After annoying some progressive activists years ago over a column I wrote about a property dispute between a predominantly Latino school district and one of its neighbors, I had to sit through a meeting where I was questioned about my . It was a weird feeling given that my column covered land-use matters and not race or nationality. Fortunately, my critics were polite and the editors had my back. Life went on.Nevertheless, the incident provided a "note to self" moment. Imagine what can happen to those who say or write something that's too close to—or slightly over—the (ill-defined)...…After annoying some progressive activists years ago over a column I wrote about a property dispute between a predominantly Latino school district and one of its neighbors, I had to sit through a meeting where I was questioned about my . It was a weird feeling given that my column covered land-use matters and not race or nationality. Fortunately, my critics were polite and the editors had my back. Life went on.Nevertheless, the incident provided a "note to self" moment. Imagine what can happen to those who say or write something that's too close to—or slightly over—the (ill-defined)...WW…

Many of my fellow libertarians were rightly in a tizzy after former CIA director John Brennan, commenting on the right-wing insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol,  that the Biden administration is "now moving in laser-like fashion to try to uncover as much as they can about what looks very similar to insurgency movements that we've seen overseas."In particular, they were dismayed by his description of an "unholy alliance…of religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists—even libertarians." Brennan's former deputy chief of staff clarified the "even...…Many of my fellow libertarians were rightly in a tizzy after former CIA director John Brennan, commenting on the right-wing insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol,  that the Biden administration is "now moving in laser-like fashion to try to uncover as much as they can about what looks very similar to insurgency movements that we've seen overseas."In particular, they were dismayed by his description of an "unholy alliance…of religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists—even libertarians." Brennan's former deputy chief of staff clarified the "even...WW…

As part of their effort to promote a higher minimum wage, some liberal academics shared their stories recently on Twitter about how their previous  were much tougher than the jobs they now hold. No doubt, roofing a house and flipping burgers are more physically demanding tasks than writing a legal brief or giving a lecture on American history, but the comparison doesn't really mean very much.Frankly, I was taken aback by some commenters' negative responses to my obvious point: Wages are not determined by the strenuous nature of any job, but by supply and demand. If pay were tied to...…As part of their effort to promote a higher minimum wage, some liberal academics shared their stories recently on Twitter about how their previous  were much tougher than the jobs they now hold. No doubt, roofing a house and flipping burgers are more physically demanding tasks than writing a legal brief or giving a lecture on American history, but the comparison doesn't really mean very much.Frankly, I was taken aback by some commenters' negative responses to my obvious point: Wages are not determined by the strenuous nature of any job, but by supply and demand. If pay were tied to...WW…

The late, great urban theorist, Jane Jacobs,  in her seminal The Death and Life of Great American Cities that, "there is no leeway for such chancy trial, error, and experimentation in the high-overhead economy of new construction. Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings."She was explaining that people with innovative business ideas need an inexpensive place to get started. After all, the founders of Apple, Google, and Disney birthed their enterprises in . In California, these days, the cost of real estate—and everything else, for that...…The late, great urban theorist, Jane Jacobs,  in her seminal The Death and Life of Great American Cities that, "there is no leeway for such chancy trial, error, and experimentation in the high-overhead economy of new construction. Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings."She was explaining that people with innovative business ideas need an inexpensive place to get started. After all, the founders of Apple, Google, and Disney birthed their enterprises in . In California, these days, the cost of real estate—and everything else, for that...WW…

Keep in mind two immutable—albeit cynical—rules whenever you mull over some proposed government action. First, the public always is most vulnerable whenever there's agreement because there's little organized resistance to the proposal. Second, the likely result will be nearly the opposite of whatever it is the government promises.Those two points are of particular importance as Republicans and Democrats move forward with plans to "fix" a key  that governs the internet. I could offer a couple of other rules, too: Be wary when the government targets something that affects your...…Keep in mind two immutable—albeit cynical—rules whenever you mull over some proposed government action. First, the public always is most vulnerable whenever there's agreement because there's little organized resistance to the proposal. Second, the likely result will be nearly the opposite of whatever it is the government promises.Those two points are of particular importance as Republicans and Democrats move forward with plans to "fix" a key  that governs the internet. I could offer a couple of other rules, too: Be wary when the government targets something that affects your...WW…

