Words & Numbers

Clark Neily joins us to discuss policing, the origin and effect of qualified immunity, and what the courts have said about whether police have a duty to protect citizens. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/ Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Lottery Winners https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/arizona-couple-win-dollar410-million-mega-millions-jackpot-thanks-to-family-birthdays-lucky-penny/ar-BB15J25k Invite Someone to Dinner to Berate You https://reason.com/2020/02/04/white-women-saira-rao-dinner-regina-jackson-liberal/ Police Ordered to Turn off Body Cameras https://reason.com/2020/06/19/san-francisco-police-were-ordered-to-turn-off-body-cameras-in-raid-on-journalists-home/ Foolishness of the Week Minnesota Mayor Finds “Chief” Offensive https://www.foxnews.com/politics/duluth-minnesota-mayor-remove-chief-microaggresion https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/06/19/minnesota-city-to-vote-on-removing-chief-from-job-titles-calling-it-a-microaggression/?utm_source=rss The Word, “Chief” https://www.etymonline.com/word/chief Topic of the week Qualified Immunity https://reason.com/2020/05/29/the-supreme-court-has-a-chance-to-end-qualified-immunity-and-prevent-cases-like-george-floyds/ A Confederacy of Dunces https://www.amazon.com/Confederacy-Dunces-John-Kennedy-Toole-ebook/dp/B008UX2UIO Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we answer listener questions that we didn’t have time to cover in the previous listener special episode. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/ Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Deepfake https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2020/05/25/deepfakes-are-going-to-wreak-havoc-on-society-we-are-not-prepared/#3748f25d7494 https://www.instagram.com/p/BypkGIvFfGZ/ Oscars https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/movies/oscars-diversity-rule.html Foolishness of the Week VA Hospital https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/62-year-old-patient-missing-since-may-found-dead-va-hospitals-stairwell/EBWXDSM3IJBCLNGXOHLUYPAVYY/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deficit Day - the hypothetical day on which the federal government’s tax revenues for the year run out - lands on June 21. Not only is that the earliest Deficit Day has fallen since World War II, the date will get revised to even earlier in the calendar if the government undertakes more stimulus spending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The riots sweeping the country are the result of a perfect storm. It’s about racism, but more. It’s about police accountability, but more. It’s about too many people being out of work, but more. The first step to solving our problems is understanding that they are often more complicated than they appear. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits SpaceX https://www.spacex.com/ Food Prices https://apnews.com/54f1efe0afa71b0a939fda91cf917366 Foolishness of the Week Minneapolis Mayor https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minneapolis-jacob-frey-white-supremacists-out-of-state-instigators-george-floyd-protests Topic of the Week: Riots and Police Response https://streamable.com/u2jzoo https://v.redd.it/jjclrdzp8x151 https://v.redd.it/zepg0b43ly151 https://v.redd.it/v8x8isj0xz151 https://v.redd.it/mztm15kh00251 https://gfycat.com/misguidedrecklesscod https://v.redd.it/bluggpblrz151 https://v.redd.it/m82yxl4qh0251 https://v.redd.it/ngxvkoro60251 https://mobile.twitter.com/Sarah_Mojarad/status/1266633046591078400?s=09 https://v.redd.it/o3v8ps7rat151 https://v.redd.it/yce9bpk8mo151 https://mobile.twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1266193926316228609 https://i.redd.it/4ix8f3j6dy151.jpg https://v.redd.it/wlx0gyoe21251 https://i.redd.it/ns0uj557x0251.jpg https://mobile.twitter.com/KevinRKrause/status/1266898396339675137 https://mobile.twitter.com/KillerMartinis/status/1266618525600399361?s=19 https://mobile.twitter.com/mollyhf/status/1266911382613692422 https://mobile.twitter.com/GAFollowers/status/1266919104574865410?s=19 https://mobile.twitter.com/whitney_hu/status/1266540710188195843?s=20 https://twitter.com/JaredGoyette/status/1266961243476299778 https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1266953514242228229 https://youtu.be/9wgkGLmphLE https://twitter.com/KRobPhoto/status/1266796191469252610 https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/30/politics/joyce-beatty-ohio-pepper-sprayed-columbus-protest/index.html https://v.redd.it/tal1ncha4o151 https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/video-shows-milk-poured-over-face-of-child-pepper-sprayed-in-seattle-protest https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/05/30/watch-video-captures-moment-police-horse-tramples-woman-during-houston-rally/ https://twitter.com/ava/status/1266797973834395648?s=20 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-update/reuters-cameraman-hit-by-rubber-bullets-as-police-disperse-protesters-idUSKBN237050 Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we answer listener questions. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Doordash https://themargins.substack.com/p/doordash-and-pizza-arbitrage Joe Biden https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/amazon-joe-biden-taxes Foolishness of the Week Biden Aims at Charter Schools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgVbi0oD8uM Topic of the Week Your Questions! Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In New York City, stop and frisk was controversial because it was a violation of the Fourth Amendment. As implemented, police would stop and frisk people without showing probable cause that the people were committing, or might be committing, a crime. The courts subsequently required that police demonstrate probable cause. But social distancing laws appear to be poised to take the place of stop and frisk, creating the opportunity for police to violate people’s Fourth Amendment rights. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Microsoft Wrong about Open Source https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/18/21262103/microsoft-open-source-linux-history-wrong-statement Elon Musk https://www.chron.com/news/article/As-it-prepares-to-fly-humans-Elon-Musk-s-SpaceX-15275155.php] Foolishness of the Week Don’t Swim in New York https://www.the-sun.com/news/847367/bill-de-blasio-anyone-swim-nyc-beach-taken-right-out/ Bonus Material Links LA Mayor Says LA Won’t Reopen https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/05/13/coronavirus-covid-los-angeles-la-county-mayor-health-reopen-vaccine/ Another Source https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/12/health/us-coronavirus-tuesday/index.html Topic of the Week Judicial Scrutiny https://reason.com/2020/05/06/supreme-court-justices-in-texas-and-pennsylvania-emphasize-that-covid-19-lockdowns-require-judicial-scrutiny/ A Confederacy of Dunces https://www.amazon.com/Confederacy-Dunces-John-Kennedy-Toole-ebook/dp/B008UX2UIO Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Clark Neily on Twitter https://twitter.com/ConLawWarrior https://www.amazon.com/Terms-Engagement-Enforce-Constitutions-Government/dp/1594036969 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is part two of Stossel in the Classroom meets Words & Numbers. We continue the conversation with John Stossel about economics, politics, and society. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Peer to Peer Charging https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339350758_P2C2_Peer-to-Peer_Car_Charging Baseball! https://apnews.com/6195fbe572aa83a0616053e9133a8551 Foolishness of the Week Lorena Gonzalez https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/05/10/san-diegos-lorena-gonzalez-slams-elon-musk-over-tesla-threat-to-leave-california/ Topic of the Week Stossel in the Classroom https://stosselintheclassroom.org/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Stossel joins us this week to talk about economics, politics, and society. This is part one of two, so be sure to tune in next week for more exciting discussions! Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Naomi’s Potato https://twitter.com/khaleesi_101/status/1255817022551863296/photo/1 Glass in the Soviet Union https://www-jstor-org.authenticate.library.duq.edu/stable/4202738?seq=7#metadata_info_tab_contents South Korean Baseball https://www.thewrap.com/espn-finds-a-sport-will-air-south-korean-baseball-games/ Foolishness of the Week Students Sue Colleges for Their Money Back https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/angry-undergrads-are-suing-colleges-for-billions-in-refunds/ar-BB13t6wd Topic of the Week Stossel in the Classroom https://stosselintheclassroom.org/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A depression differs from a recession in both the severity of the downturn and the duration. Recessions typically last months; the Great Depression lasted a decade. Importantly, the Great Depression started as an economic phenomenon, but the current “Great Suppression” started as a policy phenomenon. State governments deliberately shut down an otherwise vibrant economy. As we prepare to restart our economic engine, we consider things the government did right and did wrong in attempting to restart the economy during the Great Depression. Live with Stossel May 1st, 2020 @12 pm ET http://sitc.org/live Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Disincentives of Unemployment Benefits https://www.npr.org/2020/04/21/838879361/bitter-taste-for-coffee-shop-owner-as-new-600-jobless-benefit-closed-her-busines Forgivable Loan Backfire https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/22/she-got-a-paycheck-protection-loan-her-employees-hate-her-for-it.html Smokers Less Likely to Get COVID? https://news.yahoo.com/smokers-four-times-less-likely-151203823.html Foolishness of the Week Parents are Authoritarians https://nypost.com/2020/04/23/harvard-professor-wants-to-ban-authoritarian-homeschooling/ Topic of the Week Harold L. Cole https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/people/harold-l-cole History of the Great Depression https://fee.org/media/37305/deppod.pdf The Path to Growth Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hd_j9OX43g Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In times of crisis, humans develop a dangerous, asymmetric view of events. We readily see the damage the crisis causes, but we don’t readily see the potential damage that proposed solutions can cause. And when information is uncertain, we tend to believe the worst about the crisis while tending to believe the best about proposed solutions. There is mounting evidence that this is playing out right now with the decision to shut down the economy in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits How We Deal with Lockdowns https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/04/15/coronavirus-police-maryland-town-urge-residents-wear-pants/5140750002/ Ghosts https://www.indy100.com/article/indonesia-ghosts-terrifying-coronavirus-lockdown-stay-home-9462511 Australia Trend https://www.sadanduseless.com/bin-isolation-outing/ Italian Toast https://www.facebook.com/MagnificentItaly/videos/178130129869702 Llama Rentals https://futurism.com/the-byte/rent-goats-llamas-zoom-meetings Pet Skype Calls https://www.themarysue.com/the-new-york-times-is-wrong-about-pets-on-video-conferences/ CO2 Supplies Diminishing https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-ethanol-beer/beer-may-lose-its-fizz-as-co2-supplies-go-flat-during-pandemic-idUSKBN2200G3 Foolishness of the Week Covid Scam https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/do-not-click-the-link-police-warn-of-scam-covid-19-text-messages Topic of the Week Flu Index https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html United State Corona Cases https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/cases-in-us.html Santa Clara County Case Study https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20062463v1 Boston’s Homeless Testing https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/04/14/coronavirus-boston-homeless-testing Corona’s Reach https://spectator.us/covid-antibody-test-german-town-shows-15-percent-infection-rate/ Quarantined Cruise Ship https://www.statista.com/statistics/1099517/japan-coronavirus-patients-diamond-princess/ Economic Outcome https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/politics/coronavirus-economy-recession-depression.html Intervention Cost Breakdowns http://econ.ucsb.edu/~tedb/Courses/UCSBpf/readings/interventions.pdf Cardiovascular Disease Spending https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3495132/ Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vernon Smith, winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics joins us on this episode to talk about the economic impact of the coronavirus and why, though we will have to push through some pain, we can be optimistic about the future. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Sweden’s Approach to Coronavirus https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/10/europe/sweden-lockdown-turmp-intl/index.html Non-essentials https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-walmart-target-stop-selling-non-essential-items-select-states-2020-4 Michigan Governor https://dailycaller.com/2020/04/11/gretchen-whitmer-gardening-seeds-non-essential/ Foolishness of the Week Pope Francis – On Universal Wage https://www.businessinsider.com/pope-francis-it-might-be-time-to-consider-universal-basic-wage-2020-4 On “Nature’s Response” https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/491734-pope-says-coronavirus-outbreak-may-be-one-of-natures-responses-to Topic of the Week Vernon Smith – USA Today & WSJ https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/vernon-smith https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/03/23/coronavirus-economy-lives-suspense-not-wall-street-crash-column/2898448001/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-economy-will-survive-the-coronavirus-11586103392 Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In response to the virus, state and city governments are exercising powers that they wouldn’t have in normal times. State and local governments are ordering businesses to close, restricting people’s right to travel, and talking about legally suspending rent and debt payments. This week, Clark Neily joins us to discuss the black, white, and gray constitutional areas of governmental powers in times of crisis. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! https://isi.org/cooperation-and-coercion-preorder/ Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Math Teacher https://twitter.com/DakSt8Football/status/1243687140799766532/photo/1 Venezuelan Warship https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52151951 Earliest Recorded Use of the F-Word https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8189047/Worlds-earliest-record-F-word-discovered-manuscript-written-bored-Scottish-student.html Foolishness of the Week The Social Distancing Police https://www.forsythnews.com/news/government/cumming-officials-sign-social-distancing-order-will-swear-150-residents-special-policemen/ Topic of the Week Clark Neily https://www.cato.org/people/clark-neily Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the debate over the future of public schooling in the U.S., charter schools may show the way forward. Similar to public schools, charter schools are open to all students and are funded by and answerable to state and local governments. Like private schools, charter schools are free to experiment with curricula and teaching styles, unencumbered by state and local government meddling. Pinnacle Classical Academy, in Shelby, NC, is one example of educational experimentation made possible by charter schools. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits Coronavirus and Subsidiarity https://reason.com/2020/03/25/despite-coronavirus-sweden-refuses-to-shutter-businesses-and-limit-gatherings/ Sweden’s Response https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/world/europe/sweden-coronavirus.html Baby Chickens https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/style/chicken-eggs-coronavirus.html Foolishness of the Week Virginia Locked down for More Than 2 Months https://www.richmond.com/special-report/coronavirus/update-northam-issues-statewide-stay-at-home-order-effective-through/article_67dbe141-da92-504b-b74d-e7c9ed8a118c.html Bonus Foolishness: Mayor de Blasio https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/30/bill-de-blasio-churches-caught-holding-services-du/ Topic of the Week Pinnacle Classical Academy https://www.pinnacleclassicalacademy.com/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lincoln Chafee is possibly the only politician in US history who has served as mayor, governor, and US Senator and been elected as a Republican, a Democrat, and an Independent. Now Gov. Chafee is running to be the Libertarian Party’s candidate for President of the United States. Gov. Chafee brings the broadest of perspectives on American politics to this week’s Words & Numbers. Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Quick Hits People Being Nice to Each Other https://lithub.com/big-hearted-strangers-turn-little-free-libraries-into-little-free-pantries/ IHOP to Go https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-restaurant-helping-out-churches-organizations-impacted-by-fish-fry-cancellations/ Best Buy’s Employee Solution https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akwq8a/best-buy-employees-work-voluntary-coronavirus-paid-two-weeks T-Mobile & Sprint Providing Unlimited Data https://www.tomsguide.com/news/t-mobile-and-sprint-providing-unlimited-data-to-all-customers-for-coronavirus-relief Conference Calls by Zoom https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/03/14/zoom-is-helping-schools-closing-due-coronavirus-fo.aspx U-Haul for College Students https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/20625/College-Students-U-Haul-Offers-30-Days-Free-Self-Storage-amid-Coronavirus-Outbreak/ Employees over Rent https://www.kait8.com/2020/03/18/property-owner-tells-restaurants-pay-employees-instead-rent/ Americans Stranded Abroad https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/thousands-of-americans-stranded-abroad-as-money-patience-run-out/ar-BB11vJu2 Disaster Relief Guides and Resources https://medium.com/@kittystryker/collective-care-is-our-best-weapon-against-covid-19-851e29568656 Foolishness of the Week Trillion-Dollar Coins https://www.businesstelegraph.co.uk/minting-basic-income-us-lawmaker-asks-treasury-to-issue-two-1-trillion-coins-with-no-debt/ Topic of the Week Lincoln Chafee https://www.lincolnchafee.com/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The laws of economics aren’t social conventions that we can choose to follow or ignore as it suits us. When demand for a product outstrips supply, the price of the product rises. Calling it, “price gouging,” and outlawing doesn’t make the price increase go away. It simply hides it in other forms. When it comes to price gouging laws, we only think we are choosing between a high price and a low price. We are actually choosing between a high price and a shortage. Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! https://isi.org/cooperation-and-coercion-preorder/ Quick Hits Dayton University Pepper Sprays Its Students https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200311/police-fire-pepper-balls-at-disorderly-crowd-near-university-of-dayton-after-coronavirus-dorm-closing-announcement People Calling 911 for Toilet Paper https://www.fox5ny.com/news/do-not-call-911-just-because-you-ran-out-of-toilet-paper-oregon-police-say Foolishness of the Week Student Suspended for Selling Hand Sanitizer https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/uk-teen-suspended-from-school-for-charging-students-for-hand-sanitizer/ Topic of the Week Craigslist Gas Black-Market https://money.cnn.com/2012/11/05/news/economy/craigslist-gas-sandy/index.html Fire Man Arrested for Selling Gas Post Hurricane Sandy https://www.nj.com/essex/2014/12/jury_selection_to_begin_for_east_orange_firefighter_accused_of_selling_gas_after_hurricane_sandy_fue.html Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a person harms another, the harmed party can go to the courts to seek redress. But the Supreme Court sets police and prosecutors above the law. If someone who works in these professions harms you, you will likely be prohibited from suing the person. This week on Words & Numbers, Clark Neily joins us to discuss the ramifications of immunity protections. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Get your copy of Cooperation and Coercion now! https://isi.org/cooperation-and-coercion-preorder/ Quick Hits Price Gouging https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/tech-news-briefing/amazon-works-to-remove-price-gouging/C761B7C8-0535-40E7-B039-3203306C789B Racism and Sexism https://reason.com/2020/03/06/sexism-didnt-kill-the-warren-campaign-the-warren-campaign-killed-the-warren-campaign/ Foolishness of the Week Lenin Statue https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/first-lenin-statue-western-germany-erected-gelsenkirchen Topic of the Week Terms of Engagement https://www.amazon.com/Terms-Engagement-Enforce-Constitutions-Government/dp/1594036969 Clark Neily on Twitter https://twitter.com/ConLawWarrior Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ten years ago, an explosion on the oil rig Deepwater Horizon killed almost a dozen people and resulted in the worst oil spill in US history. This week, economist and environmental and regulatory expert Peter Van Doren joins us to discuss the incentives in play that contributed to the tragedy. Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits California’s Universal Basic Income https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2712 Wal-Mart as a Health Care Provider https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-25/walmart-takes-on-cvs-amazon-with-low-price-health-care-clinics Foolishness of the Week Gender Neutral Stores https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article240601601.html Topic of the Week Deepwater Horizon https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/us/26spill.html Peter Van Doren https://www.cato.org/people/peter-vandoren Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karl Marx’s thoughts on socialism are popular among politicians and humanities professors, but not so much among business people and economics professors. In this episode, Phil Magness, economic historian and author of The Best of Karl Marx, joins Words & Numbers to talk about how Marx’s teachings were on the way out but got resurrected by political leaders and academics. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Jeff Bezos Giving $10 Billion https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/jeff-bezos-giving-away-10-billion-in-grants-for-fighting-climate-change/ Coronavirus Threatens Chinese Economy https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-economics/millions-of-chinese-firms-face-collapse-if-banks-don-t-act-fast Foolishness of the week Flat Earth Experiment https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/02/23/mad-mike-hughes-killed-homemade-rocket-crash-california/4849772002/ Topic of the week The Best of Karl Marx https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZY9TGTX?ref=dbs_p2d_P_R_popup_yes_pony_T1 Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve all experienced incivility on the Internet. But today’s incivility is more than people being rude to each other online. Political leaders have become less civil toward each other, and political parties have become more extremist. Middle America, meanwhile, is becoming less represented as people on the two political extremes listen less to and scream more at each other. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Dinosaur statue https://www.the-sun.com/news/375426/dad-accidentally-orders-19ft-carnotaur-statue-for-his-dinosaur-mad-son-that-was-dropped-into-garden-by-crane/ Car dealers encourage loan defaults https://www.wsj.com/articles/dealerships-give-car-buyers-some-advice-just-stop-paying-your-loan-11581762601 Foolishness of the week Florida man refuses dialysis https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/02/15/trump-cardboard-cutout-dialysis-treatment/ Topic of the week The hounding of Jordan Peterson https://spectator.us/jordan-peterson-addiction-death-online-hate/ U.S. media polarization https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/u-s-media-polarization-and-the-2020-election-a-nation-divided/ Democrats have become more liberal https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/17/liberals-make-up-largest-share-of-democratic-voters/ Why has America become so divided https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/201809/why-has-america-become-so-divided What are the solutions to political polarization https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_are_the_solutions_to_political_polarization Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many people imagine that, when the government bans something, the banned thing goes away. In fact, what banning does is to remove government protections against violence, theft, and fraud. Justification for banning things that harm no one other than, perhaps, the person who wants those things hinges on inequality - that some of us should have the right to tell others of us how those others should live their own lives. