Just Say No!
Paul Hein
2010-10-19 03:00
Column by Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
It is interesting to read what St. Augustine had to say about what we now call government:
A gang is a group of men under the command of a leader, bound by a compact of association, in which the plunder is divided according to an agreed convention. If this villainy wins so many recruits from the ranks of the demoralized that it acquires...
Going Down With the Ship
Paul Hein
2010-10-05 03:00
Column by Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
In 1939, a movie entitled “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” made its debut, to critical acclaim. It was the story of an idealistic young man who went to Washington to fight corruption and cronyism.
One of the first things our young Congressman did, however, was to propose a government purchase of some land in his own state, for a...
The Emperor's Clothes
Paul Hein
2010-09-09 03:00
By Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
Having, by sheer good fortune, escaped any formal training in economics, I often feel like the little boy who observed that the emperor wasn’t wearing any clothes. “Shush,” I’m told. “You don’t know anything about it. It’s too complicated for you to understand.”
Well, maybe so. Despite that,...
Public vs. Private
Paul Hein
2010-07-19 03:00
By Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
The two terms have always confused me. In general, public means the people considered as a whole, the populace, the citizenry, etc. Private, on the other hand, refers to particular individuals. So public ownership means ownership by everyone, which is a bewildering concept, to say the least. Private ownership, on the other hand, is...
Where Have They Been?
Paul Hein
2010-06-15 03:00
By Paul Hein.
Exclusive to STR
It would be difficult to watch television news for more than five minutes without some mention of the debt “crisis.” Economists are interviewed, and express deep concern about the fact that Uncle Sam is printing money at an unprecedented rate. And, yes, they are very worried about this mountain of debt, and how it can be paid....
Monetized Debt
Paul Hein
2010-06-14 03:00
Exclusive to STR
The TV anchor--anchorette?--was interviewing her financial guru, who had just pointed out that the rapid growth of debt, if graphed, would be a virtually vertical line. Nothing like it had ever happened before in American history--at least not in living memory.
“How did we get in this mess?” anchorette asked. “How are we ever going to pay this debt...
Economics for Dummies
Paul Hein
2010-03-15 03:00
Exclusive to STR
I don’t want to deceive you: I am not going to present a sort of Economics 101 for the benefit of the economically illiterate. In fact, I am myself among that number, never having studied economics. What I am suggesting is that, in the current financial crisis, economics is, in my opinion, somewhat irrelevant. It may be dumb to think that there is an economic solution to...
The Revolution Might Begin WHERE?
Paul Hein
2009-12-13 17:00
Exclusive to STR
Valley Park . That's Valley Park , Missouri . It's a little town of about 6,500 souls, located only a few miles from where I'm typing these words, in St. Louis County . I've been there many times, and never expected to find it in national news.
What made it--briefly--newsworthy is a law passed by the Valley Park government. Yes, like every hamlet, village, town, city, or...
A Non-Lawyer Looks at the Law
Paul Hein
2009-12-03 17:00
Exclusive to STR
I can safely assume you will not recoil in astonishment if I tell you I have not read all 2,000 pages of the latest health care bill. Like you, I know only what I've heard and seen in the media, and on the Internet.
For instance, I understand that firms will be required by the proposed law to provide health insurance for their employees, and individuals who decide not to purchase...
The Irrelevance of Government
Paul Hein
2009-11-05 17:00
Exclusive to STR
It is amusing to listen to our rulers arguing for, or against, the administration's 'health care' scheme. (I put health care in quotation marks because the plan has nothing to do with health care, which existed LONG before politicians became involved with it. It has to do with taxation and regulation, i.e., government!) We are solemnly warned, by the proponents of the plan, that...
Disunited We Stand
Paul Hein
2009-10-26 17:00
Exclusive to STR
The radio was playing in the background, but when I heard the words ' Middle East peace process,' it got my attention. Evidently something had happened in that part of the world that might endanger the 'peace process,' or something to that effect. It was that two-word phrase that set me thinking: how long has this 'process' been ongoing? I don't know, exactly, but certainly a...
Legitimacy
Paul Hein
2009-09-07 16:00
Exclusive to STR
There are, I suspect, many people who confuse America --this beautiful and bounteous land with which we are blessed--with the United States , that corporation calling itself the government, which owns and operates it through its front men, those windbags in Washington . That's a shame, because one's natural love for the country rubs off on the United States, so to speak, tending...
What Took So Long?
Paul Hein
2009-08-23 16:00
Exclusive to STR
The public reaction to President Obama's health care program is at the same time pleasing, disappointing, and puzzling.
But before we get into that, let's clear up something: Health is a right. It's something inherent in your very life, and no one can intentionally deprive you of it without seriously wronging you. But health care is no such thing. Care, of any kind, is provided...
Even Steven
Paul Hein
2008-07-29 16:00
Exclusive to STR
July 30, 2008
As the economy predictably crumbles, bankruptcies and business closings will increase, and businesses and individuals will find themselves in financial straits, with little hope of economic salvation. Many families are in danger of losing their homes, and there seems little, short of a miracle, that can be done about it.
It seems to me that this isn't necessary,...
NoFly Takes Off!
Paul Hein
2003-02-23 17:00
The headlines are grim: At American Airline's St. Louis hub, departing flights are down from 361 to 226. Fliers have 58 destinations to choose from, compared to 82 in 2000. One hundred and thirty four big jets serve the city, down from 193. As you read these headlines, you undoubtedly remember my thoughtful presentation of a solution to the economic plight of the airlines a couple of years ago:...
Reprint Rights
RECENT COMMENTS BY Paul Hein
This user hasn't posted any comments yet.