Monthly Archives: March 2005

Government Failure in the Telecom Industry

This entry was posted in Capitalism Constitution Economics Government Libertarianism Regulation Technology on by

I often agree with Larry Lessig but he is off base here:

But the government also should not act as the cat’s paw for one of the most powerful industries in the nation by making competition against that industry illegal, whether from government or not. This is true, at least, when it is unclear just what kind of “good” such competition might produce.
Broadband is the perfect example. The private market has failed the US so far.

First, he is absolutely correct when we rails against government enforced monopolies which reflects the state of the telecom industry for, well, seemingly forever.
Second, though, what private market has failed us? The heavily regulated, monopolistic telecom industry? No, this is better described as a government failure.
Lessig goes on to suggest:

The solution is not to fire private enterprise; it is instead to encourage more competition.

But it is not market competition he is suggesting. It is governments entering the market.
Lynn Kiesling has a great suggestion:

A better approach would be for governments to strive to be technology neutral, focus on defining the objectives, and work (interjurisdictionally, if necessary) to reduce the transaction costs and other features of the institutional landscape that prevent robust, private competition from occurring.

This is, I think, a very polite way of saying quit mucking with the market and start clearing out the sludge that has been put in the way of effective market functioning.

Cleaning House

This entry was posted in Education on by

This is a great idea. Something I’d enjoy!
However, it works only if one is completely cut off from external resources while working through a pile. Otherwise, two more piles will rise up just so you can follow up on the interesting ideas in the first pile.
Really, if a paper or a book is worth reading then it is going to lead you to more interesting stuff and nevermind the growing list of stuff to write about.
So, I sometimes go one step beyond Tyler and, with great anguish, just toss stuff out. Or, maybe I’ll box it to read later. And, sometime in the future, hopefully a far distant future, folks will wonder why the hell he saved this stuff.

Earth Security Alert

This entry was posted in bush Science War on Terrorism on by

This guy has published 16 ways to destroy the earth. He is also planning to publish instructions on how to move the earth. Does this make him a terrorist? Hey, this material is published and specific which seems a higher standard than the oft heard “credible but not specific.”
Maybe the earth security department should make an announcement to help boost you know who’s popularity rating.
Prophet or Madman has verified that the material appears to be unstained by theocratic or political leanings.

Friday Ark

This entry was posted in Friday Ark on by

Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ? every Friday.
I’ll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals as I see them (no photoshops and no humans).
Leave a comment or trackback to this post or email me and I’ll add yours to the list. Check back regularly for updates throughout the day on Fridays and somewhat less frequently over the weekend.
Dog folks: remember to submit your links to the Carnival of the Dogs hosted by Mickey’s Musings.
Cat folks: remember to submit your links to the Carnival of the Cats which goes up every Sunday and will be hosted this week by maximum stacy.
And, check out Laurence’s fine graphical analysis of Friday Ark boardings.
Archive editions of the Friday Ark.
Update: While Laurence worries about our dog owning friends overtaking the felines there is a brewing uprising:

Liberate the Friday Ark from the shackles of mammalocentric oppression!

Hey, send in the links!
Cats

DogsBirdsOther VertebratesInvertebratesDidn’t Make It

Legislator Speak

This entry was posted in Business US Capitalism Constitution Economics Libertarianism Regulation on by

It is well known that legislators generally can only be trusted when they promise to take your money. They are not bashful about speaking disengenously, providing misleading information, and, for that matter, outright lying about the impacts of proposed legislation. They’ll regularly contradict themselves in the course of the same conversation.
For instance, the Illinois senate just passed a bill that says:

Working parents would be entitled to 24 hours of unpaid work leave during a school year to attend their children’s school conferences or classroom activities,

One of the sponsors, Senator Iris Martinez, touts the bill:

“I personally feel that when you have employees, and you are sensitive to their parental needs, you have a happy employee,” Martinez said. “It shows the employer cares about family. Then you have families involved in education.”
But Martinez said the legislation provides safeguards so employees don’t abuse the privilege. She said employees would have to give advance notice of their absence and would be required to provide employers with certification from an educator upon their return.

And then the lie:

“We’re making sure the employer doesn’t lose any productivity,” she said. “There are a lot of safety nets put into place.”

Uhh, let’s see: employee gets unpaid time off, there is paper work to process, but there is no productivity lost? She is probably saying this BS with a straight face.
Perhaps the Illinois house will have better sense.
Remember, when stuff like this becomes law we all pay for it through higher prices, reduced wages, and lost jobs.