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Technological cure for macular degeneration https://scienceblog.com/513957/first-in-the-u-s-wireless-retinal-device-for-advanced-age-related-macular-degeneration/ Americans go to libraries more than to movies https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/americans-went-library-more-often-movies-2019-180974091/ Foolishness of the week Trump and Pelosi’s Incivility https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/05/pelosis-page-ripping-was-fitting-end-impeachment/ Topic of the week United Nations World Drug Report https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2019/en/index.html Marijuana doomsday didn’t come https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2017-12-19/marijuana-legalization-doomsday-didnt-come-to-colorado Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Congressional Budget Office is tasked with forecasting the federal budget. Over the past twenty years, the CBO has tended to over-estimate future tax revenues and under-estimate future government spending. The result is that CBO paints an unrealistically rosy picture of the government’s financial future. If we take CBO’s forecasts and compensate for their historically rosy biases, we find that, where the CBO predicts trillion-dollar deficits forever, the likely reality is actually worse. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Europe votes for standardized phone chargers https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xgqwbd/europe-just-voted-in-favor-of-making-iphone-and-android-use-the-same-charger Pledge https://www.wgal.com/article/student-sues-lebanon-school-district-over-alleged-punishment-for-refusing-to-stand-for-pledge-of-allegiance/30732086 WV Board of Education v. Barnette https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_State_Board_of_Education_v._Barnette Foolishness of the week Punxsutawney Phil and PETA https://www.fox5ny.com/news/peta-calls-for-punxsutawney-phil-to-retire-be-replaced-with-ai-robot-for-groundhog-day Topic of the week Latest CBO report https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2019-08/55551-CBO-outlook-update_0.pdf https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/budget-deficit-hit-1-trillion-year-cbo-200128193731479.html Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When most people say, “equality,” they mean income equality. Economists draw a finer distinction between income equality and wealth equality. Political scientists draw an even finer distinction between economic equality and equality under the law. Philosophers distinguish even more finely, looking at equality of opportunity and equality of outcome, and examining how equality itself is one of several elements that comprise justice. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Half of the world is now middle class https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/09/27/a-global-tipping-point-half-the-world-is-now-middle-class-or-wealthier/ 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/auschwitz-holocaust-muslim-jewish-pray-a9299941.html Foolishness of the week A “just” Connecticut http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/looney-news/3045-looney-200122#sthash.xHba9oNB.n5oMRw3V.dpbs https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/24/conn-democrats-propose-new-state-police-department/ Topic of the week David Schmidtz https://freedomcenter.arizona.edu/david-schmidtz Freedom Center podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/vc/podcast/freedom-center-today/id1452115977 New Yorker: The Equality Conundrum https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/01/13/the-equality-conundrum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The rising cost of tuition is merely a symptom of a disease. The disease, which is much more complex, involves misplaced incentives from administrators to faculty to students to parents. Phil Magnus joins Words & Numbers this week to talk about his recent book, Cracks in the Ivory Tower. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Trial by combat https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2020/01/13/iowa-courts-david-ostrom-requests-trial-combat-swords-settle-dispute/4456079002/ The FBI wants access to your phone https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/two-iphones-or-privacy-billions-why-apple-vs-fbi-matters-n1118001 Foolishness of the week You may have to answer to police in Kentucky https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article239389143.html Topic of the week Cracks in the Ivory Tower https://www.amazon.com/Cracks-Ivory-Tower-Higher-Education/dp/0190846283 Review of Cracks in the Ivory Tower https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/cracks-ivory-tower Phil Magness https://twitter.com/PhilWMagness Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2020/01/13/iowa-courts-david-ostrom-requests-trial-combat-swords-settle-dispute/4456079002/ https://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/new-york-lawyer-demands-trial-by-combat-because-game-of-thrones-is-real https://abovethelaw.com/2016/03/judge-admits-trial-by-combat-is-available-in-new-york-then-declines-to-order-it/ https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/09/17/trial-by-combat/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 18th Amendment was ratified a century ago, beginning the United States’ fourteen-year experiment with prohibition. An Amendment was needed because the Constitution did not give the federal government the power to ban alcohol. Yet, today, the federal government bans recreational drugs and puts medicinal drugs under the control of the FDA. But, the Constitution also doesn’t give the government the power to regulate drugs. Either the 18th Amendment wasn’t necessary a century ago, or federal drug controls are unconstitutional today. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits The optimal GPA https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/study-says-there-is-optimal-failure-for-learning-more-efficiently/ Too many 4.0s https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-graduated-cum-laude-so-did-everyone-else-1530523801 Weed in Atlanta https://thefreethoughtproject.com/apd-disbands-drug-unit-fight-real-crime/ Foolishness of the week Bernie Sanders worked for his money https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/aaronfreedman/bernie-sanders-is-rich-but-hes-a-worker Topic of the week Legal status of marijuana by state https://disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state Bootleggers and Baptists https://www.amazon.com/Bootleggers-Baptists-Economic-Persuasion-Regulatory/dp/1939709369 18th Amendment https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendment/amendment-xviii 21st Amendment https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/amendment/amendment-xxi Wickard v. Filburn https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wickard_v._Filburn You used to be able to buy heroin at Sears https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/03/sears-roebuck-bayer-heroin/580441/ What can Colorado teach us about legalizing weed? https://fee.org/articles/four-years-on-what-can-colorado-teach-us-about-legalizing-weed/ Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“School choice” is much more than parents being able to choose which schools their children will attend. It is also teachers being free to design and teach their own curricula. It is principals being free to promote good teachers and to fire poor teachers. The problems we have with public education in this country have their roots in a lack of choice for all parties involved in the educational process. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Self-interest versus selfish https://simpleflying.com/delta-passengers-life-saved-when-passengers-gave-up-seats-for-liver-transplant/ Water limits in California https://finance.yahoo.com/news/correct-information-california-water-efficiency-222625943.html Foolishness of the week NYC parking meters https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2020/01/02/parking-meters-nyc-credit-cards/ Topic of the week Corey DeAngelis https://reason.org/author/corey-deangelis/ Corey DeAngelis on Twitter https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the New Year, a time when people like to make resolutions. In this episode, James and Ant look at surveys on what Americans pick for their New Year resolutions, how many fall off their wagons, and the role of resolutions, kept or not, in giving us hope for the future. