by Dan Mitchell | Sep 24, 2014 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
I want to challenge supporters of intervention and big government. Here are two simple questions. I’ll be happy if I can get a semi-reasonable answer to either of them. 1. Can you name a nation that became rich with statist policies? Before you say Sweden, or...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 17, 2014 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
It’s difficult to promote good economic policy when some policy makers have a deeply flawed grasp of history. This is why I’ve tried to educate people, for instance, that government intervention bears the blame for the 2008 financial crisis, not capitalism or...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 13, 2014 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Welfare and Entitlements
I’m very worried about the burden of government spending. Moreover, I’m quite concerned that poorly designed entitlement programs will lead to fiscal disaster. And I’m especially irked that Obama made the problem worse by ramming through yet another misguided and...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 9, 2014 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending, Taxation, Welfare and Entitlements
I’m a pessimist about public policy for two simple reasons: 1) Seeking power and votes, elected officials generally can’t resist making short-sighted and politically motivated choices that expand the burden of government. 2) Voters are susceptible to bribery,...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 7, 2014 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Waste
Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute looks at the topic of infrastructure spending and I’m left with mixed feelings. Some of what he writes is very good. Yes, the claims of an “infrastructure crisis” by President Obama, many liberals…are exaggerated....