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8.3.2002 6:40 PM The Washington Times named Milton Friedman Economist of the Century. I won't go that far. He's definitely in the top three. As a defender of liberty, no one has been as dedicated and effective. But Friedman is within the orthodox mathmatical economic school with all its methodological problems. He wasn't the one to make the best economic argument against socialism--that award goes to Ludwig von Mises. He also didn't make the most important economic insight of the century. Friedrich Hayek's development of dispersed knowledge was built from Mises anti-socialism arguments (see his "The Use of Knowlege in Society"). When I search out free market answers to economic questions, I don't run to Friedman, I go to the Austrians. What Friedman has done to enlighten us on the effects of monetary policy cannot be ignored (see Capitalism and Freedom and Free to Choose). We also cannot ignore his ability to promote libertarianism to a broad audience. For all that, freedom lovers should be thankful. "Economist of the Century" Sean Hackbarth | 2:55 AM Bill Moyers: "objective" liberal journalist and former beaurcrat, NOW drunk driver. The roadside breath test gave Moyers a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit, yet he will contest the charge. "National Journalist Charged with DUI: PBS Newsman Bill Moyers Cited in Arlington" [via C-Log] Sean Hackbarth | 2:43 AM Even More Light Pollution than You Can Wave a Light Saber At John McMahon writes: "When the night sky, with all of its inspiration and beauty, becomes more and more simply another extension of a strip mall world cluttered by the wasteful debris of human activity, we lose the sense of perspective humans have had since they first were able to look upward." Let me state it again: the night sky doesn't disappear. It's still there. Just drive a few miles away from the lights and those twinkling, sparkly dots in the sky are the stars. But John's statement revealed much about his thought. Dark sky advocacy is in the same rhelm as the anti-car, urban sprawl types. How dare people build houses with lawns and space. That reduces population density and increases car and SUV (the most evil device ever developed by mankind) use. The world is falling apart because people want new Targets and Wal-Marts near their homes while driving around in vehicles that get less than 20 miles/gallon. My response is pretty simple: too bad. Lots of people do a lot of things that irritate the hell out of me. They do things I think waste time, money, and energy. Yet I don't organize people in my community or through the internet to wage political war. I have no problem with dark sky people using the power of persuasion, but to resort to county ordinances and state laws to mandate an aethetic preference (I'm rather fond of bright shining lights going up into the sky; the World Trade Center light memorial had an etheral beauty to it.) is repugnant to me. Now, there are common sense situations where light can harm someone. A 50,000 watt floodlight into my bedroom window at 3AM every night would be irritating, but that's why there are local courts to handle disputes like that. This will probably be the last posting on the subject for a while unless I find some new story to comment on. Please e-mail me any links and continue to add comments. Sean Hackbarth | 8.2.2002 4:04 AM The Packers now have the Oneida Indian Nation as a major sponsor in the renovated Lambeau Field. The Oneidas run the local casino only a few miles from the stadium. I wonder what the NFL thinks about one of their teams financially tied to a gambling outfit. Sure, the casino doesn't offer sports betting because of the tribe's agreement with the state, but that could always change. It may not have been the wisest move to be so closely associated with a casino. Packers Announce Major Partnership With The Oneida Nation Sean Hackbarth | 3:33 AM This has been a bad few weeks for Bill Simon. He bumbled the release of his tax records, and now his investment company got hit with a big jury verdict for investor fraud. This is at at time when polls have him ahead of Gray Davis. Here's where lacking political experience is a disadvantage. Davis will pounce on this and try to link Simon to the corporate scandal in general. Simon will have to respond strongly, maybe even sling a little mud. How about bringing attention back to Davis and his problem with Oracle? Now is not the time to go soft and defensive. "Simon's Campaign Takes a Hit" Sean Hackbarth | 1:23 AM The U.N. says there wasn't a massacre by Israelis in Jenin. The only ones left saying it are the Palestinians and lefties writing for the Guardian. "U.N. Rejects Jenin Massacre Claim" Sean Hackbarth | 8.1.2002 3:08 AM Light Pollution cont. In a comment, Scott Griswold put light pollution in the same vein as air and water pollution. Light pollution isn't destruction of the environment. A 30,000 candle bulb isn't destroying the night sky. The stars, moon, and planets are still there. They just can't be seen because of the light. According to this logic the biggest light polluter is the sun. When the sun's shining during the day you can't see the stars, moon, or planets either. I think an ordinance should be passed banning the sun. It's obvious that the sun is destroying our God-given heritage of a dark sky. Wait, someone proposed just such a law. Frédéric Bastiat's "Petition from the Manufacturers of Candles" was in satirical support of candlemakers because the sun had an unfair advantage. Why not pass a sun-banning law because it deprives us from having a dark sky 24/7? I'm being even more flippant because this really is a non issue. Some people really love a dark sky free from any hint of light. Unfortunately, the world around them changes and other people begin living nearby and illuminate the sky. Dark skyers don't want their world to change so they devise laws and ordinances to force their neighbors to accept their way of life. "Wasted light is wasted energy" and "Dark skies are our God-given heritage" they cry out. Do they ask their neighbors to turn down the lights? Do they try to persuade them to their way of thinking with their facts and logic? Do they consider buying the land or compensating their neighbors? No, they turn their aesthetic preference into an environmental issue. By calling it "light pollution" they claim moral authority. Evil people are poisoning the night sky with their halogen and neon. They run to county boards and state legislatures ensuring the debate becomes a zero sum game. One side will win, while the other loses. This issue is on par with people opposed to scents