The Open Market Blog

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/08/2010

Did you know that the federal government has a Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee?…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/07/2010

Today is the fourth working day of the new year. The Federal Register has already exceeded 1,000 pages.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/06/2010

These warning labels have nothing to do with letting people know that their phones can make them look like jackasses.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/05/2010

It is illegal to buy more than 288 bottles of wine per year in Ohio.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/04/2010

Washington, DC’s city government is now requiring stores to charge customers five cents for each plastic bag they use at checkout. There were 84 unsolved…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/02/2010

The CCARD Act is, completely unintentionally, a wealth transfer from poor people to richer people. Congress is actively hurting the very people it intended to…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 01/02/2010

Each time you board a plane, your odds of being a victim of terrorism are about 1 in 10,408,947. Your odds of being struck by…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/31/2009

In Oregon, it is illegal to set up a tent at most beaches.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/30/2009

An environmental group is suing to cancel an upcoming AC/DC concert in Austria because they think loud music poses a threat to birds.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/29/2009

Having solved all the nation’s other problems, the federal government has a National Poultry Improvement Plan.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/22/2009

Modern innovations such as synthetic dyes, the Minnesota Vikings, and purple M&Ms have taken away purple’s exotic reputation. But no worry. Federal regulators are doing…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/21/2009

On the other hand, legislators do less harm when they spend their time on college football rather than, say, health care.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/18/2009

The House passed the Commercial Loudness Act on Wednesday. If it becomes law, the FCC would control the volume level of television commercials.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/17/2009

If you’re thinking of sending out advertisements for a cockfight through the mail, you should be aware that a new regulation allows the postal service…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/16/2009

It is illegal to be a peddler in Wisconsin without a license. One of the requirements is five years of residency in Wisconsin. Because clearly,…

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/15/2009

Talk about attention to detail. The federal government regulates the size of hole in Swiss cheese.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/14/2009

The Code of Federal Regulations contains a regulation on how to cite the Code of Federal Regulations.

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/12/2009

I recently finished reading Swedish economist Johan Norberg's book about the financial crisis, aptly titled Financial Fiasco. It's both short and informative. Six chapters and…

Regulatory Reform

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/10/2009

Did you know that the federal government is in the veterinary accreditation business? It’s true.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/09/2009

A proposed rule in California would reclassify adult film actors as being subject to certain employment regulations. The unintended consequences are potentially fatal.

Consumer Freedom

• By: Ryan Young
• 12/08/2009

The Code of Federal Regulations contains 12,834 words worth of rules concerning falconry, of all things.

Consumer Freedom