Tag Archives: government

Government Created Jobs?

We hear a lot these days about how the government should be working to “create” jobs for Americans. While those in government want people to believe that such jobs will be “good paying” (whatever that means) private sector jobs, the reality is that the government cannot actually create such jobs. Government can indirectly affect private sector jobs only be reducing taxes and regulations on all businesses. Any other methods, such as subsidies for select businesses, cannot read more

Ah, the Hubris of the Statists

In today’s local paper, the front page contained a story about an upcoming debate about private schools vs public schools taking place next week. Sadly the debate topic is something of a false alternative: Should Vermont school districts use tax money to fund public schools or pay tuition to private schools? Obviously missing is the idea that tax money should not be used at all for education and that government has no legitimate role in education.

What peaked my attention though was a quote read more

Quote of the Day – Ayn Rand on Drug Prohibition

In listening to the speech by Ayn Rand I linked on Monday, she was asked during the Q&A session about the government’s prohibition of drugs.  While this deals specifically with drug use, it is applicable to any sort of consumption, or action for that matter, a man can choose.  (Any errors in the transcription are mine.)

I do not approve of any government controls over consumption generally of every kind. I would advocate that all restrictions on drugs be removed. I don’t believe read more

Ayn Rand’s Ideas (One at Least) Alive in Vermont

In her essay “Government Financing in a Free Society”, which can be found in The Virtue of Selfishness, Ayn Rand says:

In a fully free society, taxation—or, to be exact, payment for governmental services—would be voluntary. Since the proper services of a government—the police, the armed forces, the law courts—are demonstrably needed by individual citizens and affect their interests directly, the citizens would (and should) be willing to pay for such services, as they pay for read more