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Cato Policy Report, March/April 1996

To Be Governed...

A collection of newspaper clips that speak for themselves.

Rent seekers deserve subsidies, too

Over a five-year period, one-third of all [Small Business Administration]-guaranteed loans [in New York City] went for taxi medallions. This is a regulated industry, so making those loans did not create one job. Medallions are easy to repossess, so there is no danger the bank will lose money even if the borrower defaults.

--Crain's Small Business, December 1995

Oh no! competition

The world's biggest car companies have decided to take different routes to develop electric vehicles.

Consumers will have a choice of at least two charging systems, both of which are being touted by their backers as the "best." The result could be confusion in the marketplace.

--Washington Post, Dec. 13, 1995

Otherwise, that money would just sit in the ground

Supporters argue a new capital [city] would boost Japan's sluggish economy. The massive construction project would create many jobs, and the ripples would be felt throughout the nation's economy, they say.

--Washington Post, Dec. 18, 1995

Indeed

Charles Murray . . . thinks we need to stop looking after the poor economically, but I'm not sure stopping dependency is the answer. I'd like more creative thinking on this because it's the great problem of the future. And so is our problem with the aged, who live too long and exhaust us economically. We need a national corporate commitment to public service to look after them. We aren't able to provide the resources unless the young pay something for their patrimony through public service. I sound like a goddamned socialist!

--William F. Buckley Jr. in Mother Jones, January-February 1996

Moonlighting

Two weeks after he reluctantly resigned under the cloud of a shoplifting conviction, a former [Minnesota] state senator was arrested and charged with swiping two shirts worth $50.

--St. Johnsbury (Vermont) Caledonian Record, Jan. 25, 1996

All citizens are equal, but some are more equal than others

Vast lines of hundreds of people have started forming as early as 5 a.m. to obtain . . . tickets [to the Vermeer exhibition]. . . .

. . . Unknown to most of the public . . . pre-approved admittees . . . have only to walk up, ask for their "courtesy passes," proceed to the head of the line and enter the exhibit without further ado. . . .

"I don't think we're looking at special treatment here," ventured Tom McMahon, press secretary to Sen. Howell Heflin (D-Ala.). . . . "In many cases a member's or staff member's time is limited, and to have the opportunity to go and see something like this is important." . . .

Christine Cimko, a spokeswoman for Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) . . . said, "I don't know how he feels. Probably the taxpayers have more time on their hands."

--Washington Post, Feb. 8, 1996

Oh, Lord, give me chastity. But not yet!

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry co-sponsored the Senate version [of legislation that proposes to limit campaign spending for congressional campaigns]. . . .

. . . [T]he limit in Massachusetts would be about $2.8 million. . . .

Gov. William F. Weld pledged from a seat in the audience that he would abide by the proposed law in his race for Kerry's Senate seat--if Kerry would do the same.

No way, Kerry responded later.

"The governor's playing to his own advantage," the senator said, adding that his own fund-raising had already surpassed the $2.8 million limit, whereas Weld was far from it.

--Boston Sunday Globe, Jan. 21, 1996

So much for the right to private property

Facing the prospect that employees could secretly bring handguns to work, the Oklahoma City-based food processing company let its 5,300 workers know that weapons aren't allowed on company property and that violators could be fired. . . .

The National Rifle Association and many sponsors of the states' legislation contend that businesses shouldn't deny citizens their legal right to self-defense and say they expect legal challenges against business policies banning weapons.

--Wall Street Journal, Mar. 5, 1996

This article originally appeared in the March/April 1996 edition of Cato Policy Report.