LIBERTY: “market failure” … … and only the gubamint can save us!

Thursday, August 3, 2006

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/taddeo1.html

Socialist Water
by John Taddeo
***Begin Quote***

According to the City of Cleveland’s Division of Water, a man by the name of Benhu Johnson started a water delivery company in 1810. He would deliver 2 barrels of Lake Erie water to your home for 25 cents. They go on to say that others started water companies but none were able to handle the development of a water works for an entire city. Therefore, government had to step in and fix the problem. This is the classic “market failure” argument that is used to justify government action. Now since government maintains a monopoly on water distribution, we will never see what alternatives the free market can deliver. However, we can compare it to another utility that is much less regulated: cellular telephone service.
***End Quote***

Ahh, yes, the old market failure argument. Interesting that there is never a “government failure” argument.

Take schools for instance. The gubamint runs the schools lock, stock, and barrel. The output is defective. Children come out dumb as stumps at best or with heads filled dumb ideas (i.e., the gubamint knows best; global warming is a fact; business is bad; and how to put on a condom). Yet we never discuss alternatives to the gubamint skool failure. Why is that?

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LIBERTY: “Open Space”, like “Eminent Domain”, is another enforced gubamint program!

Thursday, August 3, 2006

http://sbeva.blogspot.com/2006/07/do-you-want-to-help.html

***Begin Quote***

If you are interesting in helping preserve the Van Dyke Farm, here is a list of important people who need to hear of your support for this important project.
<List of Politicians>

***End Quote***

If you are creating a private fund with no government funding, then I’d love to help. Voluntary solutions are best. If this is more government open space where we are going to take tax dollars extracted at gun point from unhappy taxpayers, count me among the opposition. The hallmark of a bad idea is if you can’t convince people to support it voluntarily. “Tin cupping” or “passing the hat” good; taxes bad.

Yes, yes, I KNOW Open Space is GOOD for me. Yes, Mommy Government, I’ll take the medicine that you think I need. And, of course, Father State, you’ll take all the money you need, or give me a good whuppin, and I’ll shut up ’cause you’ll give me what I need to teach me some respect for my betters. :-(

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

PROD: Dates are a hassle. Don’t add to your keypunching load!

Thursday, August 3, 2006

Ahh, in life understanding comes late.

When I record dates in my paper notebook I write 03AUG06. When I poke that keyboard I tap out 2006-08-03. For a while, I was doing yymmmdd. Then I tried two letter months. JY for July and JN for June. But that didn’t sort or set well.

Then I was doing 2006-7JY-04.

That sorted well. Survived the international test. (You do recognize that 2006-07-04 CAN be misinterpreted by a Brit. I used to work for one! I became a beleiver in GMT for everybody but that’s another story.) Bottom line I think the dashes are a waste of keystrokes.

So maybe the answer is just 20068AU03. Sorts well, looks ugly, and is olny 9 characters aot the 11 I first thought of using.

Sigh, darn those calendar makers. Maybe I should just use 2006.215?

Leave a Comment » | Productivity | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj