Less Government Regulation Series | e-commentary

Archive for the Less Government Regulation Series Category

The “Gun Show Loophole” (February 6, 2012)

Posted in Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Guns, Iran, Law, Less Government Regulation Series, National Defense Authorization Act / FY 2012, USA PATRIOT Act on February 6, 2012 by e-commentary.org

. . .

GO1 “Since her shooting, the overtly violent language has abated, yet the underlying violence is still there. In politics and in life.”

GO2 “Here’s a partial solution. There is no centralized or computerized list of gun owners or gun ownership in America.”

GO1 “Except the list of gun owners maintained by the National Rifle Association.”

GO2 “I am talking about the government. Look at the actual process. Before selling a gun, a gun dealer conducts a background check of an individual. If the individual passes the background check, the dealer makes the sale and keeps a record. The record is not sent anywhere and is not accessible and just sits in a file cabinet in the back room of the store. Only if a gun is used in a crime is an effort made to trace the purchase by using the serial number and contacting the manufacturer and then the dealer and then the purchaser. That is the most decentralized and non-computerized tracking scheme in America. The system only allows for the tracking of the ownership of an offending gun not of the names of owners of guns.”

GO1 “And the current system does not require us to surrender any fundamental rights. Look at the rights that have been surrendered in America by Americans without any resistance since 9/11. The USA PATRIOT Act, the detention provisions in the NDAA of 2012, and so on.”

GO2 “The problem is that a troubled soul can go to a gun show and buy a gun. Why arm the goons? Simply require the same background check for any sale at a gun show.”

GO1 “The mayors and the police chiefs know what needs to be done and support the closure of the gun show loophole. Congress should simply implement their sound and experienced judgment.”

GO2 “Gun sales in a back alley are still a problem. The most balanced policy may be to require all gun sales to be conducted by a gun dealer. Gun dealers are all private sector businesses in an industry at the retail level that is among the least monopolized in America. The gun dealers could compete to facilitate the sales and perhaps offer to handle the sale for free with a fifty dollar purchase of gear. That should address some of the problem and satisfy the critics.”

GO1 “Except for the insane irrationality of the NRA.”

GO2 “They are coming around. Institutions change, albeit slowly. Someone at the NRA may realize that adoption of rational and focused legislation undermines the effort to impose irrational and sweeping confiscation. We need to keep guns out of the hands of psychos to allow guns to be kept in the hands of law-abiding citizens.”

. . .

[See the “e-ssays” titled “On Magazines (February 21, 2011),” “Incite, Sarah, Indict? (January 10, 2011),” “O’Bama Arming Industry (November 22, 2010)” and “Gun Control, NRA Style (January 9, 2006).” And “On The Vernal Equinox (March 21, 2011)”]

[February 4 – No War On Iran National Day of Action]

Bumper sticker of the week:

Citizens deserve guns; Psychos do not

Leave a comment »

Parade of Homes/Charade of Horrors (October 31, 2011)

Posted in Coffee Party USA, Housing, Less Government Regulation Series, Market Solutions, Occupy Movement, Pogo Plight, Population on October 31, 2011 by e-commentary.org

. . .

X “The event should have been touted as a tour of Halloween Haunted Houses. Nothing is changing. No one is learning. The garage door on the McMansion is only one inch thick. What did you find?”

Y “On the subsidized house, the garage door is two inches thick with brush insulation around the outside perimeter.”

X “The Horror House is heated with an eighty percent efficient forced air system that draws combustion air from the garage and outside. Even a new generation system that draws air from outside induces a stack effect flow of air that cools the house in the winter and warms it in the summer. Cozy.”

Y “The subsidized chateau is equipped with a ninety-five percent efficient forced air system that draws piped combustion air from outside the structure. Huge energy savings. The PVC to the outside is run aesthetically.”

X “The McHorror House has windows splattered all over the place, but they are double paned.”

Y “The code requires them. Most of the windows in the bargain bungalow are on the south side with some on the west and a few on the east. Some of the windows are covered with simple double-cell blinds.”

X “The kitchen in the McMonster is equipped with shiny stainless steel but marginally efficient appliances.”

Y “Simple Energy Star appliances.”

