Thou Shalt Not Sell Vehicles on the Sabbath
Controversy erupted in Utah County last fall as citizens in Highland, Utah, attempted (and succeeded) to overturn an action by their city’s council to allow all businesses to operate on Sundays. Previously, certain (but not...
The Ideal of Informed Consumerism
A free enterprise system is predicated upon informed consent and the right of contract. To the extent that public policy or social custom may interfere with these foundational elements of the market, they should be corrected. A...
Should Utah Taxpayers be Forced to Fund the Arts?
Utah has a long tradition of enjoying the theatrical arts. From the early days of the Salt Lake Theatre—the crown jewel of Western theaters—to the world famous Utah Shakespearean Festival, Utahns have valued wholesome...
In Opposition To An Internet Sales Tax
“In levying taxes and in shearing sheep it is well to stop when you get down to the skin.” —Austin O’Malley, Keystones of Thought Over the decades, Americans have been programmed to believe that they all must...
Lawmakers, or Economic Developers?
Why are legislators elected? For what purpose do they wield their power? Perhaps more fundamentally, what is the proper role of government? These questions were all implied in a simple question I asked a few Senators last month...
A Government Permission Slip to Braid Hair?
When Jestina Clayton sued the state of Utah (and won), it brought to the public’s attention an absurd and alarming detail: the government prohibits people from braiding hair, for pay, without a license. This license, in the...
Why Economics Should Matter To You
For part two in this series, click here. This may be a difficult article for many to read. We like our news spoon-fed and interpreted for us, broken down to the “nitty gritty” of what we think really matters. Rather than take...
Mayor Bloomberg-esque Nanny State Alive and Well in Utah
Conservatives across the country erupted in outrage late last year when Mayor Bloomberg banned sugary drinks over 16 ounces in New York City. But Utah has a similar law in place, where purchasing alcohol in a container larger...
Utah Drunk With Power
Undercover agents from the state liquor-control agency are busy conducting sting operations throughout the Wasatch Front. It reminds me of the days of prohibition when the FBI battled it out with gangsters like the infamous Al...
Utah’s Hairbrained Scheme To Protect Special Interests Needs To Be Upbraided
A recent dust up in Utah courts pitted African hair braiding specialist, Jestina Clayton, against the State of Utah, over a current statute that requires 2000 hours of cosmetology coursework to become a licensed hair braider....