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February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
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Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
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Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
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Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
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John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Oct. 6, 2005
/ 3 Tishrei, 5766
Giving New Orleans its freedom
By
John Stossel
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
When Hurricane Katrina struck, private citizens wanted to help,
but often the government got in the way. The doctors who wanted to heal
people in New Orleans, but were told to fill out tax forms instead,
experienced just one of many horror tales. Government seemed to have
declared a monopoly on helping people but then its insane bureaucracy
made certain it did a lousy job helping.
Now some Republicans have taken a detour from their party's rush
to spend all your money by actually proposing that government help the
people in the hurricane zone by getting out of the way.
President Bush wants to create a "Gulf Opportunity Zone" with
reduced federal taxes across parts of three states. Now, if the president
really wanted to get Washington out of the way, he might ask Congress to
abolish personal and corporate income taxes there. What he's proposing is
less dramatic but it's a start, and it's targeted to encourage investment
in equipment, which is likely to be a significant cost for those starting or
restarting businesses in an area where many assets have just been destroyed
by a terrible storm.
Other proposals and administration decisions include waiving all
Environmental Protection Agency regulations for the rebuilding, dropping
affirmative-action rules for government contractors, setting aside
restrictions on truck drivers' hours, and letting government money follow
children displaced by the storm to any school they choose. What a radical
idea! Government might actually let free people make their own choices.
Many politicians want Americans to believe that we can't do
anything individually without Washington's help. But Washington can't do
anything well. I'll pay you $100 if you can name one thing the government
does more efficiently than the private sector.
FEMA was only established in 1979, under President Carter. What
did Americans do before that? In 1871, when downtown Chicago was destroyed
in a fire, private charity came to the rescue. The Chicago Aid and Relief
Society coordinated assistance for a year and a half. According to the
Foundation for Economic Education, the charity workers strove to avoid
giving more than minimal food and clothing to those who could earn their own
way. They helped restart businesses, equipping medical offices, stocking
stores, and buying sewing machines. Government mainly stuck to keeping
order.
Yet now, after Katrina led government to once again demonstrate
its incompetence, politicians demand government rebuild New Orleans? The
most remarkable thing about the president's proposal is his recognition of
the obvious fact: "It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and
opportunity."
Why can't we have a little experiment? Suspend labor laws and
licensing laws, reduce taxes and establish school vouchers in one small
place. If it is a bad idea, as the unions and lovers of big government
contend, that will be clear soon enough. I suspect they really fear success:
Schools will improve, business will recover, and a thousand ideas will bloom.
Then everyone hemmed in by bureaucracy's suffocating rules will want
Louisiana's freedom, too.
The president has already suspended the "prevailing wage law" in
areas affected by Katrina. The screaming! Union bosses accused the president
of pushing an "antiworker agenda" that will deny people "fair wages."
Nonsense. We never needed a law to force employers to pay prevailing wages.
If a wage is "prevailing," it will just happen; if it's unfair, no one will
take it.
The current "prevailing wage" law requires businesses carrying
out government contracts to pay a wage set, not by supply and demand, but by
collusion between unions and politicians who are eager keep their
constituents happy. They make sure the wage is high even for unskilled work.
In real life, of course, this strangles opportunity. Employers want to get
as much productivity for their dollar as the law allows, so they hire only
the most experienced workers. If you are a young beginner who wants to help,
and learn, "prevailing wage" laws mean you're out of luck.
With those rules suspended, an unemployed flood victim may
actually get a job on a federal project. New Orleans has a long history of
poverty, and Katrina made the problem worse. Fewer stupid rules would help.
It's time to give New Orleans an emergency dose of freedom.
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