X “The McNightmare is illuminated with regular incandescent light bulbs and T12 fluorescent bulbs in the garage with a smattering of cfls (compact fluorescent lights).”

Y “Compact fluorescents throughout with T8 bulbs in the garage and two LEDs for the outside lights on the walkway.”

X “There are so many little things. The Monster Mansion has regular gate valves that may seize in a decade or two. They require multiple turns to open and close, yet after a few years are really only good for one turn.”

Y “They could do a good turn by getting quarter turn valves from the same supplier who outfitted the subsidized place.”

X “One thing after another. And I watched everyone else wandering around the McMongo house bedazzled by all the flashy baubles.”

Y “The market sets the standards for the mansion; the government sets the standards for the subsidized structure.”

X “We need more citizens less bedazzled by baubles.”

. . .

[Neither rain nor sleet nor snow could rein in or slow the “Enough is Enough!” March in Washington D.C. sponsored by Coffee Party USA on Saturday nor dampen the spirit. A few hundred hearty souls hailing from Rhode Island to Oregon showed up at the gathering on the west side of the Capital to listen to a wide range of speakers. They are frustrated but not feckless. No one was arrested.]

[See the “e-ssay” titled “On Overpopulation (June 14, 2010).”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Insulate it tight; ventilate it right

Seven billion little miracles are a big problem. That’s ghoulish.

Leave a comment »

Deducing And Deducting The Mortgage Interest Deduction (January 24, 2011)

Posted in Congress, Housing, Less Government Regulation Series, Pogo Plight, Society, Taxation on January 24, 2011 by e-commentary.org

. . .

L “Decades ago, Congress made a very prudent and sage decision to eliminate the individual tax deduction for interest paid by taxpayers on consumer debt. An economy driven by unrestrained consumption did not need any additional government subsidy to drive it.”

M “No need to spray gasoline on a fire.”

L “Taxes fuel decisions. The deduction for mortgage interest remained but only for a residence not to support the acquisition of personal property. The real estate industry secured and protected that deduction. And you know what happened?”

M “Humans did what humans do. Acted like humans.”

L “They acted humanly rather than humanely. Citizens and consumers found a way to circumvent the law. They could not deduct the interest paid to consume goods and services, but they could deduct the interest paid to consume their chateau even if they actually used the funds to consume goods and services. They simply used their chateau as an ATM (automatic teller machine) to pay for the consumption of consumer goods and then deducted all of the interest on their taxes. How many really knew what they were doing. And yet, Americans of every creed and color, every region and religion circumvented the spirit if not the letter of the law.”

M “The dilemma is that the mortgage interest deduction may be one of the last tax deductions available to the middle class, if the middle class can afford to buy homes.”

L “Everyone would be better off without the deduction and most other deductions, exemptions and credits. However, if Congress eliminated the mortgage interest deduction, the amount of the standard deduction may need to rise for a few years and then fall to zero during the transition to avoid jarring economic dislocations.”

M “It’s not going to be easy.”

. . .

Bumper stickers of the week:

We have met the enemy, and boy oh boy is he ever you and me. Mr. Pogo.

If one minute of cautionary commentary had been ventured last year for every month of coverage of the assault on Gifford and others, events may have developed differently.

If we as a society diverted one percent of the funds spent on the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) airport monitoring to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) airline maintenance monitoring, the skies would be 100 times safer.

Leave a comment »

The Marginal Utility of (House) Utilities: Only 1600 Square Feet! (October 25, 2010)

Posted in Case-Shiller/S&P Index, Housing, Less Government Regulation Series, Market Solutions on October 25, 2010 by e-commentary.org

. . .

K “In the near future, rather than marketing the total square feet, we will market a structure based on the average cost of utilities per square foot per year. A person will pay more for a structure to get less because it has well-insulated but fewer square feet and lower fuel bills than another comparable structure. ‘Natural gas bill: only $14,700 per year! And only 1600 square feet!’”

J “A few individuals have noted that the market for houses won’t stabilize until the average price is more in line with the long run price measured by the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices or another index of housing prices. We are not there yet.”

K “The average size of a new structure must be more in line with the average size in the past so that a family can afford the facility. The government should not dictate the maximum size for a house; the market should determine the optimal size of the appropriate structure. Single family homes may not even be the model home for the future. Townhouses and more open space are more efficient and desirable to house the town.”

