The Open Market Blog

• 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.
• 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,…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/19/2006

Hmm — the headline of today “Thailand has peaceful coup while PM at UN” suggests that we provide free airfare to the…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/18/2006

The pope is under attack for pointing out that there is an a-religious element in traditional Islam. The pope was condemned and Islamic radicals responded…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/12/2006

Some decades ago, America having (correctly in my view) decided to reject the Law of the Seas Treaty — in part because it would…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/12/2006

With the US facing massive problems at home and abroad and Louisiana far from recovered from Katrina, it is nice to see that the…

• By: Fred L. Smith, Jr.
• 09/12/2006

With the US facing massive problems at home and abroad and Louisiana far from recovered from Katrina, it is nice to see that the…