Topic: Richard W. Rahn

Well brought-up individuals are taught not to take things from other people’s pockets: “Thou shall not steal.” There are those who never learned the lesson — criminals, and many in the global political class.

Would you like for the bank to give you a check each month for your mortgage interest payment rather than you paying the bank interest?

Are the several dozen so-called offshore financial centers enlightened enough to mount a vigorous defense against the know-nothing statists or will they apologize for their mere existence?

Why is Hong Kong rich, Cuba very poor, and Puerto Rico struggling?

Those reviled capitalists all over the world are creating more and better goods and services at lower cost, and in doing so improving everyone's real standard of living, well-being and happiness.

One of the odder destructive effects of very low or negative interest rates is the increased incentive to hold cash. Government officials do not like for citizens to hold large amounts of cash because hoarding cash reduces consumer spending, thus slowing economic growth.

What does a “progressive” stand for? How does this differ from what a liberal, conservative or libertarian stands for?

A major reason for the growing distrust of government is the double standard whereby government officials and employees often suffer no consequences from incompetence, misbehavior and even criminal violations of the law.