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Federalism Is Good Policy and Good Politics

Federalism Is Good Policy and Good Politics

It’s a challenge to be a libertarian in Washington because you have to swim against the tide. The vast majority of people in town are looking for excuses to spend… Read more »

Ranking the States for Economic and Personal Freedom

Ranking the States for Economic and Personal Freedom

Sometimes I myopically focus on fiscal policy, implying that the key to prosperity is small government. But I’ll freely admit that growth is maximized when you have small government AND… Read more »

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Which State Has the Highest Food Stamp Usage of All?

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Which State Has the Highest Food Stamp Usage of All?

The food stamp program seems to be a breeding ground of waste, fraud, and abuse. Some of the horror stories I’ve shared include: Using food stamps to buy luxury coffee… Read more »

Great Moments in State Government

Great Moments in State Government

Back in 2010, I shared parts of a Dave Barry column that mocked the government for bizarre examples of stupid law enforcement. Barry was specifically making fun of OSHA bureaucrats… Read more »

Marketplace Fairness Act Targets Domestic Tax Competition

Marketplace Fairness Act Targets Domestic Tax Competition

Like so many bad ideas in Washington, the recently introduced “Marketplace Fairness Act” has bipartisan support. But there’s nothing fair about allowing states to reach outside their borders to tax… Read more »

Amusing California Satire by Walter Williams, but What if Gov. Brown Takes It Seriously?

Amusing California Satire by Walter Williams, but What if Gov. Brown Takes It Seriously?

I periodically mock the crazy statists of California. The state is almost surely doomed to suffer a Greek-style fiscal chaos. The only unknown is whether Illinois will beat the Golden… Read more »

America’s Best and Worst Governors

America’s Best and Worst Governors

One of my favorite Cato Institute publications is the Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors, which is produced by my colleague Chris Edwards. The report card uses variables such… Read more »

It’s Wrong for Federal Tax Deductions to Encourage Bad Fiscal Policy by State and Local Governments

It’s Wrong for Federal Tax Deductions to Encourage Bad Fiscal Policy by State and Local Governments

I have a handful of simple rules for good tax policy. Keep government small, since it’s impossible to have a reasonable tax system with a bloated welfare state. Keep tax… Read more »

The Other Problem of Dependence

The Other Problem of Dependence

A lot has been said about the growing dependence of American citizens on the federal government, including in this great CF&P Economics 101 video narrated by Emily O’Neill. But there’s… Read more »

North Carolina’s Attempted Censorship Shows How State Governments also Are a Threat to Liberty

North Carolina’s Attempted Censorship Shows How State Governments also Are a Threat to Liberty

I spend much of my time focusing on the dangers of a bloated federal government. And if you’ve ever paid attention to the name of this blog, you know I… Read more »