“The conventional approach to economic development … is based on a technocratic illusion: the belief that poverty is a purely technical problem amendable to … technical solutions.” ~William Easterly, The Tyranny of Experts There are two different approaches to economic development, according to Dr. William Easterly. One is technocratic or authoritarian development, a…
Author: Bill
The Liberty Café 74: Why Politicians are Making You Pay More for Electricity
Texans are paying billions more for electricity than needed. On Episode 74 of the Liberty Cafe, we take a look at how faulty economics and greed have led to this and to the decline of Texas’ once world-class electricity market. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
The Liberty Café 73: Bad Economics Has Cost Texans Billions
Texas politicians and regulators have used mainstream economic theories–and self-interest–to run the Texas electricity market into the ground, at the cost of billions to Texas consumers. In Part 1 of this three-part series, we take a look at the bad economics behind what Texas regulators are trying to do to the market in the wake…
The Liberty Café 72: Whatever Happened to Limited Government?
Disney’s recent assault on common sense and decency regarding Florida’s Parental Rights in Education legislation is yet another example of Big Business bedding down with proponents of Big Government. Join us on this week’s Liberty Cafe as we discuss whatever happened to limited government. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Will Christians Embrace the Ideology of Climate Change?
I came of age politically in the age of William F. Buckley, Jr and Ronald Reagan, which means I escaped being indoctrinated into the progressive ideology behind John Maynard Keynes’ economics and Rachel Carson’s environmentalism. So I was baffled by a recent article in World Magazine discussing how many of today’s young “conservatives” embrace the ideas I avoided…
The Liberty Café 71: The State of Property Rights in Texas
Another case involving a pipeline company abusing Texas law and property rights was just argued before the Texas Supreme Court. In Episode 71 of the Liberty Café, we take a look at this and a few other cases to help us ascertain the state of property rights in Texas. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google…
The Liberty Café 70: Will the 2023 Texas Senate be More Conservative?
After last week’s primaries, four new Republicans will be heading to the Texas Senate in 2023. On Episode 70 of the Liberty Café, we take a look at how conservative the new Senate might be compared to others from the recent past. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
The Liberty Café 69: Where Wealth Comes From
The ability of society to increase wealth is under attack today. On Episode 69 of the Liberty Café, we take a look at where wealth comes from and how we can forge a more prosperous society. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS
Texans are Ready to End Corporate Property Tax Breaks
Following his recent speech to the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Rep. Dade Phelan, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, tweeted that the Texas Legislature is “developing a program to replace Chapter 313,” the soon to be defunct provision in the Texas Tax Code that allows school districts to give property tax breaks to…
The Liberty Café 68: Will UT’s Liberty Institute Help Secure Our Liberty?
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently said the newly created Liberty Institute will help eliminate CRT at the University of Texas. That raises the question: will a government-funded, government-run think tank help protect us from government? Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS