Americans are concerned about the rising cost of pharmaceutical drugs. This has drawn the attention of writers, politicians, and others who have attempted to deal with the issue in typical fashion by advocating the use of government force to implement their plan. No exception to the general rule, Kathleen Day, a media fellow at the Kaiser Family
Beside signing appropriations bills containing $20 billion in pork before leaving town last week, the 106th lame-duck Republican Congress left another nasty surprise for individuals wanting to save money on their health care expenses: it failed to renew the pilot program for medical savings accounts (MSAs). MSAs were introduced in the U.S. four
Pollsters tell us that potential American voters see Al Gore as being “better” on the healthcare issue. I’m not sure what “better” means, but I think that voters believe that the Stiff Who Wants to be President will “give” us a better healthcare system than what currently exists. Al promises to provide less costly medical care. I have serious
Citizens in this great land were once able to enjoy a cigar or a cigarette at restaurants and bars. Over the years, however, most state governments have succumbed to anti-tobacco groups and have infringed upon the right of private establishments to determine for themselves their smoking policy. Many non-smokers are content with these laws. They
One of the most difficult chapters in life is the art of growing old thoughtfully and gracefully. While the frailties of age multiply and the pains grow sharper, the lamp of experience hopefully has given us wisdom that allows us to cope with our frailties. Yet many an old temptation may come to us and becloud our vision. We may be tempted
The Free Market 18, no. 5 (May 2000) Americans are concerned about the rising cost of pharmaceutical drugs. This has drawn the attention of writers, politicians, and others who have attempted to deal with the issue in typical fashion by advocating the use of government force to implement their plan. Kathleen Day, a media fellow at the Kaiser
The Free Market 18, no. 12 (December 2000) Many of us have had close calls or experienced rude behavior from distracted drivers with handheld cellular phones pressed to their ears. Some can tell hair-raising stories, and a small number of fatal auto accidents are said to be attributable to cell phone use. But to the policy elite, it is not
Last week, as reported in The Washington Times , famed physicist Freeman Dyson warned that a genetic “caste” system could come about if we allow a free market in human genes. “Wealthy parents will be able to buy what they consider superior genes for their babies,” said Dyson. “This could cause a splitting of humanity into hereditary castes. No
Time and again, critics of the free market label certain choices of consumers “irrational.” The Center for Science as a Public Nuisance sorry, I mean the Center for Science in the Public Interest... recently called for a junk-food tax , the proceeds of which would fund, “frequent, hard-hitting messages [that] can change Americans’ behavior.” If
Throughout the 19 th century, socialist ideology gained ground among intellectuals attempting to revive ancient dreams of a total state that managed every aspect of people’s lives. The critics, too, weighed in to explain that socialism has ethical and practical limitations. If you abolish private property, which socialism proposes to do, you
What is the Mises Institute?
The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.
Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.