Education is important. That’s why the government shouldn’t play teacher.

Here's en excerpt from a post I recently wrote on my own blog:

Q. What do you make of the Rawlsian idea of “effective freedom”? If I break my leg and am lying in the gutter with no resources to help myself how am I free? If the state is to tax, shouldn’t health and education be the primary services it owes its citizens as a result of the imposition? Protection of property rights might be the sole concern of the ‘night watchman’ state, but, you know, respect for property rights is free, and I would say an excellent side effect of good education. — ninefruits, from tumblr.

A. I’ve read Rawls, though it’s been a while and his ideas are hardly fresh in my mind.  At any rate, I’ll go question by question:

What do you make of the Rawlsian idea of “effective freedom”? If I break my leg and am lying in the gutter with no resources to help myself how am I free?

How are you not free?  No person is restraining you, and that’s what it is the responsibility of government to stop.  (Of course, if someone or their property has broken your leg and put you in the gutter, that is quite a different story.  But I’m assuming you just tripped over a…wild bird or something which could not possibly be a human crime.)  Basically, this confuses positive rights with freedom, and they are two very different things.

A double standard for lying?

Roger Clemens got caught lying to the government, so he's being prosecuted for perjury.  My question is:  When the government is caught lying, shouldn't we go after them?  After all, we employ those in government -- and why is the government involved in steroid use in baseball anyway?

Pick an Agency, Any Agency: SSA

As fiscal conservatives continue to seek avenues through which to derail the federal gravy train, it helps from time to time to take a look at the mind-numbingly long list of federal departments and agencies that are on board. Of course, this list is hardly exhaustive – just one that is publicly available – but it can certainly give us some concrete ideas on how and where to cut the spending.

Today: The Social Security Administration (SSA) 

About: “The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time, lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940. ”
FY 2010 Budget: $695 billion in benefits + $11.6 billion in administrative costs (Source)

That's right – Social Security. The gift that keeps on giving, if you consider higher taxation, retirement ages, and future entitlements to be a gift. Social Security is the elephant in the room in American politics: everyone knows it's an issue, but no one is willing to cut. Don't you care about the poor and the elderly? We can't just kick them out into the street! Anyone who proposes the end of Social Security must be a heartless monster!

Licensing Restrictions Shut Down Little Girl’s Lemonade Stand

During the hot summer months, it’s practically an American tradition for children to set up lemonade stands in their neighborhood. The children learn valuable skills on how to run a business while earning some extra summer cash. A few years ago, the image of bureaucrats forcibly shutting down innocent lemonade stands may have been satire. Not anymore. The out of control nanny state has targeted all business owners—even if the entrepreneur happens to be a 7 year-old girl selling lemonade.

On July 29, Julie Murphy committed the “heinous crime” of selling lemonade for 50 cents a cup at an arts fair in Portland. Since the young entrepreneur did not have a temporary restaurant license costing $120, the county health inspectors threatened to fine her $500 if she did not leave. Even after offering the lemonade for free and for donation only, the county officials shut down her lemonade stand. While Julie left the fair in tears, hopefully her entrepreneurial spirit was not broken by these harsh government regulations.

According to environmental health supervisor John Kawaguchi,

I understand the reason behind what they're doing and it's a neighborhood event, and they're trying to generate revenue. But we still need to put the public's health first.

Be forewarned that county officials have the power to shut down children’s lemonade stands even if they are on a private front lawn.