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits How much do CEOs make relative to workers? https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2018/02/12/ceo-tenure-rates/ https://twitter.com/berniesanders/status/1190369125291503621 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm https://www.thebalancecareers.com/average-salary-information-for-us-workers-2060808 https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2014/04/03/americas-highest-paid-marketing-executives/#5490bbc68f55 Food from air https://bigthink.com/technology-innovation/protein-from-air?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1 Foolishness of the week Nerds, geeks, and hate crime https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/17/nerd-geek-insults-should-classed-hate-crimes-academic-claims/ Topic of the week https://www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution/ https://www.statista.com/chart/16500/top-us-new-years-resolutions/ https://www.statista.com/chart/20309/us-new-years-resolutions-2020/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinconklin/2018/12/18/new-years-resolutions-are-for-loserstake-these-4-steps-instead/#4113884b5e2c Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People tend to talk about income inequality as if it were necessarily a bad thing. In so doing, they often confuse inequality and poverty and, in the process, run the risk of justifying what is really envy. This week, James and Ant discuss the fact that poverty is a bad thing, whether inequality could be a bad thing, and that politicians use voters’ envy to expand the government’s power. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits HELPER https://www.marketwatch.com/story/rand-paul-to-offer-bill-allowing-families-to-use-retirement-savings-for-student-loans-2019-12-04 How much Americans have in 401k plans, by age https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/23/how-much-money-americans-have-in-their-401ks-at-every-age.html 401k returns https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/401ks/articles/what-is-the-average-401-k-return Student loan interest rates https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/loans/student-loans/student-loan-interest-rates/ Bernie’s now a millionaire https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3006320/critic-millionaires-and-billionaires-bernie-sanders Foolishness of the week A national smoking age https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/20/health/tobacco-age-21-trump-spending-bill-bn/index.html https://disrn.com/news/congress-votes-to-raise-age-to-buy-tobacco-to-21 Topic of the week US poverty rate https://poverty.ucdavis.edu/faq/what-current-poverty-rate-united-states Facts about income mobility https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/some-amazing-findings-on-income-mobility-in-the-us-including-this-the-image-of-a-static-1-and-99-percent-is-false/ Inequality after taxes and transfers https://voxeu.org/article/income-redistribution-through-taxes-and-transfers Inheriting wealth https://www.forbes.com/sites/rainerzitelmann/2019/06/24/amazing-facts-that-prove-inheritance-is-mostly-overrated-as-a-reason-for-wealth/#39759c11eca3 Intergenerational income https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/pcs_assets/2012/pursuingamericandreampdf.pdf Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A year ago, FCC repealed net neutrality - the law that required internet service providers to treat all data passing through their servers the same. Proponents of net neutrality said that the repeal would yield higher prices and worse service. In this week's episode James and Ant ask what actually happened. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Billion dollar property tax error https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/business/ups-drugs-tucson-arizona.html Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin https://www.blueorigin.com/ Richard Branson’s first space passenger https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/22/richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-sends-first-test-passenger-on-spaceflight.html Amazon’s satellite constellation https://www.geekwire.com/2019/amazons-project-kuiper-oneweb-raise-curtain-higher-satellite-plans/ Foolishness of the week UK to require that food labelling tell consumers how much exercise they must do to burn off calories https://www.bbc.com/news/health-50711652 Topic of the week Download speeds https://www.speedtest.net/reports/united-states/ https://www.bandwidthplace.com/pennsylvania/ https://www.bandwidthplace.com/ohio/ https://www.bandwidthplace.com/georgia/ https://www.bandwidthplace.com/california/ https://www.bandwidthplace.com/new-york/ Price of residential internet service https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WPU374102 Warnings people gave about repealing net neutrality https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/net-neutrality-what-is-it-repeal-latest-meaning-define-trump-internet-rules-why-explained-a8563616.html https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2019/02/18/net_neutrality_is_gone_did_you_even_notice_111056.html https://issuesinsights.com/2019/06/10/one-year-later-the-internet-thrives-without-net-neutrality/ Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Large countries, like the United States, span multiple time zones and have multiple climates. They also have multiple economies, each with different price levels. Prices in New York City are very different from prices in Boise Idaho - typically higher. But wages in New York City are higher also, but then so too are taxes, and so too is the likelihood of being employed. In this episode, James and Ant talk about differences in the costs of living across US cities. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits UPS drug runners https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/27/business/ups-drugs-tucson-arizona.html Average person can tolerate family members for four hours https://www.studyfinds.org/breaking-point-average-person-cant-last-four-hours-with-their-family-over-the-holidays/ Foolishness of the week Washington College cancels anti-rascist play https://reason.com/2019/12/03/washington-college-the-foreigner-censorship-students-kkk-racism/ Regional price parity index https://www.bea.gov/news/2019/real-personal-income-states-and-metropolitan-areas-2017 Topic of the week Differences in the costs of living across the country https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-living-san-francisco-compared-to-other-cities Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the few enumerated powers that the Founders granted to the federal government was the power to issue patents. Patents are a compromise between two conflicting goals. On the one hand, we want to avoid the creation of government-protected monopolies because monopolies stifle innovation. On the other, we want entrepreneurs to have an incentive to innovate. And one way to incentivize entrepreneurs is to grant monopoly protection for their inventions. Patent law is an attempt to balance these two conflicting goals, but the balance presents trade offs. Weaker patent laws mean cheaper goods today but a lesser variety of goods tomorrow; stronger patent laws mean more expensive goods today but a greater variety of goods tomorrow. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Why did the South Bronx burn? https://www.latinousa.org/2019/02/06/decadeoffire/ A history of NYC rent control https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100610/BLOGS01/306109998/a-history-lesson-on-rent-regulation-in-the-1970s Property tax https://fox4kc.com/2019/11/28/kansas-city-woman-angry-about-her-property-taxes-paying-with-nickels/amp/ Merchants taking dollars https://theconversation.com/if-cash-is-king-how-can-stores-refuse-to-take-your-dollars-63516 https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/businesses-taking-benjamins-baby/story Foolishness of the Week Michael Bloomberg and “those people” https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/05/24/bloomberg_regressive_taxes_on_the_poor_a_good_thing.html Topic of the Week The Constitution and Patents https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/11/14/constitutional-underpinnings-patent-law/id=90190/ Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think! Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes, the things we take for granted are the things we should be most thankful for. Football games on your television, climate control in your automobiles, and fully-stocked neighborhood grocery stores are among the many things we may not think about until they aren’t there. What do the data indicate about our modern standard of living? Who is responsible for the advancements in medicine and technology that have improved so many lives? Which historical scourges are functionally nonexistent today? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan in giving thanks to the many improvements in life on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Government grocery store https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/11/22/baldwin-florida-food-desert-city-owned-grocery-store/ Conservatism stresses students https://www.thecollegefix.com/intellectual-conservatism-group-denied-may-cause-stress-to-the-student-body/ Foolishness of the week Abolish the electoral college https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/11/20/joe-kennedy-iii-wants-to-abolish-the-electoral-college/ Topic of the week: Thanksgiving A Series of Miracles https://www.faithandfreedom.com/a-series-of-miracles/ State Car Registration by Year https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/summary95/mv200.pdf Office of Highway Policy Information https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics/2015/mv1.cfm Household's Owners Equity https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/OEHRENWBSHNO Mortality in the US https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2016/1/25/mortality-in-the-united-states-past-present-and-future Mortality & Causes of Death https://www.ncdemography.org/2014/06/16/mortality-and-cause-of-death-1900-v-2010/ Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James and Antony record before a live audience at Truman State University, asking the question, “Is Capitalism moral?” Their answer wends its way through the definition of morality, whether morality requires a religious basis, whether markets beget or reflect morality, whether self-interest is immoral or a motivator that can be harnessed to encourage people to want to help each other. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Chicago library drops fines https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/chicago-first-to-ditch-overdue-library-fees/ Ohio allows wrong answers https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-student-religious-liberties-act-1472008 Foolishness of the week Billionaires’ tears https://shop.elizabethwarren.com/products/billionaire-tears-mug Topic of the week: The morality of capitalism Paul Ryan’s Catholicism and the poor https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444375104577592892933747400 Ethics and the economy https://www.jstor.org/stable/20753439?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US health care system is rife with many variables affecting the prices of and access to medical care. iHealth is a health care provider that does not take health insurance and is transparent about its prices. Is there a regulatory framework that allows for such a business to be successful? Would this model work for the rest of the country? What barriers are in place that prevent other physicians from doing business like iHealth? Join James Harrigan, Antony Davies, and their special guest Dr. Timothy Wong, the founder of iHealth, as they parse out the complexities behind the economics and politics of the health care industry. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Texas voters ban the state income tax https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/11/06/early-texas-voters-leaning-toward-supporting-ban-on-state-income-tax/ State-Local Tax Burden Rankings FY 2012 https://taxfoundation.org/publications/state-local-tax-burden-rankings/ 9 States With No Income Tax https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/taxes/T054-S001-states-without-income-tax/index.html Texas Voters Ban Income Tax Again https://reason.com/2019/11/06/texas-voters-ban-state-income-taxes-again/ The trade gap https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/trump-vowed-to-shrink-the-trade-gap-it-keeps-growing/ar-AAJTqg9 Foolishness of the week Michael Bloomberg running for President https://apnews.com/461efe170a174c4fb9446951c164537e Jeff Sessions running for the Senate https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jeff-sessions-trump-first-ad-alabama-trump Topic of the week: A new model for delivering primary health care iHealth Clinic https://ihealth.clinic/ Direct Access Primary Care https://directaccessprimarycare.com/ A flat-fee approach to paying for health care https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/08/26/Doctor-Timothy-Wong-insurance-flat-fee-primary-care/stories/201908250045 Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Using a historical definition of the term, socialism designated a political system where the government owns the means of production. However, for many people, the word has evolved into something different. Do today’s young people believe in government ownership of property or redistribution of positive results? What has changed the traditional sense of socialism? Has the Supreme Court weighed in on any social programs? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they ponder these questions and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Enzymes eat plastic https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/factory-uses-enzymes-to-recycle-all-plastics-at-once-backed-by-major-companies/ Anti-inflamatory drugs and depression https://www.healio.com/primary-care/psychiatry/news/online/%7B649c6090-c2d2-4b42-800d-9f63fabf862c%7D/anti-inflammatory-drugs-improve-depression Foolishness of the week Senate rejects Rand Paul’s proposal to cut spending by 2 percent https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/467817-senate-rejects-paul-effort-to-cut-spending Topic of the week: Transferism Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many attention-grabbing headlines talk about laws restricting speech. It seems some legislators don’t know the constitutionality of these proposed laws. What are the ramifications of passing laws such as these? Are these laws justified under some legal doctrines? What’s the rationale behind these propositions? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they dig into these proposed laws and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits California blackouts https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/23/pge-rebuked-over-imposing-blackouts-in-california-to-reduce-fire-risk.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/business/california-fire-insurance.html Portland is surprised that a retail tax causes retail prices to rise https://www.americanexperiment.org/2019/10/portland-voters-put-a-1-tax-on-large-retailers-complain-when-retailers-pass-it-on-to-them/ Foolishness of the week Woke math https://reason.com/2019/10/22/seattle-math-oppressive-cultural-woke/?fbclid=IwAR2ZEAmWBlm0KnxvWblTthoNsuPG39Qx-eNMp_dn1GdmdKztww_QZMB1YFU https://www.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/public/socialstudies/pubdocs/Math%20SDS%20ES%20Framework.pdf Topic of the week: First Amendment https://www.americanexperiment.org/2019/10/portland-voters-put-a-1-tax-on-large-retailers-complain-when-retailers-pass-it-on-to-them/ https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-uconn-rally-racist-video-20191021-fmpaw34gzzcqtipztwv45tieca-story.html https://reason.com/2019/10/23/the-connecticut-hate-crimes-law-used-to-charge-two-idiot-college-students-would-ban-family-guy-too/ https://www.boston.com/news/policy/2019/10/22/proposed-massachusetts-law-would-ban-b-word Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s debate season, and speculation about who will be the next president has already begun. Looming over the current president are constant calls for impeachment and reports on alleged wrongdoings which may diminish his chances for reelection. So, who are the best candidates and their running mates? Is impeachment a criminal or a political procedure? What kind of candidate are many Americans looking for? