Working for a better economy, better governance and a better society
How to avoid ‘deaths of despair,’ in 50 seconds
This short video complements a commentary that appeared in Honolulu Civil Beat on May 30, 2020, “The Best Reason to ‘Let Hawaii Work’ Is To Save Lives,” by Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii executive vice president....
KITV4 interviews Akina about ‘Let Hawaii Work’
Keli’i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, was interviewed Friday, May 2, 2020, by KITV4 news reporter Annalisa Burgos about the institute’s call for Gov. David Ige to “Let Hawaii Work.” The interview is just shy of seven...
Why Hasn’t Your Income Been Going Up Faster? Blame Facebook
Stagnating wages and a declining middle class have become hot topics in this presidential election year. Democrats blame greedy employers whom they say refuse to share the wealth with workers. Republican Donald Trump faults international trade and the presence of...
Repeal, Not Reform, Is Necessary for the Bloated Welfare State
The United States is effectively bankrupt. Economist Laurence Kotlikoff figures the United States faces unfunded liabilities in excess of $200 trillion. Only transforming or eliminating such programs would save the republic. The Left likes to paint conservatives as...
China Should Respect Religious Liberty
Christianity is thriving in China. There may be more religious believers than Communist Party members. Beijing’s sensitivities to religion are well-known. Religion offers a competitive worldview to the Party. The latter fears many Christians, especially Catholics,...
Fed Policy Gives The Impression That The Central Bank Loathes The American Worker
by Ralph Benko The Democratic Party has made “income inequality” a signature issue for the 2014 (and, presumably, 2016) election cycle. Democrats, en masse, shout “J’accuse!” at Republicans. There is a very different story to tell. “Income inequality” is a crude, and...
So Much for the European Model
Here in the United States, there is often pressure for us to adopt policies that are “more like Europe.” It is assumed that European countries have better health care and social welfare systems, do a better job of negotiating the relationships between business and...
Chinese Anomalies: How the World’s Largest Country Is Really Different from America
SHENYANG, CHINA—For the longest time I viewed twitter as, well, a silly waste of time, and refused to use it. I still view it as a silly waste of time in any normal world. But I finally gave in after friends and colleagues told me that it would be a very useful...
Politicians Befriend Big Business, Undermine Free Market
The recent primary defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was one of the bigger shocks to American politics in some time. Congressional leaders, known to bring home the bacon for local folks, usually are handily reelected. But Cantor’s loss will do more than...