Entries by Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)

Are we equal? What the American Founders Meant by Equality.

The Declaration of Independence was not egalitarian in the modern sense. The Declaration of Independence famously proclaimed that “all men are created equal.” Thanks in part to that prestigious endorsement, “equality” has become a widely held social ideal. But what most modern-day egalitarians promote is far removed from the kind of equality that the authors […]

Why Do Big Cities Tend to Have Bigger Government?

Like any place that generates significant wealth, cities also generate significant incentives to capture the wealth. Last week I answered a question from a FEE reader on how the Federal Reserve creates money. This week, Aaron, a FEE Daily reader, asks a very different question: “Why is it that more populous cities seem more inclined to […]

The Deadly Sins of Socialism, Fascism, and Progressivism

Politics isn’t exempt from the allure of the deadly sins. Some political systems even magnify the allure… The nineteenth-century philosopher Joseph de Maistre once wrote “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” This is true in a sense because, as Ludwig von Mises later wrote, “public opinion is ultimately responsible for the structure of government.” […]

An Introduction to Politics for the Politically Clueless

If you have always felt somewhat lost on the political landscape, this primer is for you. With midterm elections around the corner, many are undoubtedly trying to brush up on their knowledge of politics, having mostly ignored the topic since the last election. Maybe you know some of these people. Maybe you are one of these people. […]

2023 Federal Tax Brackets Are Out. See Which Bracket You Fall in—and Why Tax Rates Are so High

The sad truth is, the average American works four months a year just to cover tax bills. How did we get here? The Internal Revenue Service released new federal income tax brackets last week. Though marginal tax rates did not change, under federal law the brackets are adjusted for inflation, and they shake out like […]

John Mackey: ‘Capitalism Is the Greatest Thing Mankind Has Ever Done’

The Whole Foods founder offered a clear message on capitalism at LibertyCON in Miami, where five hundred delegates from 50 countries recently gathered. On October 14, LibertyCON kicked off with an interview between Students for Liberty CEO Wolf von Laer and John Mackey, founder of Whole Foods Market. Mackey studied philosophy and religion for several semesters while […]

California Entrepreneur Who Was Fined $1000 for Drawing Informal Maps without a License Takes Regulatory Board to Court

Ryan Crownholm’s story perfectly illustrates how occupational licensing laws stifle competition. Ryan Crownholm is a self-described “serial entrepreneur” and the founder of a California-based business called MySitePlan.com. Founded in 2013, the business creates unofficial “site plans” for various clients using publicly available imagery. Hotels and resorts will sometimes use the plans as maps for their guests. […]

Fauci Claims He Had ‘Nothing to Do’ With School Closures. His Own Statements Suggest Otherwise

Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent dodge on school closures is at odds with many of his own statements. The economist John Kenneth Galbraith once quipped, “Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.” The line comes to mind after watching Dr. Anthony Fauci’s interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl over the weekend. In the interview, […]

What House Of Dragon Can Teach Us About Power And Wealth Creation

House of Dragon, like its predecessor Game of Thrones, is The Godfather of epic fantasy. Westeros is a land where power rules and individual rights do not exist. The first season of HBO’s House of Dragon is nearing its conclusion, and the Game of Thrones prequel has not disappointed. Based on George R. R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, the […]

Why So Many Elites Can’t Stand Elon Musk

Musk’s plebeian sense of humor is a big part of why the establishment can’t stand him. Elon Musk’s Twitter-acquisition saga saw new developments last week as Musk reaffirmed his original offer to buy the company for $54.20 per share, a price that puts the company’s value at a whopping $44 billion. After the original deal […]

What Thought-Leaders Can Learn from St. Augustine

“It is light that brings forth the eye.” Public discourse is at a nadir. There is plenty of debate, especially over politics and morality. But it is generating way more heat than light. People on all sides are frustrated with their opponents. “Why don’t they see the light?” For any single interlocutor, one possible answer […]

Why the People of Vietnam Have Surprisingly Warm Views of Americans, Despite the History

Anti-Americanism in Vietnam is less pronounced than in many other parts of the world, and it likely stems from Vietnamese views about wealth and capitalism. You would be forgiven for thinking—and it would be all too understandable if they were—that the people of Vietnam are anti-American. But the opposite is true. One reason for this […]

The Root of Today’s Worldwide Education Problem Is Staring Us in the Face

From Israel to America and lots of places in between, government schools are failing. This should not surprise us. “Our schools,” reports a knowledgeable observer, “are producing ignoramuses.” The average graduate, he explains, “does not know how to read critically, write expressively, or debate intelligently and politely.” Meantime, the unions are opposing huge, proposed increases […]