Op-Eds
FTC Ban on Junk Food Ads Would do More Harm than Good
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) supposedly voluntary guidelines for marketing food products to children, if adopted, would undermine free speech, seriously hinder small businesses, consumer…
Op-Eds
Time to Kill the Michigan Alcohol Monopoly
In the June 2011 issue of the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association (MBWWA) newsletter, President Michael Lashbrook reaffirmed his organization’s endorsement of…
Op-Eds
Feds’ Online Poker Shutdown Assaults Internet Freedom
On April 15, a day now known as “Black Friday”, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) effectively shut down three major online poker websites by…
Op-Eds
DOJ’s Poker Shutdown: Holding on to Americans’ Money
While the American online poker community is still reeling from the federal government’s recent crackdown on online gambling websites, it’s worth considering the significance of…
Op-Eds
Obama Axes the Right to Play Internet Poker
Last week, while many people reported their income to the Internal Revenue Service, others suddenly found their source of income shut off. On a day…
Op-Eds
Online Poker Shutdown — What’s Really Behind the Department of Justice’s Decision?
April 15, which is usually Tax Day, is also a day when many Americans voice annoyance toward their government as they file their onerously confusing…
Op-Eds
Lower the Drinking Age for Everyone
Alaska state representative Bob Lynn (R., Anchorage) is asking the long overdue question: Why do we consider 18-year-olds old enough to join the military, to…
Op-Eds
This Saturday Celebrate, Don’t Lament, Human Achievement
Human beings must exploit the environment. It is how we survive—and thrive. We don’t have claws or fur. We don’t live in trees or burrow…
Op-Eds
Voluntary Nutritional Labeling on Alcohol Is the Best Recipe
Last month, I discussed the negative impacts that a nutritional label mandate would have on small producers of alcohol beverages, such as craft brewers. Another side…
Op-Eds
Nutrition Labeling Mandate Will Cost Jobs and Hurt Small Brewers
Last month, President Barack Obama signed a highly publicized Executive Order demanding a government-wide review of existing laws to remove regulations that stifle job creation…
Op-Eds
Empire State or Nanny State: Suffolk should not ban energy drinks
In New York State, 18-year-olds need to show ID to buy cigarettes, get married, and vote. Now one lawmaker wants to make them show ID…
Op-Eds
Assault on Alcohol
A dime a drink may not sound that bad, but the deceptive name of Maryland’s proposed new beverage tax hides its real impact on local…
Op-Eds
The Online Poker Players Next Door
Ask any professional poker player after a losing night what happened, and very rarely will he attribute the outcome to bad luck. There is an…
Op-Eds
Choosing the Right State Insurance Commissioner Matters
“And what manner of man dares to assume the post of insurance commissioner?” LA Weekly columnist Hillel Aron asked recently. It is an important question…
Op-Eds
Legalizing Online Gambling Is A No-Brainer
Sometimes things do change in Washington, often unexpectedly. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, once an opponent of online gambling, is now circulating draft legislation to…
Op-Eds
Was Prohibition Repealed?
This Sunday, December 5, many people will raise their glasses and celebrate Repeal Day — the anniversary of the end of Prohibition, a day when…
Op-Eds
Prospects for U.S. Internet Gambling Post-Midterm Elections
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has been pivotal in efforts to legalize Internet gambling in the United States. In 2007, he introduced the first of several…
Op-Eds
Virginia Lawmakers Aren’t Entitled to Liquor Revenue (Letter to the Editor)
It is long past time for Virginia to shake its state monopoly on liquor sales, and it’s a shame that we’ll have to wait until…
Op-Eds
Virginia Lawmakers Aren’t Entitled to Liquor Revenue
It is long past time for Virginia to shake its state monopoly on liquor sales, and it’s a shame that we’ll have to wait until…
Op-Eds
Private Sales Don’t Increase Drinking
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Regarding “Police Concerned Over Privatizing Liquor Stores”: The fear of law enforcement agents that privatizing liquor sales will result in increased underage drinking,…
Op-Eds
Land based casinos should love online gambling
A heated battle is brewing between thousands of online poker players and California’s largest land-based casino. It began in July when Commerce Casino Vice President…
Op-Eds
Why Republicans Should Favor Legalized Internet Gambling
The House Financial Services Committee recently approved the Internet Gambling, Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act introduced by Chairman Barney Frank. If passed and signed…
Op-Eds
Should Internet Gambling Be Legalized?
The question isn’t should gambling online be legalized, but rather, does the federal government have the authority to criminalize the activity? The answer is: no.
Op-Eds
State Needs New Leadership on Insurance Policies
It’s sometimes hard to picture your insurance company as a caped hero sweeping in to rescue you in times of crisis. Yet, that is what…
Op-Eds
Let Michigan Insurance Consumers Tailor Auto Coverage
Imagine you live in a town where anyone who dines out is required to buy a $200 bottle of champagne with their meal. That…
Op-Eds
Let Michigan Insurance Consumers Tailor Coverage
Imagine you live in a town where anyone who dines out is required to buy a $200 bottle of champagne with their meal. That…
Op-Eds
Internet Gambling Regulations Take Effect June 1st
Today is the day that US credit processing companies must begin complying with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). After…
Op-Eds
FCC Calls for Faster Internet in the U.S.
Internet access is not a right. It is a privilege; one that we pay for. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, while not explicitly demanding high-speed…
Op-Eds
Bush Billboard in Minnesota Asks “Miss Me Yet?”
A billboard appeared in Wyoming, Minn. this week (the person/org responsible is still unknown) with the visage of former President George W. Bush…
Op-Eds
Michigan’s Auto Insurance Rates Aren’t Highway Robbery
In most games, fair play is understood as playing by the rules and reaping rewards or penalties within the game’s parameters. Yet for many…
Op-Eds
No Government in the Bedroom
Three cheers for the judge in Los Angeles who dismissed the petition to mandate condom use in adult films. While the spread of sexually…
Op-Eds
Court’s Ruling on Banning Cigarette’s on Stage
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a clearly unconstitutional ban is deplorable, but worse is the way free-speech advocates are defending…
Op-Eds
Rebuttal: Michigan’s Auto Insurers Make Only a Small Profit
About the Nov. 30 article "Industry balks at bills aimed at auto insurance reform": Before we listen to politicians who claim greedy…
USA Today
NFL Should Stop Cracking Down on Sports Betting
The constitutionally questionable ban on sports gambling that Congress imposed in all but four states — Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon — should be repealed.
USA Today
This ‘Earth Hour,’ leave the lights on
This week Competitive Enterprise Institute announced the creation of Human Achievement Hour (HAH) to be celebrated at 8:30 p. m. on March 28, 2009…
Op-Eds
Don’t be fooled – horses are risky
Regarding the April 18 story, “Bridgeton woman’s horses make insurance company skittish”: Cordelia Ashton believes that it’s unfair for her insurance company…
Op-Eds
No Dice
Anybody who has spent time in Washington knows that Congress often passes bad laws. But even the most widely derided laws — think…
Op-Eds
‘Profit motive’ can benefit everyone
If Thomas Robertson, the new dean of Wharton School, really wants his students to be a "force for good’"in the world, he ought to…