On labeling

Most times labeling is not something that is supported in our society, yet when it comes to paying attention to clothing lines, that is an area where some in our society place a high value -- an example those who cherish blac label clothing -- The virtues of placing importance on clothing labels is also one that creates discussion. Yet no matter your opinion on it, it is a part of a free market society and marketing strategies are designed to try to enhance the desire related to owning a particular label.

The rebirth of Friedrich Hayek

Recommended article from across the seas - Friedrich Hayek: Darling of the right is reborn in the USA.

What is especially interesting is we have had these arguments before...

Friedrich August von Hayek was born in Vienna in 1899 to a family steeped in academia, and became a polymath whose learning spanned psychology and the law as well as philosophy and economics.

Working at the London School of Economics in the Thirties and Forties, he became the most persuasive of all the "Austrian school" of economists who advocated for limited government, a classical liberalism that is today more commonly described as libertarian.

They passionately opposed central planning of whatever political hue, from Nazism to Communism, and that included opposing the nationalisations and Keynesian demand management that took hold in social democratic Europe after the Second World War. It was a lonely position for much of the post-war period.

In a vivid way, it mirrors the intellectual clash between Hayek and another dead economist, John Maynard Keynes, who argued for governments to step in with big spending programmes to prevent a recession from spiralling into a depression. It was Keynesian policies, lashings of them in every major country in the world, that pulled the global economy back to growth after the financial crisis.

Keynes declared himself in "deeply moved agreement" with The Road to Serfdom, but he had a sting in the tail of his praise. He declared that the philosophy was of no practical use. A minimalist government, which left people to fend for themselves, was unconscionable, he said, and no matter how seductive it appears on the printed page, no one would support its introduction in the end.

Small businesses still alive...

Some of those I know who have lost their jobs have turned to home based businesses or small businesses as a way to survive economically. Whether you are looking for a franchise or a merchant account reseller opportunity, the internet can be a great place to start. You can not only find places to get you started, but lots of tips and information to help you be successful. I highly recommend checking out the Small Business Association and see if they have a chapter in your area...

Will pot become legal in Cali?

Kevin Drum thinks it just may happen this time in an article in Mother Jones. Ten months ago he thought it would take at least ten years, now? He thinks it may happen sooner:

The initiative, sponsored by Richard Lee, who owns several marijuana businesses in Oakland, would legalize possession of up to an ounce of cannabis and cultivation of up to 25 square feet on private property for personal consumption. Beyond that, it would permit local authorities to go further: They'd be allowed to legalize commercial cultivation of larger amounts for sale to anyone over the age of 21.

So, is this a good idea? The fear of moderate proponents of legalization has always been the possibility of large corporations, like Philip Morris, getting into the marijuana business and marketing pot to heavy users. "One person smoking eight joints a day is worth more to the industry than 50 people each smoking a joint a week," says Mark Kleiman, a drug policy expert at UCLA. "If the cannabis industry were to expand greatly, it couldn't do so by increasing the number of casual users. It would have to create and maintain more chronic zonkers."

Lee's initiative opens that door. Philip Morris wouldn't be allowed to engage in interstate commerce of marijuana, but if, say, Humboldt County agreed to allow unlimited cultivation of cannabis, they could grow it in their own fields and sell it through licensed outlets in any other county in California that also permitted commercial sales.

The article is a recommended read, there's much more than what's shared above.

Libertarian Author Discusses Financial Crisis

Johan Norberg, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute is interviewed discusses the financial crisis as reported by Fordham University. Part of the intro of the recommended article:

Many financial experts have predicted the economy will get worse before it turns around, but a noted Libertarian author who visited Fordham on Sept. 3 sees something a bit more worrisome.

“I’m afraid it will get better before it gets worse down the road,” said Johan Norberg, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, in a speech at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx. “I think we should start wondering if we are ready for an encore already.”

Common sense tells you...

Common sense tells me that leaving your windows open in your house when you have equipment like a lcd monitor is not a smart thing to do. Unfortunately a friend of mine recently had to deal with a theft because someone else left a window open and then left for the day. It's unfortunate that there are people that would rather steal than honestly come buy something but it is a reality. It's why even when I am home at night I make sure all of the downstairs windows are shut no matter the weather, even with two dogs, it's not worth the risk.

Most of us are not John Thain....

When it comes to buying office furniture most of us are not like Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain who in 2008 spent 1.2 million dollars to have his office re-furbished. One of the many pricey items was a $87,000 area rug. When his purchases came to light he claimed he was going to reimburse Merrill Lynch but one really wonders had this not come to light would he have? If he was using his own money the first time would he have spent so much? Those are the questions that have no answers, but for those of us who's house may not be worth as much as his area rug? We wonder...

In some areas tech jobs still growing

In some parts of the country there are still quite a few jobs open related to technology, especially those that require training such as programmer jobs. Even here in Toledo where the unemployment rate is higher than the rest of the state, there are still openings on many of the free job boards for positions where programming experience is required. It's why many people are opting to return to school to take additional classes to be able to find employment.

Speciality employment sites

There are the larger sites that people turn to online when job hunting, but at times it can be a frustrating adventure depending on how organized the search ability is. That's why there have been niche sites set up that specialize in a variety of different employment areas, like admin careers, where that particular field is focused on.

It helps the employer seeking an employee because people coming there are looking for that particular type of job, and it helps the employee since it makes the process easier for them to connect with employers.

Lose your job? Perhaps it's time to open your own business...

One of the most popular advice suggestions for those who have lost a job is to look at this as a chance to start their own business, that if they had dreamed about doing this "some time" then perhaps now would be the time. One way many people do this is by taking advantage of a franchise opportunity to start their own business.

Many times this is less expensive and less of a risk than starting a business of your own from scratch. You may think of franchises as being related primarily to the food industry, but that is very far from the case. From Automotive to franchises that specialize in services for Women, there are thousands of different franchise opportunities out there.

If I could find one for political blogging? I'd be ready.

:-)

Commentary: Libertarian ideas to stimulate economy

CNN doesn't often provide commentary from what is stated to be a Libertarian point of view, so I was a bit surprised to see a commentary by Jeffrey A. Miron on their website the other day. Considering I balance between leaning Libertarian when it comes to fiscal issues yet still being liberal when it comes to social issues, at times it can create some internal conflict. Some of the suggestions by Miron create that conflict for me, though I do understand and appreciate where his point of view is coming from.

I recommend reading the article in full, the list by title:

Repeal the Corporate Income Tax
Increase Carbon Taxes While Lowering Marginal Tax Rates
Moderate the Growth of Entitlements
Eliminate Wasteful Spending
Withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan
Limit Union Power
Renew the U.S. Commitment to Free Trade
Expand Legal Immigration
Stop Bailing out Businesses that Took on Too Much Risk