Federal Government

Chastising rumsfeld II

This entry was posted in bush Election 2004 Federal Government Iraq Libertarianism US Foreign Policy US Politics on by

Jane Galt has stirred up a hornet’s nest of disagreement with this call for rummies resignation:

the only way to repair the damage is for responsibility to be taken at the highest levels. And not the fake “I’m accountable but I’m not going to, y’know, be called to account” responsibility of Janet Reno, but real, honest to God, “Somethine went wrong on my watch, and I will suffer the penalty” responsibility. For the good of his country, it is time for Don Rumsfeld to go.

Her commenters are near unanimous in their disagreement and there is a lot of other disagreement as well, e.g., James Joyner. I certainly agree with Jane that responsibility must be taken to the highest levels (see previous post) and I’m sure you can find others who agree with one aspect or another of her call.
One of the arguments that has been made against the call for resignation is that cabinet heads like rummie are too far away from the action to be held accountable though both Skippy (via the Progress Report) and the Washington Post call this into question with respect to rummie.
Brian Doss also works through this argument and ultimately comes to the conclusion that there just might be a positive light at the end of his executive hari kari discussion. Long quote follows:

(more…)

Will Oprah be Fined?

This entry was posted in bush Constitution Election 2004 FCC Federal Government Libertarianism Regulation on by

Kevin Aylward reports on an FCC investigation that may result in large fines for Oprah:

Using the recent FCC fines against Clear Channel Communications for airing indecent material on a Howard Stern radio broadcast, the 1900 complaints against a single episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show should lead to $5.9 million dollar fine.

If they actually do this I hope it happens well before the election. I have visions of huge anti-talibanbush rallies populated by hordes of Oprah and Howard fans.

Where’s my grape tomatoes?

This entry was posted in Capitalism Economics Federal Government Law Law Enforcement Libertarianism Regulation on by

The joys of govm’t:

Yes, we are also protected from acquiring undersized tomatoes. And here we have a second reason why grape tomatoes are illegal. They’re too small ( freedom from size limits is only for cherry tomatoes or those in trusses ) and they are not sold in trusses…….
So there we have it, in the 4 years since the EU last passed a regulation about tomatoes, a completely new type has arisen which virtually wipes out the type they last amended the regulation for. Wouldn’t it be simpler simply not to have the regulation ?

Makes sense to me.
Via Virginia Postrel.

End the Dole

This entry was posted in Business US Capitalism Constitution Economics Federal Government Libertarianism Taxation World Affairs on by

I’m not a big fan of the WTO. Amongst other issues I have the WTO seems to operate behind a mask of secrecy that might even make the bush administration blush. However, there may be some positives:

When the US government gives away some $4 billion to American cotton farmers in return for a crop that’s valued at only $3 billion, something’s amiss.
…
And cotton subsidies are just a portion of the $19 billion that the federal government pays to boost US agriculture and its exports each year.
…….
This week, the Geneva-based World Trade Organization made a preliminary ruling that the United States must end cotton subsidies because they distort global trade.
…..
The WTO, which the US helped create as a way for consumers to benefit from open markets, has dealt a blow to the biggest stumbling block to expanded trade. Governments in rich nations need to use this ruling to persuade domestic farm lobbies that they can no longer delay the inevitable: no subsidies, only free competition.

It should not need WTO rulings to help persuade farm lobbies that the time for subsidies have ended. The people funding the subsidies should just say no!
Yep, that’s you and me paying these subsidies via taxes.
Update (4/29): Jane Galt has some good words about this ruling.