Libertarians React to Obama’s Immigration Plan

Very few libertarians seemed to have addressed the realpolitik and motives of Obama’s plan, creating millions of new quasi-citizens who will illegally register to vote and vote for his party and access the earned income tax credit and other tax loot funded benefits.  My friend Gavin Kitchens replies to the latter half of this query:

• Gavin Kitchens So ridiculous. Do people not think limited access to the job market has something to do with earning lower wages and higher rates of poverty?

Here’s a sampling of libertarian opinion:

Shikha Sood Dalmia

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As a libertarian I am concerned that Congress has ceded so much power to the executive on immigration. But also as a libertarian I can hardly be unhappy that he is using these powers to expand individual freedom rather than, say, torture. If there is ever a good use of such powers, surely something like this is it! (Interestingly, John Yoo, the same guy who wrote Bush’s torture memos is also the one who has written law review articles questioning the constitutionality of executive action on immigration!)

Olivia Valentine

In regards to Obama and his lovely new executive order that he has in store for immigration…lemme just remind y’all that he actually can’t do this as it’s a breach of the checks and balances system. Don’t believe me? Article 1 Section 8 Clause 4. Hopefully SCOTUS will review this if he really does go through with it.

Nils Andersson
You can have free immigration – OR you can have a welfare state. But you cannot have both. Dixit Milton Friedman.

Jon Osborne
Quote of the Day: “These illegal aliens are willing to do the work that Americans will no longer do — namely, vote Democrat.” –Howie Carr

Rachel Mills

There are 4 gazillion laws on the books in this country. Every administration decides which laws they want to prioritize for enforcement.That’s one reason you want a good administration in there. They can’t possibly enforce everything. If tonight he just announces what he’s not gonna enforce (basically) and you get upset about the constitutional angle, well… Think about all the laws that are not remotely really constitutional at all… and then think how you would feel if he decided to not enforce those federal drug laws, which are also not constitutional… Just a thought. Not defending the administration. There is sooooo very much to criticize. But not deporting people who were raised here and allowing them not to become thugs and prostitutes, well… I would not start with that.

At the Cato Institute, resident immigration policy analyst Alex Nowrasteh has been writing and speaking offering Obama two cheers:

• 
  

  http://www.cato.org/longtail-iframe/node/55365/field_longtail_player/0

reason magazine writers are surveyed at Tyrant or Liberator? The Pundits React to Obama’s Immigration Plan

Milton Friedman anniversary

Thursday would be Milton Friedman’s 102nd birthday.

I actually applied to only one college when I was a libertarian high school student, back before the internet existed, the University of Chicago, because I thought Milton Friedman taught there.

He had actually retired, and had moved on, I believe to the Hoover Institute.

I did actually meet him when he came to lecture there (I also worked in an office beside one of his associates, Sam Peltzman, and had several interesting conversations with him, including asking him about Austrian critiques of Chicago school beliefs in measurements of aggregate national capital stocks).  I grabbed a copy of a recent reason magazine that featured Friedman on the cover and ran to his lecture, hoping to have him autograph the issue.  After the lecture there was a long Q&A and then he generously stood for a long reception line, which I aimed for the back of, so I would not be rushed in asking him my brilliant questions when I reached him.  When I was about 3 people away from him I looked down and…I’d grabbed the wrong issue of reason.  He autographed it anyway.  (I don’t think it was the issue Mark Ames is agitating about currently; sadly you can’t find this 70s interview or the reason cover on the internet.)

A few years later I was at a Libertarian Party convention while I was in the middle of an idiotic romantic triangle only a 21 year old would have gotten himself into.  Depressed and unable to figure out what to do with myself, I latched onto a friend who was a University of Chicago anthropology grad student, Bonnie Kaplan, and sort of invited myself to accompany her and her boyfriend wherever they went as part of the convention, including to Disney Land.  She was actually trying to visit with her friend David Friedman, Milton Friedman’s son, and I am sure he wondered who the kid was gluing himself to them.

Then decades later I went on a reason magazine cruise where I met grandson Patri Friedman and his child, a toddler.  So I think other than my own the Friedman’s are the only family of which I have met 4 generations.

