even more economic absurdity.
Rep. Candice Miller breathlessly tells us "The thing has exploded. It has exceeded everyone's expectations." Before we go on let's just pause and reflect on these people who were surprised. Here is the amazing turn of events:
- The government starts handing out free money.
- People start grabbing it as fast as they can.
- The bureaucrats quickly realize that they are hitting the program's budget in mere days (of the program being finalized) and suspend the program.
What is the reaction to this perfectly foreseeable sequence of events? "...dealers were amazed...", "the explosively popular... program."
Continue reading "Shocking News: People Take Free Money!" »
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May 31, 2009 11:20 PM
by
Stephen W. Carson
This documentary covers the events of February 28-April 19, 1993 at Waco, Texas that resulted in a total of eighty-six deaths. Called the Waco Siege or Waco Massacre, it is an amazing illustration of the principle that every command and regulation of the state is backed up by deadly force.
In this case, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms initiated the raid due to suspicion that the people there were guilty of violating firearm regulations, (they ran a business buying and selling firearms). Ultimately, eighty-two people were killed including more than 20 children and two pregnant women, as a consequence of what was initially the enforcement of a business regulation. These people were not convicted of any crimes, but merely suspected of violating a government regulation. They were not accused of killing anyone or stealing from anyone. They had even expressed willingness to have the ATF inspect their inventory.
There is so much to be said about the horrifying events documented here. I would only add that here we see a dramatic example of the militarization of domestic law enforcement... A trend that has only become more intense since 1993.
No rating, but be warned that there are some graphic, horrifying images.
See more Films on Liberty and the State.
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April 16, 2009 10:31 AM
by
Stephen W. Carson
Dear Walter Block and the Ludwig von Mises Institute,
This is a Russian Federal highway that runs from Moscow to Yakutsk. Though the road is a vital highway it does not have an asphalt surface.
More pictures are available here.
Please translate Professor Block's Privatization of Roads & Highways into Russian as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Russia
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