J “The four horsemen of the housing apocalypse ride together – a bigger house means a bigger mortgage, a bigger tax bill, a bigger insurance bill and of course a bigger HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) bill to maintain the monster. A smaller house means a smaller mortgage, a smaller tax bill, etc.”

K “And fewer furnishings are needed to furnish it. The government makes it too cheap to get into the beast. Then the real costs devour the owner.”

J “The Republicans and the Democrats and their corporate owners just won’t let the government get out of the housing business.”

. . .

Bumper sticker of the week:

Natural gas bill: only $14,700 per year! And only 1600 square feet!

Leave a comment »

On Freedom and Liberty (May 24, 2010)

Posted in Bailout/Bribe, Energy, Gas/Fossil Fuel, Government Regulation, Less Government Regulation Series, On [Traits/Characteristics] on May 24, 2010 by e-commentary.org

. . .

F “Freedom and liberty are easy to define and difficult to protect and balance. Assign Mill on Liberty. That is the run of the mill solution. Yet freedom and liberty are much more complex in practice.”

L “Who constrains your freedom and liberty? If prices are controlled by the government, are you free? If prices are controlled by a private monopoly, are you free? Monopolies from Microsoft to Monsanto are greater threats to our freedom than the not infrequent bumbling actions and inactions of incompetent and officious government officials.”

F “I have a beef with four beef producers controlling the price and quality of beef. From what I read, every major industry in America is monopolized.”

L “Which constrains our freedom and liberty. The chance, albeit slight, of restraining the monopolies and protecting our freedom requires government involvement. That realization is the beginning of frustration.”

F “And a few private sector monopolies own Congress and thwart any possibly effective legislation.”

L “A generation ago, then-Senator Philip Hart of Michigan worked to break up monopolies and confronted Texaco, the oil company, who asserted in ads: ‘We’ve been working to keep your trust.’ They worked hard and kept their trust. Those oil companies have their own special charm.”

F “How do we regulate the financial institutions that are ‘too connected to fail’? They limit our freedom and liberty. Lehman deserved to fail and was allowed to fail in part because Paulson did not like Fuld, the President of Lehman. Washington Mutual deserved to fail and was allowed to fail in part because a West Coast bank is not among the East Coast players. The other institutions deserved to fail and yet were bailed out.”

L “It is not pretty or easy. Why not limit the size of every financial institution to 100 billion dollars? There are no economies of scale above that limit and many benefits from more players. Any financial institution with more than 100 billion in assets is a direct threat to our freedom and liberty.”

F “Great, but the financial sector will veto it. And regardless of what Congress directs, the regulatory agencies are captured by those who are intended to be regulated. Investment banks and others realize that no investment pays a greater return on investment than purchasing a piece of a politician. Money invested in R&D or in HR or in PR does not come close to providing such a handsome return. Purchasing an entire government agency is cheap and tax deductible as a business expense.”

L “It is not easy or pretty. You are doomed if you do and doomed if you don’t. On the other hand, when the invisible hand begins to backhand the people, the heavy hand of the government is often the only recourse.”

F “On the other hand, it seems that the government comes around when it is not needed and is not around when it is needed.”

L “It is not pretty or easy. I have worked for years with some agencies that are useless.”

F “Need I say more.”

L “I would like to see private sector initiatives such as the Young Americans For Freedom allying with the Innocence Project to protect freedom and liberty. The white boys are too fixated on limiting taxes on their greens fees when they should be concerned about freedom and liberty for those who are black, brown, red, yellow and ivory.”

. . .

[See the “e-ssay” dated Mar. 26, 2007 titled “Who Is Your Big Bad Bogeyman?” and dated Sept. 4, 2009 titled “The Meltdown Continues, Subtly.”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Freedom is not free so pay your taxes and shut up

Boycott Arizona

Leave a comment »

Celebrate Virginia’s “Celebrate Slavery Month” (April 12, 2010)

Posted in Boycott Series, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Less Government Regulation Series, Race on April 12, 2010 by e-commentary.org

. . .

“Virginia declared April to be ‘Celebrate Slavery Month.’ What a concept. Thirty days dedicated to the celebration of the degradation and subjugation of one’s fellow human beings. They plan to burn crosses, made in China, in all major cities. They are sneaky because they manage to celebrate it without mentioning it.”

