by Dan Mitchell | Mar 5, 2019 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics
What’s the worst thing the government does? That’s a difficult question to answer. I’ve argued that giving U.S. tax dollars to the OECD is the worst item in the budget, on a per-dollar-spent basis. And I’ve expressed scathing disdain for the horrid practice of civil...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 2, 2019 | Blogs, Trade
Since trade promotes prosperity, I want increased market-driven, cross-border commerce between China and the United States. But you can see in this CNBC interview that I’m worried about achieving that outcome given protectionism from President Trump and mercantilism...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 7, 2019 | Big Government, Blogs
When I think of over-bearing governments with myopic enforcement of silly rules, I obviously think of the United States, especially the IRS, EEOC, FDA, and EPA. And I also think of Germany, Japan, and other straight-laced societies. But I don’t think of Canada. After...
by Andrew F. Quinlan | Dec 20, 2018 | Opinion and Commentary
Originally published by The Western Journal on December 19, 2018. Republicans were forced to pull their first proposed year-end tax bill last week due to a lack of votes, in part because many members who lost their reelection bids weren’t in town. H.R. 88 included...
by Dan Mitchell | Dec 14, 2018 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
Since I’m a proponent of tax reform, I don’t like special favors in the tax code. Deductions, exemptions, credits, exclusions, and other preferences are back-door forms of cronyism and government intervention. Indeed, they basically exist to lure people into making...