Which raises the question:  Does Milton Friedman prove that libertarianism is heritable?  (See More interesting to me is the near-perfect straight line you can draw from Milton Friedman, to his son David, to his grandson Patri.)

Friedman has a very slightly mixed reception among libertarians.  He produced David and Patri, mentored Thomas Sowell, created the idea of education vouchers.  He also came up with the idea of income tax witholding.  He taught generations of Chicago school economists whose cost benefit analyses showed many government programs to be counter-productive, laying the ground work for somewhat deeper public choice studies and for libertarian class analysis by other writers.  He was the faculty sponsor for the New Individualist Review, a University of Chicago student magazine that was in its way the precursor of all libertarian magazines and much anti-statist student activism and internet publishing.

Did eastern establishment Jewish quotas create American political culture?

Here’s an research program for people working in American intellectual history:

Did quotas in elite eastern establishment universities in the 20th century shape American culture and intellectual life, especially politics and political economy?

Did limiting the number of Jews then (and perhaps Asians now), mean that those most likely to be allowed in for a limited number of slots available to their ethnic group at eastern establishment schools were slightly better connected, well healed, or assimilated (and therefore more likely to defend establishment corporate statist/crony capitalist/corporate socialist perspectives*), while the more working class/small business family, freshly immigrated, socially awkward, Jews (then, Asians now etc.) who were kept out of establishment universities by quotas ended up at elite schools without quotas (paradigmatically the University of Chicago) and were also more likely to be critical of establishment views, either from a libertarian or a more radical socialist, perspective?

* Paul Krugman, Jonathan Chait, The New Republic, ad nauseum.

That is,   Allison Portchnik:

Why is there no Milton Friedman today?

A few fireworks on this panel during the discussion of Paul Krugman, I am told.

NTU celebrates Milton Friedman

NTUF Toasts Milton Friedman

In celebrating the life and work of the late economist Milton Friedman, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) invites members from across the country to take part in this year’s Milton Friedman Legacy Day. NTUF and our co-hosts at the Tax Foundation will provide both an online and in-person event so that all of our members can commemorate Friedman’s contributions to the economic freedom movement.

ONLINE: Taxpayers outside of the Washington, DC metro-area can go to our special webpage and vote for their preferred plan to reform the Tax Code. Then, you can give a shout out to other taxpayers on what part of Friedman’s legacy you celebrate. Entrants will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card or other prizes! Anyone can cast their vote and show Congress which fundamental tax change they support.

The reforms highlighted in this year’s contest include:

• FairTax
• Flat Tax
• National Transaction Tax
• The Current Progressive Tax System
• Value-Added Tax (VAT)

All you need to do is go to our special webpage and pick your favorite reform. Be sure to vote by the end of the Friedman Legacy Week (Friday, August 2nd)!

IN-PERSON: For individuals near the Beltway, NTUF and the Tax Foundation are hosting a gathering of Friedman enthusiasts at the Laughing Man Tavern in downtown Washington, DC. Be sure to stop by and cast your vote in person for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card!

• Location: The Laughing Man Tavern
  Bottom Floor Game Room
  1306 G Street, N.W.
  Washington, DC, 20005
• When: July 31, 2013
  6:00PM-9:00PM
• RSVP: Check out our event on Facebook!

The cosponsors will provide complementary drinks so that taxpayers can toast Mr. Friedman and his ideas.