If my social-media and news feeds were an accurate indication, many Californians had focused inordinate attention on the granular  in such far-off places such as Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Clark County, Nevada, as the nation awaited the final verdict in a cliff-hanger presidential election.But there's a closer-to-home result that we could immediately understand without relying on election experts. Voters decisively  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the state's politically dominant unions, and the legislature. Although Californians are overwhelmingly Democratic and chose Joe...…If my social-media and news feeds were an accurate indication, many Californians had focused inordinate attention on the granular  in such far-off places such as Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Clark County, Nevada, as the nation awaited the final verdict in a cliff-hanger presidential election.But there's a closer-to-home result that we could immediately understand without relying on election experts. Voters decisively  California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the state's politically dominant unions, and the legislature. Although Californians are overwhelmingly Democratic and chose Joe...WW…

A friend of mine, who had spent many years establishing a successful printing business in the Midwest, opened his local newspaper to find a story about a fancy redevelopment project that the city had proposed in his neighborhood. How nice, he thought, until he realized that planning officials were going to put the project on top of his company's .He was one of many people I had interviewed for my 2004  about the abuse of eminent domain—the government's right to take property upon payment of "just" compensation. The Constitution allows such takings for roads, courthouses and other...…A friend of mine, who had spent many years establishing a successful printing business in the Midwest, opened his local newspaper to find a story about a fancy redevelopment project that the city had proposed in his neighborhood. How nice, he thought, until he realized that planning officials were going to put the project on top of his company's .He was one of many people I had interviewed for my 2004  about the abuse of eminent domain—the government's right to take property upon payment of "just" compensation. The Constitution allows such takings for roads, courthouses and other...WW…

During a business trip to Michigan in the 1980s, I recall driving on a commercial street that ran north to south through various well-kept working-class neighborhoods. At one point, the road passed a  sign. Immediately the surroundings became bleak, with boarded up buildings and graffiti. It was a disturbing sight.That was nearly two decades before the rapper Eminem immortalized Detroit life in his movie, "8 Mile," which refers to the east-west thoroughfare that separates Detroit from its northern suburbs. "But yo, I gotta get out there, the only way I know," he . I kept...…During a business trip to Michigan in the 1980s, I recall driving on a commercial street that ran north to south through various well-kept working-class neighborhoods. At one point, the road passed a  sign. Immediately the surroundings became bleak, with boarded up buildings and graffiti. It was a disturbing sight.That was nearly two decades before the rapper Eminem immortalized Detroit life in his movie, "8 Mile," which refers to the east-west thoroughfare that separates Detroit from its northern suburbs. "But yo, I gotta get out there, the only way I know," he . I kept...WW…

MenuCalifornia’s Coming Ballot BattleCalifornia has an unusually significant number of initiatives on the Nov. 3 ballot. What are the chances that the state’s voters will do the right thing?Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe PressacramentoDuring my years at the libertarian Freedom Communications newspaper group in the 1990s and 2000s (including the ), we never endorsed political candidates based on the idea that it’s too difficult to reliably predict an individual’s behavior. I’ve interviewed countless politicians and — it should be no surprise to anyone — there’s often little...…MenuCalifornia’s Coming Ballot BattleCalifornia has an unusually significant number of initiatives on the Nov. 3 ballot. What are the chances that the state’s voters will do the right thing?Editor's PicksSign up to receiveHot OffThe PressacramentoDuring my years at the libertarian Freedom Communications newspaper group in the 1990s and 2000s (including the ), we never endorsed political candidates based on the idea that it’s too difficult to reliably predict an individual’s behavior. I’ve interviewed countless politicians and — it should be no surprise to anyone — there’s often little...WW…

During the apex of Soviet totalitarianism, when Joseph Stalin was hosting  and overseeing a vast network of gulags (labor camps for political prisoners), Russian citizens were encouraged to denounce their fellow workers, party colleagues and family members who had committed some anti-revolutionary offense.In one instance, a student at a Leningrad university sent a  to Pravda, which captured the essence of these denunciations: "How can a parasite who always sobs when he hears Lenin's name and groans when he hears Stalin's…how can such a person be allowed to remain in the...…During the apex of Soviet totalitarianism, when Joseph Stalin was hosting  and overseeing a vast network of gulags (labor camps for political prisoners), Russian citizens were encouraged to denounce their fellow workers, party colleagues and family members who had committed some anti-revolutionary offense.In one instance, a student at a Leningrad university sent a  to Pravda, which captured the essence of these denunciations: "How can a parasite who always sobs when he hears Lenin's name and groans when he hears Stalin's…how can such a person be allowed to remain in the...WW…