The freedom of speech, and last weekend’s violence in Charlottesville, Virginia

August 19, 2017 – Andrew Napolitano …… What about hate speech? The remedy for it is not to silence or censor it, because we need to know from whence it comes. The remedy is more speech — speech to challenge the hatred, speech to educate the haters, speech to expose their moral vacuity. More speech will create an atmosphere antithetical to hatred.

London City Council spends $5.9 million for two bridges for the city’s cycling trail network. This money could have been used to reduce poverty in London, that is, if these politicians were actually serious about their previous commitment to do so.

August 18, 2017 – Lee Friday …… Few people, and certainly not politicians, would dare say that cycling trails and bridges are more desirable than poverty reduction. Yet, a handout of $5.9 million to cyclists means $5.9 million less for poverty reduction.

London taxpayers pay the salaries of police officers, who are well paid! Why do taxpayers also have to pay for the mistakes of police officers?

August 16, 2017 – Lee Friday …… If I am held accountable for my mistakes, I have an incentive to avoid mistakes. But if other people are forced to pay for my mistakes, my incentive disappears and I make more mistakes. This is a concept a ten-year-old can understand.

London City Council approves Lambeth slaughterhouse, and refuses to protect the property rights of neighbouring landowners

August 9, 2017 – Lee Friday …… A law was broken repeatedly, but City Hall looked the other way while the property rights of citizens were continually violated. Then, City Council rewarded the lawbreaker because the government claims to know what is best for society. This is a textbook example of government hubris!

If stores increase the number of self-checkouts in response to a higher minimum wage, should we boycott these stores?

July 31, 2017 – Lee Friday …… In a brief ‘letter to the editor’, a reader reveals a lack of economic knowledge on one issue, but excellent economic knowledge on another issue. His knowledge on the latter issue can help to correct his misunderstanding on the first issue. Then we can decide who should be the subject of a boycott.

Every crime needs a victim

July 28, 2017 – Laurence Vance …… Individuals must be held accountable for actual harm done to others, NOT potential harm. Accountability for potential harm serves to enrich the state, and extend the power of the state, while reducing the freedom, wellbeing, and standard of living of the people.