From the Right
/Politics
End the IRS's Worldwide Tax Grab
The new year will bring a new administration, and I'll be watching to see if President-elect Donald Trump's team finally puts an end to the worldwide taxation of individual Americans' income. Fixing this is imperative. It would not only be sound fiscal policy but could keep millions of law-abiding Americans living overseas from being treated ...Read more
A Season of Self-Reflection Is Here. Will Congress Take Part?
America's greatness lies not in perfection but in her relentless pursuit of it. For nearly 250 years, this nation has strived to fully realize the revolutionary ideals laid out in its founding documents. While we have often fallen short, our capacity for self-reflection and renewal inspires hope and spurs improvement.
Let us hope the efforts ...Read more
Will Trump Turn His 'Fix It' Gaze Toward FTC, DOJ Abuses?
At now-President-elect Donald Trump's 2024 campaign rallies, attendees would hold "Trump Will Fix It" signs. Here's hoping the antitrust policy that President Joe Biden excessively politicized is one of those "its." Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, previously said he believes that Biden's appointee as chair of the Federal Trade Commission,...Read more
The GOP's Gigantic Opportunity
Donald Trump won the election. The House and Senate are in Republican hands. That means the GOP now owns the debt and its consequences. This responsibility, while too much for past politicians, presents the opportunity of a lifetime: namely, to be the ones who put the government back on fiscal track and, among other things, save entitlement ...Read more
Election Night's Least Surprising Result Is a Bipartisan Bummer
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris are surely experiencing disappointment, but one of the Biden-Harris administration's pillars -- "industrial policy" -- won big on Tuesday. That's because it's already been embraced by both parties. President-elect Donald Trump loves expensive tariffs, and Harris loves big subsidies to big businesses, ...Read more
Which Nations Are the Freest, and Why Should We Care?
The ability to choose your job, start a business, own property or decide how to spend your paycheck may seem natural to most Americans. Yet for billions around the world, the most basic economic freedoms remain out of reach. The latest Economic Freedom of the World index, just released by the Fraser Institute, reminds us why freedom matters ...Read more
Will Trump or Harris Drain the Swamp, or Invite You In?
When Donald Trump campaigned for president in 2016, one of his most memorable and oft-repeated promises was to "drain the swamp" in Washington, D.C. This catchy phrase resonated with millions of Americans who felt alienated from their government and frustrated with political favors. However, eight years later, both the Harris and Trump ...Read more
We Can't 'Leave Social Security Alone,' But We Can Protect People Who Need It
The United States is at a crossroads. You may have heard that Social Security is politically impossible to reform. But that belief will be hard to sustain. In a few years, the Social Security Trust Fund will be exhausted. When that happens, Social Security benefits will be cut across the board by 21% -- that is, unless Congress changes the law...Read more
The Biden-Harris Fiscal Record Is Anemic. What Happens Next?
No matter the result of next month's election, President Joe Biden will soon leave the White House. That makes it a good time for a nearly final assessment of his and Vice President Kamala Harris' first-term legacy on federal spending and debt -- a tragedy of epic proportion. Unfortunately, neither Harris nor her rival on the campaign trail ...Read more
Why We Shouldn't Expect a Return to the Trump Economy
While the gap may be closing, polls tend to show that more Americans trust former President Donald Trump than Vice President Kamala Harris on economic issues. This sentiment is understandable, given the strong pre-pandemic economy during Trump's first term and the challenges of inflation and declining real wages under the Biden-Harris ...Read more
The Real Relationship Between Trump-Style Tariffs and Economic Growth
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of the idea that protective tariffs can restore America's economic greatness, based on the interpretation that they fueled our growth in the 19th century and can do so again in the 21st century. This claim isn't just wrong; it's dangerous.
Take recent comments by the conservative pundit Oren Cass, ...Read more
Welcome Elon Musk's Efficiency Commission (Just Don't Expect Congress To)
During his campaign, former President Donald Trump has proposed his share of bad policy ideas, such as a 20% tariff across the board. But tasking Elon Musk with heading a commission to make the government more efficient is one worth considering. In a speech to the Economic Club of New York, Trump said this commission will conduct "a complete ...Read more