Archives

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 05/18/2010

The idea that government can “perfect” an imperfect market (an artifact of economists’ “perfect competition” theory) has again become an item of faith among intellectuals.

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 04/22/2010

Robert B. Zoellick, World Bank President, has attracted sovereign wealth funds to expand his organization’s ability to “assist” developing world economies  (World Bank gets…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 04/09/2010

Egalitarians are often upset that technological breakthroughs, whether new cancer drugs or computers, are first only available to the wealthy while the masses must…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 03/29/2010

Frum, like many intellectuals, suffered from the desire to gain respect from his fellow intellectuals. But, as Schumpeter noted long ago, the class interest of…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/02/2010

I would like to congratulate Sam Dealey in his appointment as The Washington Times‘ new editor. An innovative, hard-working journalist, Sam has never shied away…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 08/19/2009

This week, the world has lost a champion of economic freedom, Rose Friedman.  While her Nobel Laureate husband, the late Milton Friedman, won widespread public…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 08/18/2009

His honesty and devotion to investigative journalism did much to bring balance to the increasingly ideological world of journalism.

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 05/04/2009

Jack Kemp played many roles after leaving professional football—congressman, presidential candidate, foot soldier of the Reagan revolution, vice presidential candidate, conservative activist, and Distinguished Fellow…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/19/2009

Rhetoric is a noble field — the ability to use language skillfully to clarify and justify a policy. But the political use of language is…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 12/18/2008

Paul Weyrich who passed away today was an impassioned and effective advocate of limited government and freedom. Paul, a social conservative, championed economic liberty also.

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/23/2008

These are troubled times for the global economy.  However, we’re working to clarify that the failure is not the market—nor, indeed, even in the most…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 03/21/2008

The X Prize is apparently underwritten in part by the Progressive Insurance company – a firm that, I believe, is active in auto insurance. I…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 10/04/2007

Thank you, Chairman Biden and members of this Committee for your invitation to testify on the Law of the Sea Treaty. I am Fred Smith,…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/28/2007

John Berthoud died — suddenly and unexpectedly. Our span is always too short but John’s was far shorter than all of us had hoped. John…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 06/29/2007

Robert Barro's commentary on Bill Gates illustrates again why the late economist Joseph Schumpeter was so gloomy in his assessment of the question:…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 03/20/2007

The Sesame Street generation has found their champion in James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who claims to have been…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 03/09/2007

A very interesting story in the Washington Post today notes that China is moving to protect private property. The Communist party apparently realizes that…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 03/09/2007

February was an interesting month; here in Washington, the media and the new Democratic congress are moving rapidly ahead to push alarmist global warming policies.

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/26/2007

I recently testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. One of the other witnesses was Peter Darbee, CEO and President of PG&E Corporation.

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/26/2007

On C-SPAN last night, I was watching “Prime Minister’s Questions”—the wonderful British institution in which the Prime Minister answers questions, both from his sometimes…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/20/2007

“Convention Center Not Living Up To Lofty Goals!” appeared as a headline in today’s Washington Post and should serve to remind everyone that the…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/20/2007

I recently received my Phi Beta Kappa magazine. Phi Beta Kappa is the standard “honor” society for students scoring well in college. I became a…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/20/2007

Last week ago, I was asked to testify before the Environment and Public Works Committee, now chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer of California. Testifying is an interesting…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 02/07/2007

Dear Chairman Cox, In American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Pension Plan v. AIG, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals asked the…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/18/2007

The decision by the Board of British Petroleum to accelerate the switch from the current chairman, John Brown (Lord Brown), is indicative of a growing…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/08/2007

The populist rhetoric in the recent elections was widespread. We need to tax the rich and the greedy corporations – take from the rich and…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/08/2007

Over the Holidays, I sought to catch up on some long-deferred reading. One book, Climbing Mount Improbable by Richard Dawkins was on that…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/08/2007

Robert Samuelson wrote a recent column, “Myths and the Middle Class,” quoting statistics that indicate that only 2 percent of Americans see themselves as…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/08/2007

A news item (from researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle) found that cinnamon and vanilla levels in the Puget Sound rose over…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 01/08/2007

Thomas Sowell wrote a series of columns recently seeking to deconstruct the Left’s confusion over “fairness.” Their ideal, as many have noted, seems to be…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 12/19/2006

Is it my imagination or is there an increasing trend to view the greenies and their fears as chicken littles, whiners, and basically nuts? It…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 12/13/2006

The changes in Congress accelerate what has already been a trend toward the “universal health care plan” long endorsed by all “right thinking Americans.” One…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 12/13/2006

William Saletan, Science and Technology writer for Slate, has weighed in on New York City’s decision to ban transfat use. His rhetorical case against transfats…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 12/10/2006

Cato’s Brink Lindsey in a provocative essay in The New Republic argues that the recent election results argue for a realignment, Democrats, he suggests,…