Celebrating Milton Friedman

Vol. 4 Issue 27 July 25, 2013

NTUF Toasts Milton Friedman In celebrating the life and work of the late economist Milton Friedman, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) invites members from across the country to take part in this year’s Milton Friedman Legacy Day. NTUF and our co-hosts at the Tax Foundation will provide both an online and in-person event so that all of our members can commemorate Friedman’s contributions to the economic freedom movement. ONLINE: Taxpayers outside of the Washington, DC metro-area can go to our special webpage and vote for their preferred plan to reform the Tax Code. Then, you can give a shout out to other taxpayers on what part of Friedman’s legacy you celebrate. Entrants will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card or other prizes! Anyone can cast their vote and show Congress which fundamental tax change they support. The reforms highlighted in this year’s contest include: FairTax Flat Tax National Transaction Tax The Current Progressive Tax System Value-Added Tax (VAT) All you need to do is go to our special webpage and pick your favorite reform. Be sure to vote by the end of the Friedman Legacy Week (Friday, August 2nd)! IN-PERSON: For individuals near the Beltway, NTUF and the Tax Foundation are hosting a gathering of Friedman enthusiasts at the Laughing Man Tavern in downtown Washington, DC. Be sure to stop by and cast your vote in person for a chance to win a $50 iTunes gift card! Location: The Laughing Man Tavern Bottom Floor Game Room 1306 G Street, N.W. Washington, DC, 20005 When: July 31, 2013 6:00PM-9:00PM RSVP: Check out our event on Facebook! The cosponsors will provide complementary drinks so that taxpayers can toast Mr. Friedman and his ideas. Most Expensive Bill of the Week The Bill: H.R. 2706, the Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act Annualized Cost: $2.4 billion ($11.8 billion over five years) Congressmen John Yarmuth (D-KY) and Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced the LEARN Act to “develop and implement comprehensive literacy plans for children from birth to 12th grade.” In spite of ever increasing education spending, the sponsors reported that reading ability among 17-year-olds is at a standstill and that in-demand professions demand high literacy skills. The bill would authorize new grants to address the issue. State governments would be eligible for a one-time grant to fund literacy improvement programs for children through 12th grade. In consultation with other agencies and organizations, a state would be required to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses how literacy programs would interact with early childhood programs like Head Start. These grants would be awarded on a one-year basis. The legislation also offers implementation grants to fund these proposals. Administrators of state-level education agencies could use the funds to provide technical assistance and professional development to educators, as long as it is associated with expanding literacy resources. Officials would encourage collaboration among educational personnel and higher education institutions for better literacy results. Two subgrant categories would be established to channel the funding from the implementation grants. One would support developmental language and literacy programs for children from birth through kindergarten. The other would allocate money to help students from kindergarten to 12th grade by improving literacy education, growing educator knowledge of the best practices for teaching reading skills, and training local administrators to evaluate ongoing results. Both subgrants would exclusively be awarded to local school districts. If enacted, H.R. 2706 would authorize $2.35 billion in new spending over the 2014-2018 period. The grants would be in addition to any current spending associated with literacy education. If the total authorized amount was appropriated for the implementation grants, $352.5 million would go towards early childhood programs, $940 million would be spent on K-5th graders, $940 million would be used for 6-12th grade literacy, and $117.5 million would be used for state administration and data collection. To learn more or discuss this bill visit WashingtonWatch.com. The Least Expensive Bill of the Week The Bill: H.R. 1506, the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act Annualized Savings: $10 billion ($50 billion over five years) After long-time former Senator John Kerry (D-MA) became President Obama’s new Secretary of State, Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA) beat his Republican challenger Gabriel Gomez in the special election for the open seat. Since taking office on June 25th, Senator Markey has yet to introduce any legislation in the upper chamber. It is possible that he might introduce a bill in the Senate that he sponsored before leaving the House, which is the Least Expensive Bill of the Week. H.R. 1506 would make targeted cuts to all three parts of America’s nuclear armament in the following areas: Submarines: Reduce the number of ballistic-missile submarines from its current level of 18 to eight; Limit the number of submarine-launched ballistic missiles from its current 550 to 250; Put a ten-year hold on the Ohio-class replacement-sub and limit any procurement to maintain an eight sub fleet indefinitely. Bombers: Prohibit the B-2 and B-52 bombers from carrying a nuclear weapon; Cancel any funding associated with making the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter able to carry nuclear weapons; Put a ten-year hold on developing a long-range bomber to replace the B-2. Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs): Reduce the number of ICBMs from its current level of 500 to 200; Terminate current ICBM or shorter-range missile life extension programs; Prohibit the procurement of any new ICBMs indefinitely; Cancel the medium extended air defense system (the replacement for the PATRIOT system). The bill would also terminate funding for three fuel projects and facilities that deal with manufacturing nuclear weapons. The savings amount for H.R. 1506 was provided by Rep Markey’s office in the previous Congress. NTUF assumes that the figures would be the same if the bill was enacted in the 113th Congress. It is also assumed that canceling all of the projects would take at least five years to realize the savings. To learn more or discuss this bill visit WashingtonWatch.com. Most Friended The Bill: H.R. 2738/S. 119, the Global Democracy Promotion Act Annualized Cost: “No Cost” — Regulatory Number of Cosponsors: 114 Congressmen and 13 Senators In 1961, the U.S. Congress passed the Foreign Assistance Act to reorganize and consolidate existing foreign aid programs, as well as establish the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to oversee non-military assistance programs. A major function of the law was to establish guidelines that determine whether a foreign country is eligible to receive non-military aid. An Executive Order originally signed by President Reagan prohibited foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving United States funding unless they agreed not to promote or assist in the provision of information about obtaining abortions, even if the procedure was legal in that organization’s country. The policy was overturned by the Clinton administration then reinstated by President George W. Bush. Early in his first term, President Obama againreversed the policy. Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced the Global Democracy Promotion Act to make the repeal permanent. In a statement, Rep Lowey said “[p]ermanent repeal of the [provision] would … create a more predictable policy climate for organizations that provide family planning and reproductive health services in the developing world.” Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate earlier this year. The Act has 114 Democratic cosponsors in the House. Twelve Democrats and one Republican have cosponsored the Senate version. To learn more or discuss this bill visit WashingtonWatch.com.     The Wildcard The Bill: H.R. 1807, The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act Annualized Cost:Unknown The TREES Act would “establish a grant program to assist electric utilities with energy conservation programs that use targeted tree planting to reduce residential energy demand.” Companies would determine the best locations to plant trees to maximize tree shade, which would result in lower cooling costs for residents and lower operating costs for the companies. Using tax dollars, electric companies would contract with nonprofit tree-planting organizations, which would monitor the health of the trees and conduct public awareness campaigns detailing the benefits of increased tree shade. If such organizations are not available, administrators would be authorized to contract with local governments or conservation districts.Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) reintroduced the measure that was originally proposed in the previous Congress. H.R. 1807 calls for “such sums as may be necessary” to carry out its goals. A cost estimate is currently not available. To learn more or discuss this bill visitWashingtonWatch.com.  Support NTUF  The National Taxpayers Union Foundation is able to produce timely reports and analysis for policymakers and taxpayers with the help and support of foundations, small businesses, and Americans — like you — who wish to stay informed of their government’s spending. With donations from Tab subscribers and members, NTUF will be able to continue to inform taxpayers about entitlement reform, the federal budget, and proposed legislation. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to NTUF.  NTUF’s Recent Blog Posts  Four Years Later: 306,000 HAMP Re-Defaults Foundation Travel Study Cited on House Floor Missed an Issue? Issue 26 – Jul 18 NTUF Research on House Floor Issue 25 – Jul 11 Apollo Lunar Landing Legacy Act Issue 24 – Jul 5 Visualizing the President’s International Travel Issue 23 – Jun 27 Presidential Travel: Obama Spends More Time Abroad than All But One Predecessor Issue 22 – Jun 20 Back to Basics Job Creation Act About NTUF The National Taxpayers Union Foundation is a research and educational organization dedicated solely to helping citizens of all generations understand how tax policies, spending programs, and regulations at all levels affect them now and in the future. Through NTUF’s timely information, analysis, and commentary, we’re empowering citizens to actively engage in the fiscal policy debate and hold public officials accountable every day. NTUF is a 501(c)(3) research and education organization. Donations are deductible for personal income tax purposes.Please make a donation today to help further NTUF’s mission of research and education! This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to aid or hinder the passage of any legislation or as a comment on any Member’s fitness to serve.

108 N. Alfred St. Alexandria, VA 22314

David Friedman at CATO

Physicist turned law and economics professor, Milton Friedman’s son, and father of the Seasteading Institute’s Patri Friedman speaks on market generated law.

The Market for Law

POLICY FORUM
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Noon (Luncheon to Follow)

Featuring David Friedman, Author, Law’s Order and The Machinery of Freedom; moderated by David Boaz, Executive Vice President, Cato Institute.

Mount Vernon Place, Undercroft Auditorium, 900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

Is there a market for good law? Without the state providing law, could it be offered by multiple, private, and competing agencies? David Friedman, professor of law at Santa Clara University, explored this idea in his classic 1973 book, The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism. But in the years since, he’s revised and strengthened some of his theories. In this talk, Friedman will offer these new ideas from the last 30 years of thinking about the market for law.