Author Archives: Lance

About Lance

I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com. I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college. I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting. I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us. I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere. Lance

Fiscal Responsibility

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An Apologia for Hayek

Amy Peterson takes up the cudgel, as does Ilya Somin. By the way, Amy is now in S. Korea.

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Harry Reid, Idiot

While my opposition to modern liberal left politics is pretty clear, I generally feel that name calling is rarely needed, or warranted. I certainly do not believe that any particular ideology is more or less likely to have virtuous people, … Continue reading

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Bam! Pow@%!Bang*@- update:link fixed

Ilya Somin and Stephen Bainbridge face off over the legal and political implications of Batman.

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The Media is on the Job

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Okay, I missed this

Were you aware that the 9/11 truthers have brothers in nuttiness? Yes, they do, and what conspiracy is being cooked up? It regards the provenance of Obama. Uhh, I think Eric ends my one post foray into this topic.

Posted in Election 2008, Lance's Page | Tagged , | 1 Comment

We can’t have unlicensed foot rubbing

If I were Pogue Mahoney I could write something very funny about this. Instead I will just point out that the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology is on the war path again. This time against those evil Chinese … Continue reading

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The War and the Campaign

Baseball Crank lays out where we have come from and how McCain might be able to use it to his advantage.

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The One-ness isn’t the only one

He just thinks he is.

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From Galula, to Anbar and the Surge

In the ongoing discussion of who has done a better job of describing the time line around the surge, I certainly recommend McQ’s discussion. The Minuteman however has a couple of key points to make on this issue as well: … Continue reading

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Boundary Issues

Peg pointed me this way, and I really enjoyed nodding in agreement. Of course, I have long nodded in agreement with Megan. Especially on these: 2) Gay marriage. I’m basically pro, but I take the Burkean arguments seriously. 3) Immigration. … Continue reading

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We can address our energy needs

Just not the way we are doing it now.

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Yeah, he is sooo different

Hat tip: Peg Kaplan

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McCain takes a stand against Fannie and Freddie

McCain takes a stand against Washington’s biggest example of “crony capitalism:” What should be done? We are stuck with the reality that they have grown so large that we must support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the current rough … Continue reading

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Bosom Buddies

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Our New Housing Bill

What a gem. Speaking of Jims, Jim Lindgren wonders if it can be as bad as claimed by the Wall Street Journal: In the Wall Street Journal editorial on the new housing bill is this ominous paragraph: Likewise, the bill’s … Continue reading

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I love this map

The one right here. Here is a picture, but the real one is cool, cool cool. You can find other maps like this here.

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Crony Capitalism and the Liberal Left

One of the more entertaining howlers of contemporary liberalism, is the outraged caterwauling about “Crony Capitalism” and the Bush administration. Not because the charge isn’t true, it certainly is. No, the problem is when it comes to crony capitalism the … Continue reading

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The Horse is out of the Barn

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This is well timed

Two straight weeks of 400k+ jobless claims (the level we have been told signals a recession) and the minimum wage goes up making it more expensive to hire low skilled employees by 12%. How about that for well thought out … Continue reading

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The Price of Chinese Silence

From The New York Times: Mr. Yu’s daughter had died in a cascade of concrete and bricks, one of at least 240 students at a high school here who lost their lives in the May 12 earthquake. Mr. Yu became … Continue reading

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Chavez and Putin sitting in a tree

At least as long as Chavez comes armed with a fat wallet.

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Those evil speculators

Megan doesn’t just hate the GSE’s, she also hates the stupidity of our senators plans to regulate commodity futures. Spot on, and are they just as upset at speculators driving down the price of oil right now?

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How big a mess are we in?

Certainly not one our Congress can’t make worse. We have a market where housing prices are in free fall, where the last thing we want shaky institutions to have more exposure to is mortgages that are almost guaranteed to be … Continue reading

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The Amoral Nature of Moral Hazard

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You Walk Away Hits Television

Cross posted at Risk and Return You may remember the website we discussed back in January. Dale Franks just discovered their program, because they now are on Television. He asks the obvious question: So, should the mortgage companies get off … Continue reading

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The Economy Makes Me Nervous As Well

Yeah, this is kind of funny, if in a dancing on gravestones kind of way. I hate to continue to beat an old drum, but the economic data is showing far less stress than is actually out there. Employment is … Continue reading

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A rather vigorous use of government largesse or More Bang

It seems a rather racy, though well known, merchant is giving some rather startling deals for those who wish to spend their $1200 checks from our government.  They will even send a signed thank you card to President Bush from … Continue reading

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Fallon and Petraeus sitting in a tree…

I was catching up a bit on my reading, and thanks to McQ found this interview with Admiral Fallon. As McQ points out, the conversation did not go the way Kyra Phillips was trying to steer it. Given our own … Continue reading

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Congress Critters

Buy a second house in Sacramento with no money down for 535k even as housing is going down in price. Run for congress. Need money for campaign, but can’t do that and make mortgage payments on a house losing value. … Continue reading

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Housing Incoherence

The New York Times thinks housing was in a bubble and prices are too high. Their solution? Try to keep housing prices too high.

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Pressing the Flesh

Robby and I got back to our roots a few weeks ago, garage band roots that is. We went to see the Fleshtones. Robby shared his thoughts over at Last Fm. I figure they belong here as well. First, my … Continue reading

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Hugo’s Road to Ruin Continues

I say it eventually ends in mass murder, but McQ has the latest intermediate step.

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The Victims of Communism Day

Let us remember what May Day has really represented RJ Rummell gives us the toll of The Red Plague: As you can see, the total mid-estimate is about 110,286,000, an incredible total. It is around 65 percent of all democide … Continue reading

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Second Thoughts?

Joe Tobacco is now a registered Democrat. Reading this I am thinking he is having some second thoughts.

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William Bernstein on the History of Trade

Over at Econ Talk, William Bernstein talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the history of trade: Drawing on the insights from his recent book, A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, Bernstein talks about the magic of spices, … Continue reading

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Middle Class Burdens

Thanks to Don Boudreaux, I found this “Inconvenient Truth” about the struggles of the middle class. As readers here know, I have long been a bear on housing, but as always those who want their hands on our wallet can … Continue reading

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Why White People Like Free Health Care

Yet another reason to read Steve Newton, you discover blogs with stuff like this on it: But the secret reason why all white people love socialized medicine is that they all love the idea of receiving health care without having … Continue reading

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A Cubic Mile of Oil

Over at Green Tech we get some figures that should be rather sobering for those who wish for alternative energy to be a significant source of energy in the near future: Put another way, we’d need to equip 250,000 roofs … Continue reading

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Oxblog in Baghdad

This is cool, David Adesnik of Oxblog has been in Iraq working for the coalition on the sly. I find that encouraging and I can’t wait to hear what his impressions are. I am also encouraged that he is now … Continue reading

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This Generation’s Ernie Pyle

The NEW YORK POST reviews Michael Yon’s new book.

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Consumer Spending is Ugly

While spending increased in March by 1.8% over a year ago, adjusted for inflation it was way down. The only reason sales were positive was gasoline, though food sales were positive. Even there, that is mostly due to inflation and … Continue reading

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Patriots Day!

Dale Franks honors the story of how the fight for our Independence began on April 19th, 1775. McQ ponders how we got to where we are today, drawing from the great T Harry Williams, and Jules Crittenden has a roundup … Continue reading

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Beware the Believers

Heh, a response to Richard Dawkins and the unbelievers amongst us. Right or wrong, arrogant condescension does not go unpunished. Hat tip: D.A. Ridgely

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The Air Car

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The long thread of condescension

Courtesy of Mickey Kaus we have a thorough dissection of Obama’s condescension. It is far reaching, and pervasive.

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Dick just has his hand on his rod

Really, it is no big deal.

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Yuri’s Night

A worldwide celebration is happening tonight. Yuri’s Night! The local arts organization I am a member of, Art Mob, is supporting our local version. Unfortunately Art Mob’s sight is having trouble, but the temporary site can be found here. I … Continue reading

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The Politics of Condescension

Given the discussion at this post about Obama’s condescension, I suggest Tom Maguire’s roundup of the coverage of Obama making the mistake of speaking his mind about the rubes who he needs to vote for him: I can’t believe that … Continue reading

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Iraq’s Progress

In line with my last post, McQ salutes the professionalism of our troops in the context of Michael Yon’s latest. Read ‘em both. Of particular note is Yon’s response to us having to pay those who work with us after … Continue reading

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