“Capitalism” on The Daily Caller

This past week I gave a speech to a group of investors. The organizer of the event e-mailed me the night before, asking that I please try to be optimistic. Well, that’s my usual habitat. But optimism has been hard for me this year. Our muddle-through economy and lackluster stock market, challenged by so many taxing, spending, and regulating problems coming out of Washington, are the reasons why. (more)

We’re not there yet. But we are making progress. (more)

Playing the part of Democratic rock star last week, President Barack Obama flew to a star-studded Hollywood party to raise $1 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Every election season Democratic candidates make a beeline to Hollywood for campaign contributions. This is understandable given Hollywood’s long-running romance with the liberal left. (more)

Martin Luther tacked 95 theses to a wooden door. Our Founding Fathers wrote a list of grievances to King George. (more)

Don’t fret, American poor people! Turns out you’re living better than “the rest of the world,” according to Kentucky Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul. (more)

Tim Geithner has undoubtedly become one of the top advisors in the Obama administration, not just in the Treasury, but in the Obama White House. While he and I disagree on a host of key policy issues, I loved the back-and-forth exchange we had during yesterday’s interview. Incidentally, Mr. Geithner stated that the Obama administration hopes to keep the top tax rate on dividends and capital gains capped at 20 percent. Be thankful for small blessings. (more)

It’s taken over 60 years, but someone has finally written a great book about Whittaker Chambers. Richard M. Reinsch’s “Whittaker Chambers: The Spirit of a Counterrevolutionary,” emphasizes a point that has eluded both liberals and conservatives. Chambers, a former Soviet spy, journalist, and author of the masterpiece “Witness,” was also a religious genius. His insights into the human person and the nature of life will far outlive him, and his critics—including his most recent, Glenn Beck. (more)

As the world focuses on Greece and the rest of the so-called PIIGs–Portugal, Italy and Ireland–in their fight to reverse years of irresponsible fiscal policies, another group of nations make them look positively well-managed. Forbes screened IMF data for countries that have low and declining per-capita GDP, high trade deficits and high inflation, all indicators of bad economic management regardless of the country's inherent wealth. (more)

America’s financial mess and our festering trade crisis were both caused by bad policies that mainstream economics told us were OK. This has made the public cynical about economists, but has produced few specific suggestions on how to actually fix the discipline. So—what should we do to restore its ability to give sound advice? (more)

A few months ago, I met a gentleman at the National League of Cities conference in San Antonio named John McAlister. John is a fellow City Council member from Gahanna, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. As we waited for a boat tour of the downtown San Antonio Riverwalk, John and I discussed politics in our hometowns, a common discussion at these conferences. Soon our discussion turned to national politics and the challenges facing our country. I learned of John’s steadfast commitment to the oath of office he took upon entering his role of City Councilman, that to uphold and defend the Constitution, an oath that City Councils, County Supervisors, state legislatures and Congressmen take all across this country. John strongly believes that we can regain limited federal government by holding local politicians accountable for their votes. I found his zeal refreshing and reassuring since I, too, am impassioned by such beliefs. (more)

When it comes to our economy, where are we going, and why are we in this hand-basket? That’s a question worth answering before Congress reauthorizes legislation to boost government investment in science and technology and, in turn, manufacturing. (more)

They are selling secrets along the shining corridors of the Savyolovsky Market: Unlisted numbers. Tax returns. Customs declarations. Wanted lists. Police reports. Car registrations. Business permits. (more)

Our behavior is profoundly influenced by the incentives we face. Money is a very important motivator but money is not everything. Our behavior is also influenced by prestige, power, benevolence, and all the feel good stuff. All of these help determine the incentives we face to work hard for our own benefit and for the good of man kind. Our cultural and moral values are also important more directly for the quality of our lives and for the success of any economic system—capitalism or socialism—by supporting or failing to support voluntary compliance with the needs of that system. They provide the lubricant that helps the economic system function smoothly. (more)

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It’s been a year since Stephen Moore’s article, “Atlas Shrugged: from Fiction to Fact in 52 Years,”seemed to ignite an explosion of interest in Ayn Rand. Sales of this prescient novel tripled; two Rand biographies have been selling like hotcakes; and references to her in the media have skyrocketed. (more)

In his 2009 film “Capitalism: A Love Story,” Michigan native Michael Moore went to Wall Street with a request to corporate officials whose companies received bailout money from the federal government. (more)