“Leave it to Virginia. Aren’t they the ones with the official state motto: ‘Virginia Is For Haters.’”

“Leave Virginia. Boycott the place. Boycott everything tied to Virginia in April. Conventions should cancel any events currently scheduled in Virginia during April and not book any events in April in the future.”

“Why does the government get involved in this foolishness? Tax money funded this folly.”

“Individual action in response to inane government action is the way to go. That is the virtue of a boycott. And yet, three years ago, they looked like they were on track with the dignified apology.”

“There is not much common sense in the Commonwealth.”

“Leaves you wondering whether it is in the water, in the air or in their genes?”

“Hey, . . . wait . . . did they announce it on April 1?”

. . .

[See the “e-ssay” dated Feb. 26, 2007 titled “Looking Back. With Regret. With Respect,” the “e-ssay” dated Nov. 12, 2007 titled “Vet’s Day; Slavery And Due Process” and the “e-ssay” dated Mar. 14, 2005 titled “’Strict Construction’ Strictly Construed.”]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Virginia: Celebrate Slavery Month

Virginia Is For Haters

Take A Slave To Work Day in Virginia

Boycott Virginia In April

Leave a comment »

Less Government Regulation Series: Google (Nov. 30, 2009)

Posted in Antitrust, Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Google, Internet, Less Government Regulation Series, Privacy, Society, Technology on November 30, 2009 by e-commentary.org

“Nine years ago, you purchased the book ‘Privacy Issues Today.’ Another critically-acclaimed work purchased by others who purchased this book is available for only $29.95. Just click below and we will bill the credit card on file.”

A courtesy or a curse? This solicitation may not be from Google, yet the same problem with privacy is lurking. You can drive to the store, purchase a pickle, pay with cash and leave only your image on the closed circuit cameras in the store and perhaps in the parking lot. If you pay with a credit card and/or provide a customer identification number, there is an electronic fingerprint. However, those records typically are static and rarely mined for information.

In response to a typical search request, you might be informed:

“Did you mean: (one of our advertisers)” (Note: Not all of the top responses are advertisers.)

A person today cannot not use Google. Google cannot not make a record of the search history. Google is collecting far more information than any public or private entity should be allowed to collect, retain, sell and inevitably manipulate. The computer motherboard has become the new Big Brother.

Possible copyright violations by Google can be and are being challenged publicly. By contrast, invasions of privacy are usually done privately and are far more elusive to detect and remedy.

In economics, a “natural monopoly” occurs when, because of the economies of scale of a particular industry, the maximum efficiency of production and distribution is realized through a single supplier. In some cases inefficiency may occur. The electric utility is a prototypical “natural monopoly.” The usual market does not support two entities providing electricity in one market. Thus one entity is allowed to operate a monopoly subject to government regulation. Google has emerged as a natural monopoly. Or perhaps a traditional monopoly.

Government regulation should be eschewed, they say. They are correct. Government regulation on a good day is often bad. It is time for a serious debate on the need to regulate Google.

Before it is too late. Although it may be too late.

Bumper sticker of the week:

In mathematical terms, a google is 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000;

In privacy terms, a Google is 1984.

Leave a comment »

Less Government Regulation Series: Homebuyer Tax Credit (Oct. 26, 2009)

Posted in Automobiles/Automobile Industry, Housing, Less Government Regulation Series, Taxation on October 26, 2009 by e-commentary.org

A clunker of an idea. The Homebuyer Tax Credit is another terrible scheme. The government allows individuals to take an $8000 credit for the purchase of a home. The government should quit trying to implant everyone in a single family house and instead allow individuals to live in a structure they can afford. The mortgage interest tax deduction and the exemption from income of $250,000/$500,000 on the sale of a personal residence under defined circumstances should be rescinded. The real estate market must be allowed to settle down rather than being jump-started with federal money. Meddling is muddying the mess more.

And, once again, the deficit-loving Republicans are also behind this raid on the public fisc. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), a free-spending “socialist” from Georgia, is supporting the extension of the act.

Seems that the houses and cars are being sold to buyers who were already planning to acquire a house or a car anyway.

