August 2009

Hoffman: Clunkers, Consoles, Couches Castles and other bad ideas from our government

August 31, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

The federal government says Idahoans have received $11.6 million in rebates through the now-ended Cash for Clunkers program. That’s just 0.4 percent of the neatly $2.9 billion in rebates distributed nationwide. It’s also the equivalent of between 2,600 and 3,000 old Idaho cars being taken off the road and turned to scrap. If you know anything about economics, you know that’s a problem. Remember supply and demand? More supply, lower prices; lower supply, higher prices. With supply constrained, the vehicles that remain on the market are fetching higherprices at auction.

Boulton: Barriers to entry impact the free market

August 28, 2009 | posted by Craig P. Boulton in

Barriers to entry are anything that gets in the way of starting a business or entering a trade.  Most arise through a natural process, mainly the need to raise the necessary capital required to successfully conduct a business.  For example, if one wanted manufacture steel, one first needs to build a steel plant, or buy one already in existence, and that requires a ton of money.  Thus the average bear can probably scratch the idea of becoming a steel magnate.  Conversely, to become a barber one only needs a chair, clippers, and a hairbrush.  If any cash is left over, then the remaining bucks

Residents unite to take on government in Coeur d'Alene

August 25, 2009 | posted by Chuck Malloy in

Conservative movements don't start by accident, or survive on automatic pilot.
 
The tide starts with people who give a damn about how government money is spent and the future of this country. It starts with people who don't think that government has all the answers to health care and the nation's economic crisis. It survives by people who want to make a difference by attending local government meetings, searching through public records and asking tough questions.
 

Hoffman: BSU kicks freedom out of the car

August 23, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

With much fanfare, Boise State University last week implemented a campus-wide no-smoking policy. I'm not going to deny the ability of the government to regulate or even ban smoking on campus. The trouble is, the policy extends beyond the campus and its buildings and straight into privately-owned automobiles.

RSVP to see David Horowitz!

August 19, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

 

RSVP to see David Horowitz by clicking here.

Idaho Freedom Foundation launches transparency website

August 19, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

The Idaho Freedom Foundation today launched OurIdaho.com, a website for Idahoans interested in government transparency. The website contains billions of dollars in state government spending data and the names, titles and pay rates for around 40,000 government employees statewide.
 

Hoffman: Government health insurance will mean higher taxes for all Idahoans

August 16, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

I've lost 40 pounds since January, but I gained a pound back this week. I couldn't resist a second helping of fudge brownies. And I haven't been exercising. I'm sorry. I'll try harder next week.

You care about my corpulence because you're going to be paying for me when we're all on government health care. Whether you're rich or poor, everyone in Idaho will be paying higher taxes to cover more people on public assistance as soon as next July.

See David Horowitz for FREE in Boise and Caldwell

August 12, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

Click here to RSVP to see David Horowitz speak in Boise or Caldwell.

IFF analysis: State spends $19 million on travel

August 12, 2009 | posted by Chuck Malloy in

When Rep. JoAn Wood of Rigby sees agency travel expenses at nearly $19 million, she immediately wonders if Idaho state government can get by with less. But that's how much money the state spent on airfare, hotel rooms and automobiles from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, according to an analysis of state spending data by the Idaho Freedom Foundation.
 
"What if it were $14 million? That would be $5 million saved right there," said Wood, the most senior member of the Idaho House of Representatives at 14 terms and counting.
 

Transparency requires knowing the names of government employees

August 10, 2009 | posted by Wayne Hoffman in

James Madison once wrote that if men were angels, we wouldn't need government. And, he added, if government were run by angels, we wouldn't need to place controls and limitations on government. And while Madison didn't address it, it's easy to speculate that angel-run governments don't need the scrutiny afforded by public records laws. But mortals run our governments. Transparency and openness are required.