Category Archives: Policy

9/11 in Numbers (Part I): The U.S. Military

Posted on Friday, September 9, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Since 9/11, the United States military has changed in several fundamental ways. Here are just a few of them: The Defense budget grew by 155% from FY2001 to FY2011 The number of active military personnel increased by 3.6% The Army and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Central Asia, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Terrorism, War | Tagged 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, Afghanistan, DOD, DOD Budget, Iraq, Pentagon, September 11, U.S. Casualties, U.S. Military | Leave a comment

President Obama’s Jobs Speech: Marxism Redux?

Posted on Thursday, September 8, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Scapegoating one group of people to convince the rest to follow your self-destructive policies blindly into oblivion is the way of demagogues. President Obama’s speech tonight teetered dangerously on the edge of this technique. I was hoping the President would … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, China, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Unions | Tagged China, Communism, Jobs Speech, Marxism, President Obama, Russia, Soviet Union, Wealth redistribution | 46 Comments

Why Texas Governors Don’t Go to Prison

Posted on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 by Chris Ladd

Rick Perry’s aide gave a beautifully roundabout answer to a recent question about the blatant quid pro quo that marked his reign as Governor. The spokesman explained, “There’s never been any wrongdoing substantiated.” Nor will there be. Remarkably, Perry’s probably … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Texas | Tagged bob perry, corruption, governor perry, rick perry, Texas | Leave a comment

Music During 9/11

Posted on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

People have a tendency to develop emotional memories after a particularly traumatic event. Sometimes they are able to repress these memories, only reminded of them after hearing a sound or a song that brings them back. While I was fortunately … Continue reading →

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Posted in California, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Media, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged 11th ACR, 2001, 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, September 11, The Blackhorse Regiment | Leave a comment

In Libya, the Hits Just Keep on Coming

Posted on Monday, September 5, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

While I correctly predicted that a more democratic government in Muslim countries like Libya would result in increased Islamic radicalism, I could not have imagined it might spell the beginning of an Arab apartheid regime. Today, the New York Times reported … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Apartheid, Islam, Libya, Nigeria, President Obama, Qaddafi, Racism, Sudan, Witchcraft | 10 Comments

Labor Day Tribute: Why Unions Suck

Posted on Monday, September 5, 2011 by Chris Ladd

In the 1930’s, when workers in San Antonio forced by the Depression into degrading pay and conditions organized to improve their plight, they set in motion a series of unintended consequences. Their labor union, organized by authentic Communists, aimed to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Taxes | Tagged Captialism, Living standards, Mechanization, Minimum Wage, Pecan Worker's Strike, Strikes, Unions | 4 Comments

Huntsman’s Jobs Plan a Good Start

Posted on Sunday, September 4, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last week, the Huntsman campaign released an alternative to the President’s soon-to-be-released jobs plan. The plan includes four broad components including: 1) tax reform, 2) regulatory reform, 3) energy independence, and 4) free trade. I broadly agree with most of Huntsman’s proposed policies. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Nuclear Power, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Smart grid, Taxes, Technology, Unions | Tagged Corporate taxes, Energy independence, Income taxes, Jon Huntsman, Tax Reform, Taxes | 2 Comments

The San Antonio Pecan Workers’ Strike of 1938

Posted on Sunday, September 4, 2011 by Chris Ladd

In the early 20th century, San Antonio had become the center of a modestly lucrative industry – pecan processing. Prior to the Depression, the business had started taking steps toward mechanization, but the country’s economic collapse began to reverse that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Technology, Unions | Tagged emma tenayuca, Mechanization, pecan shellers, san antonio, Strikes, Unions | Leave a comment

Al Qaeda to Be Part of New Libyan Government

Posted on Saturday, September 3, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Ali Tarhouni, the deputy chairman of the rebels’ executive board announced today that he was appointing a Supreme Security Committee of civilian officials and militia leaders, as a prelude to forming a new Libyan government. That said, Mr. Tarhouni also announced that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged Abdel Hakim Belhaj, al Qaeda, Libya, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Nuclear proliferation, President Obama | Leave a comment

Libya: Operational Success, Strategic Failure

Posted on Friday, September 2, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last week, Bloomberg’s Jonathan Alter posed a tantalizing question: “you think Obama’s been a bad president? Prove it.” More specifically, Alter challenged the president’s detractors to identify specific administration policy failures. On Monday, conservative David Frum responded to Alter’s throwing down the gauntlet … Continue reading →