and electricity-producing windmills. Instead of taking a live-and-let-live attitude, they insist on instituting their way, because they know best. Until I see something beyond aesthetic preferences (like linking Wal-Mart's parking lot lights to cancer), I will have little sympathy. P.S. I'm flattered that Scott Griswold told his dark sky friends about TAM at the OutdoorLighting-Forum. Can I say the discussion has been enlightening even though we disagree? I think I just did. Sean Hackbarth | 2:44 AM John Hawkins at Right Wing News has named TAM Website of the Day. Glad you like my yapping, John. Sean Hackbarth | 7.31.2002 2:50 AM Jon David is doing his part in the Islamist War. He took over an al-Queda web site and collected plenty of useful information. Unfortunately, it took five days for someone at the FBI to use it. That was a missed opportunity, but David noted that 90% of the web traffic was from Saudi Arabia. More evidence that our "ally" really isn't our friend. "An Interview With Jon David, The Man Who Hacked al-Queda's Homepage" Sean Hackbarth | 2:39 AM Nobel Prize winner and free market guru Milton Friedman turned 90 today. Bruce Bartlett and Thomas Sowell honor the man. Happy B-Day. "Milton Friedman" "Milton Friedman at 90" Sean Hackbarth | 2:35 AM American Atheists, Inc. may consider "Rina" to be a smart kid, but this is what the 14 year-old thought about Jews and World War II:
It's safe to say that Rina isn't a "smart kid." Sean Hackbarth | 7.30.2002 6:33 PM Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I got some heated response to my rather flippant link to a story on light pollution. A little agitation is good for the old weblog. It looks like the Loudoun County light pollution ordinance would let busy body county officials start dictating what kind of lights people can have on their property. It's an extension of the nick picking many local officials do when someone wants to build something in a way the officials think is "ugly." Some have commented that light pollution laws would save money. Maybe, but that would be individual savings, and they would already be thinking of ways of conserving electricity if they wanted to. With electricity being plentiful, they're little reason to conserve. Light pollution laws shouldn't be the role of government. Rights aren't being violated. This debate revolves around aesthetics. One JNoles thinks light pollution laws would protect a "sacred American tradition, the freedom to enjoy the illumination of your own backyard from the natural nightsky." Some want to live in a suburban area surrounded by people with all the convinences (stores, restaurants, jobs), but accept none of the tradeoffs. I have a feeling, the Founding Fathers didn't pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor just so they could see some miniscule star in Orion from a parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Loudoun County. If people want to avoid light pollution, they should move to the country or persuade their neighbors to lessen their light use. What they shouldn't do is use the heavy hand of government to satisfy their aesthetic wants. International Dark-Sky Association Sean Hackbarth | 5:59 PM Electric cars may be more environmentally friendly (if you really think about it, the jury is still out), but they could burn down your home. Model Veronica Webb had that happen to her. She's giving up on eco-friendly cars. "We got the car because it was supposed to be great for the environment, but no one ever warns you how dangerous they are." Sean Hackbarth | 4:25 AM Wisconsin printing king Harry Quadracci died yesterday. He built Quad/Graphics into a world printing powerhouse. Because of his fortune, he donated to many causes in the Southeast Wisconsin area. Stress from the death of his father-in-law and a deadly building collapse a few weeks ago (only 10 miles from my house) may have led to his death. "Printing Magnate Quadracci Found Dead in Pine Lake" Sean Hackbarth | 3:46 AM I'm at the same "Insignificant Microbe" level of the weblog ecosystem as Eric Alterman. Lots of people seem to bash him--just not as much as Robert Fisk--so I'm surprised he has so few links to his weblog. I thought the redesign of TAM would garner some new links but no such luck. I know many of you visit TAM through your bookmarks/favorites. If you have a weblog, I'd love a link. I'll even give you a virtual kiss. Sean Hackbarth | 3:27 AM You only have 5 days left to bid on a 1954 Princeton yearbook with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld posing in his football uniform. Sean Hackbarth | 1:51 AM So, Vice President Cheney has the President's ear when it comes to foreign policy. When Bush said the Palestinians needed new leadership, that was Cheney. When Bush called for change in Iran, that too had Cheney's fingerprints on it. His tough stance towards Iraq, Iran, and the Palestinians reassures me. This White House realizes what needs to be done to protect U.S. interests and to move other nations towards freedom and democracy. "Cheney Rewrites Roles in Foreign Policy" Sean Hackbarth | 7.29.2002 2:29 AM While scanning the list of inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a few groups aren't on the list who should be: Canadian power trio Rush and southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd. Genesis and Black Sabbath also comes to mind. Who are some others? One criteria is that the band's/artist's first album must have come out over 25 years ago. Sean Hackbarth | 12:58 AM Bill Safire sure isn't young, yet he isn't fuddy-duddy about weblogs. He feels "the noun blog is a useful addition to the lexicon." I'm happy that he did some actual research and mentioned Jorn "Weblog Godfather" Barger and William "Blogosphere" Quick. "Blog" [via Andrew Sullivan] Sean Hackbarth | 7.28.2002 11:17 PM Mucho kudos go to Lance Armstrong for winning his fourth straight Tour de France. Those Frenchmen must just be hating the U.S. now for having an American completely dominate the biggest sporting event in their country. It's amazing enough that Armstrong has won the last four years. It's even more incredible to know he almost died from cancer. With heart, passion, and discipline, Armstrong proved once again why he's one of the world's greatest athletes. Bravo! "Armstrong First American to Win Four Tours" Sean Hackbarth | |
ABOUT When I'm not pondering the fate of the universe, I'm reading, writing, or selling books. Here you'll find comments on politics, culture, books, and music. Not necessarily in that order. MAILBOX sean--at--theamericanmind.com  Support democracy and human rights in Iraq! 
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