Can a Business Be “Happy”?

A friend once gave me a T-shirt with “Happiness Is Positive Cash Flow” printed in the front. While I agree that positive cash flow is one of the necessary conditions of happiness in a civilized society, it is not in itself sufficient. What is happiness? It is a...

Roads in a Free Society

Even among advocates of capitalism, there are many misconceptions about how roads might operate in a free society. One of the most common of these misconceptions is the belief that if all roads were private property, a road owner might charge outrageous rates or close...

James Madison’s “Property”

Unlike contemporary politicians, the Founding Fathers recognized the importance of protecting property rights. They understood that, if individuals are to be free, prosperous, and happy, then they must be secure in their property. James Madison, the Father of the...

Individual Rights and the “Common Good”

We are often told that property rights must occasionally be sacrificed for the “common good”. According to advocates of this position, we must find a balance between what is good for “the community” and the uncompromised protection of individual rights. What this...

The Redistribution of Your Health

For most of the history of our republic, the purpose of taxation was to provide funding for the functions of government that are basic and necessary. Decades ago we began to depart from that and move aggressively in another direction. The government is now using tax...

“Trickle Up” Economics

The savings of the wealthy and the innovation of entrepreneurs combined to create a huge benefit for society. Call it trickle down if you want, but it would be more honest to simply call it effective. This is the system that built this country. Relying on trickle up will surely destroy it.