[See the “e-ssay” dated August 3, 2009 entitled “Less Government Regulation Series: The Terrorist Tax Again” discussing among other things the clunker program for cars.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

Like giving steroids to a grandmother

Government Tax Credit: Get A Home Without It

Leave a comment »

Less Government Regulation Series: Cell Phones And Driving (August 10, 2009)

Posted in Cell Phones, Less Government Regulation Series on August 10, 2009 by e-commentary.org

Her left hand skillfully dangled a glowing butt just outside the window at such an angle that the slipstream did not extinguish it. Her right hand clutched a cup of java, an eyeliner brush and the cell phone. Her eyes appeared glued to the rear view mirror and to the task of gluing plaster to her eye lashes. All the while negotiating a civilian urban assault vehicle at just under 35 miles an hour while merging into or possibly colliding with traffic. Unless her knees had fingers, who was at the wheel of the four wheeled beast? She managed to muster an outwardly friendly smile and another hand to wave thanks to the drivers diving into the ditch and median. Quite a performance.

Bastante; Enough.

Self interest is not acting as a governor of bad behavior. The Feds should step in and ban all cell phone usage and texting by the driver of any vehicle on any road at any time. If a person is caught using a cell phone, the cell phone should be confiscated immediately and be subject to forfeiture or a payment of a $500 fine to obtain its release. Drivers will continue to eat, sleep, crochet, change diapers, hit the kids, work on crossword puzzles, perform open heart surgery, etc. while driving. However, cell phone usage is so widespread and dangerous and so easy to detect and deter that we as a society need to ban the use of cell phones in vehicles by the driver immediately.

Bumper stickers of the week:

Hang up and drive

This morning in the interstate I looked over to my left and there was a woman in a brand new Cadillac with her face up next to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner. I looked away for a couple seconds. When I looked back she was halfway over in my lane still working on that makeup. As a man, I do not scare easily, but she scared me so much that I dropped my electric shaver which knocked the doughnut out of my hand. In all the confusion of trying to straighten out the car using my knees against the steering wheel, my cell phone got knocked away from my ear, which feel into the coffee between my legs, ruined the damn phone, soaked my trousers and disconnected an important call. Damn women drivers.

Leave a comment »

Less Government Regulation Series: The Terrorist Tax Again (August 3, 2009)

Posted in Automobiles/Automobile Industry, Energy, Gas/Fossil Fuel, Less Government Regulation Series, Taxation, The "Terrorist Tax" on August 3, 2009 by e-commentary.org

July, 2008: Gas: over $4 a gallon Toyota Prius Hybrid Car: $3000 over MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) and a line of buyers occupying the showroom.

July, 2009: Gas: under $3 a gallon Toyota Prius Hybrid Car: $3000 under MSRP and a flotilla of the cars littering the car lot.

The Volkswagen tdi (turbo diesel injected) cars followed the same price arc in response to the price of diesel.

The market should maintain its central role in American society. Embrace it. Taxing gasoline/diesel at a “quarter a quarter” per gallon contemplates a twenty-five cent ($.25) increase in the tax on fuel each financial quarter (90 days). [See the “e-ssay” dated December 18, 2006 entitled “Pass The ‘Terrorist Tax’”] As a compromise, raise the tax twenty-five cents a year every year. Any tax by its nature contracts the economy which in this situation is akin to the body politic sucking in its stomach a little.

Implementing the tax while the market price of fuel is low is timely and crucial. The market is ready. More Prius cars will be built without the government passing legislation requiring more Prius cars. More resources will be invested creating a more improved hybrid car or a new more efficient car without further government directives to create improved and new vehicles. Although not fundamentally a revenue-generating measure, the tax funds can fill the fisc and reduce the country’s dependence on Chinese money. So many other positive economic changes will result without any further government action.

O’Bama must deliver a speech on the proposal as compelling as his speeches in Philadelphia and Cairo. He can sell it. Writing the speech would be fun.

The Cars Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the “Cash for Clunkers” Program, is a short-sighted, expensive and misdirected use of government resources and misuse of public resources. Too much government money is being spent to spew vehicles on the road that require substantial resources to produce and consume substantial resources to use.

Bumper stickers of the week:

25 cents a quarter

Stop funding terrorists

Leave a comment »

Archive for the Less Government Regulation Series Category

Pages