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they offer their assessment of the next presidential election and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Quick hits: Difference between a signatory and a party http://www.insidejustice.com/intl/2010/03/17/signatory_party_treaty/ Major cities that have peaked their carbon emissions https://www.c40.org/press_releases/30-of-the-world-s-largest-most-influential-cities-have-peaked-greenhouse-gas-emissions Mad Dog Mattis and the Debt https://www.politics-prose.com/video/call-sign-chaos-jim-mattis Foolishness of the week: San Francisco's Office of Emerging Technology https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/sf-to-establish-office-of-emerging-technology/?fbclid=IwAR2Txda5zSvC_YEblel4JVpZ8hm1hgDOKVbXHmGK4_syDb0Vm__ThwJrzcQ Topic of the week: Politically Smart Moves: Giuliana’s associates arrested https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-foreign-born-men-who-helped-giuliani-on-ukraine-arrested-on-campaign-finance-charges-11570714188 Bi-partisan presidential tickets https://www.bustle.com/articles/160298-do-presidents-vice-presidents-have-to-be-from-the-same-party-a-bipartisan-attempt-isnt Join the conversation: Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean Malone, the creator of the Out of Frame video series and Director of Media at FEE, gives us his unique perspective on the film Joker. Do art and cinema have the power to hold a mirror up to society? Is that what makes people uncomfortable about Joker and movies like it? How do other cultures respond to graphic novels and films about superheroes? Join James Harrigan, Antony Davies, and special guest Sean Malone as they avoid spoilers and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Quick hits Pikes Peak Library District https://ppld.org/ Shepard Smith leaving Fox https://www.mediaite.com/tv/breaking-shepard-smith-leaving-fox-news/ Foolishness of the week White House sends talking points to Democrats https://thehill.com/homenews/house/465457-white-house-accidentally-sends-ukraine-talking-points-to-democrats-again Topic of the week: Joker Sean Malone https://fee.org/people/sean-malone/ Out of Frame https://fee.org/shows/video/out-of-frame/ The Joker, Nihilism, and One Iranian Boy https://youtu.be/rYLwLSlfnlU Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year, October 3, 2019, is Deficit Day, the day the federal government’s income runs out. For a long time, the government has been spending more money than it collects in taxes. What effect will this have on the average American citizen? How much does the government pay in loan interest alone? Hasn’t the federal government had surpluses? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they crunch the numbers and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Gang leaders https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/former-bloods-and-crips-leaders-make-peace-to-stop-gang-violence/ Hate symbols https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/26/us/adl-new-hate-symbols/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1-5FFWB_7gYooaWLZgmyXo9w9DgeN9IrAc_yLxchsjqReEIwoOzzqcvRA Foolishness of the week Stock markets and impeachment https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/26/trump-warns-again-that-the-stock-market-would-crash-if-he-is-impeached.html Topic of the week: Deficit Day 2019 https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/federal-debt-deficit-reserve-president-donald-trump-20190924.html Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the saying goes, nothing can be certain except death and taxes. Thousands of people die every year from a remarkably wide variety of causes. What are the top five causes of death in the US? Are you more likely to be killed by a knife than a gun? What do diet and exercise have to do with death? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they cover death by rare diseases, vaping, firearms and more in this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Speculators https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/upshot/Bernie-Sanders-housing-plan.html https://news.streetroots.org/2019/09/13/wall-street-speculators-and-loss-affordable-housing San Francisco library eliminates overdue fines https://www.kqed.org/arts/13866475/san-francisco-public-library-eliminates-overdue-fines Foolishness of the week Confessing one’s climate sins https://pagesix.com/2019/09/22/radioheads-thom-yorke-admits-hes-a-climate-change-hypocrite/ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/specials/climate-confessions-share-solutions-climate-change-n1054791 Topic of the week: What will kill you https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/19/health/vaping-lung-injury-new-cases-530-bn/index.html https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eastern-equine-encephalitis-several-dead-from-rare-disease-spread-by-mosquitoes-2019-09-21/ https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congresswoman-mocked-for-saying-ar-15-is-as-heavy-as-10-moving-boxes-fires-50-caliber-bullets https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_09-508.pdf https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/topic-pages/tables/table-20 Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, James and Ant interview Robert Anthony Peters, producer and director of Tank Man, the story of the everyday person who stood down the Chinese army during the Tiananmen Massacre. In 1989, the Chinese people staged a series of protests in Tiananmen Square calling for democratic reforms. When the authorities had had enough, they sent in troops and tanks to break up the protests, killing and wounding thousands. One man, whose name and fate remains unknown, stood in front of the tanks and refused to let them pass. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Repurchase agreements https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-repo-market-what-it-is-and-why-everyone-is-talking-about-it-again-11568743438 Americans are getting heavier https://www.vox.com/2015/6/15/8784389/america-weight-gain Foolishness of the week Sanders wants to forgive medical debt https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/21/us/politics/bernie-medical-debt-healthcare.html Topic of the week: Tank Man Robert Anthony Peters www.tankmanthemovie.com Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tuition increases seem to indicate that colleges might have an incentive to admit students who may not succeed. Meanwhile, many professors are being required to add clear student outcomes to their syllabi. However, this still leaves many students hanging. Loans are difficult to pay back, and many other problems crop up in schools. How can we adjust incentives to help public universities perform better? Should some schools use their endowments to issue loans? What innovations could be implemented to improve education? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they search for better solutions to the problems many students experience on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Mesh network is robust because it’s decentralized https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2019/09/02/hong-kong-protestors-using-mesh-messaging-app-china-cant-block-usage-up-3685 Noah’s Arks https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1177909/space-news-igor-ashurbeyli-asgardia-russia-space-nation-nasa-moon-spt Foolishness of the week Second hand vaping https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-youth-secondhand-vaping-smoke-tt-20190828-5immkhhkrrecbjub7ik6un4lni-story.html Topic of the week: Follow Incentives to Solutions https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/2019/tr2019.pdf Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Immigration policy in the United States is fraught with obstacles. Visas, green cards, and work permits all have complicated stipulations that must be followed. What does the process of legal immigration entail? What are the costs, monetary or otherwise? Is there an incentive to immigrate illegally? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they discuss the astonishing personal experiences of two special guests on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Workers are fleeing big cities https://www.wsj.com/articles/workers-are-fleeing-big-cities-for-small-onesand-taking-their-jobs-with-them-11567848600 Foolishness of the week Oregon wants to ban self-checkouts https://reason.com/2019/09/06/union-backed-ballot-initiative-would-limit-grocery-stores-to-2-self-checkout-machines/ Topic of the week: Pitfalls of Legal Immigration Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many proposed solutions to society’s problems produce unintended consequences. Some laws passed in good faith, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, have adverse effects on the very people they intend to help. How many laws like this are there? What do people do about them? How do businesses deal with such laws? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they dive into the unforeseeable results of mixing good intentions with public policy and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Being the victim and the perpetrator in the same case https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/maryland-sk-court-case-teen-sexting-child-pornography.html Turning sign language into speech https://www.blackbusiness.com/2019/05/roy-allela-black-engineer-invents-gloves-turn-sign-language-audible-speech.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR1eM20XHy03gUnCjvwy5XjkAt69auKNhszwtYQqUJhZVrd3y1NO6tjV_II Foolishness of the week Mayor de Blasio wants to abolish gifted classes https://reason.com/2019/08/28/de-blasio-advisory-group-wants-to-abolish-gifted-classes-in-nyc-public-schools/?fbclid=IwAR1NhDE1augEPuYkpFcn1yIFmCgMq0OFHM3VU4lsKWsGUgL6BggK2MhK87c Harrison Bergeron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron Topic of the week: Unintended Consequences A380 is too quiet https://www.wired.com/2008/12/a380-is-so-quie/ The Cobra Effect http://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-cobra-effect-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/ Payday lending https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-political-assault-on-paydays-1464909417 Americans with Disabilities Act https://www.nber.org/papers/w6670 Bernie Sanders’ green electrical grid https://berniesanders.com/issues/the-green-new-deal/ Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you haven’t seen either of the previous Democratic primary debates, here’s a summary: Twenty candidates debate free health care and slavery reparations, among other things. Instead of talking about eliminating the federal debt, the candidates talk about adding to it. Additionally, the top candidates don’t get to debate the issues fully. All this raises a few questions: Who’s in charge of choosing the broadcast networks? The moderators? The questions asked? What effect do these choices have on the quality of the debates? Join Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they discuss the primary debates and more in this special episode of Words & Numbers featuring bonus material. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Monopoly socialism https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/23/us/monopoly-socialism-board-game-trnd/index.html NASA plans mission to a gold asteroid https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1169605/Asteroid-news-NASA-scientists-16-psyche-asteroids-mining-gold-platinum Foolishness of the week Minneapolis bans drive thrus https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/08/09/minneapolis-bans-new-drivethrus Topic of the week: Democratic debates Reporter bias ratings https://reporterbias.com/ DNC is a private corporation https://ivn.us/posts/50-ways-the-democratic-and-republican-parties-are-the-same Candidates https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/08/2020-candidates-president-guide/582598/ https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html Polling numbers https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/democratic_nomination_polls/ Ford-Carter debate https://youtu.be/BuaPct7gH1w?t=152 Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Which historical figures do you respect? Which economic concepts should be taught to children? How do you trust statistics? James Harrigan and Antony Davies take questions from the crowd on topics ranging from incentives to trade-offs to research data to US treasury bills and more in this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Birth rates dropping https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7312075/Birth-rate-England-Wales-hits-80-YEAR-low.html Noam Chomsky https://truthout.org/articles/noam-chomsky-life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-declining-for-a-reason Foolishness of the week Robot racism https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/01/tech/robot-racism-scn-trnd/index.html Topic of the week: Listener questions Milton Friedman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EwaLys3Zak F.A. Hayek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnMd40dqBlQ FRED: Federal Reserve data https://fred.stlouisfed.org/ Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/ Gallup https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx United Nations Development Programme http://hdr.undp.org/en/data Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to wildlife conservation and other environmental concerns, the ideas of free markets and private property are frequently laughed off as silly by the planet’s most strident defenders. However, the incentives—the motivations to behave in a certain way—that come along with private property are strong. After all, we never worry about cows going extinct. But can these insights on property and incentives be extended to other aspects of our lives and our world? Special guest Howard Baetjer, author of Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics, joins Antony Davies and James Harrigan as they explore this and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Pickle ball https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/07/26/pickleball-prison-cook-county Air conditioned shirts https://www.winknews.com/2019/08/01/sony-to-sell-air-conditioner-shirts-to-keep-you-cool-as-soon-as-next-year/ Foolishness of the week Rudeness in the grocery stores https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/os-ne-2nd-walmart-urinator-20190802-uogo4be7mbhivezdystbc2rnvm-story.html Topic of the week: Howard Baetjer and Economic Stories Howard Baetjer http://wp.towson.edu/baetjer/ Free Our Markets: A Citizen’s Guide to Essential Economics https://www.amazon.com/Free-Our-Markets-Essential-Economics/dp/098442542X Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For many children, compulsory education and authority figures tend to inadvertently turn off their sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. Additionally, assigned districts can limit school choice for many parents and mandatory curricula can put unnecessary stress on educators. Are there solutions to these problems within the current framework? Is there any evidence to support changing the way we approach schooling to benefit children, parents, and teachers? Where did all these mandates originate? Join Antony Davies, James Harrigan, and special guest Kerry McDonald, author of Unschooled, as they discuss the public school system and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits: Beach umbrellas https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/menendez-urges-aggressive-action-protect-beachgoers-dangers-flying-beach-umbrellas/ https://www.nsc.org/in-the-newsroom/nsc-statement-on-new-cdc-data-showing-a-rise-in-accidental-death Candidates reticent to mention Obama https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/democrats-want-have-it-both-ways-barack-obama/595270/ Foolishness of the week: Soy sauce https://www.9news.com.au/national/soy-sauce-could-be-banned-under-alcohol-sales-restrictions-in-the-northern-territory/71ef616f-778a-4c24-bf95-a63e2627b00f Topic of the week: Unschooling: Kerry McDonald https://fee.org/people/kerry-mcdonald/ Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1641600632/ Join the conversation: Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we reach pivotal milestones, such as the legal driving age, we’re met with serious questions: Who decided I’m not old enough to vote? Why can I drive but not enter a bar? When do I have to buy health insurance? Am I ready for all this? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they weigh the pros and cons of transitioning from a minor to an adult live from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits Brim’s Snack Foods https://www.apr.org/post/life-so-delicious Facts about small businesses https://sbecouncil.org/about-us/facts-and-data/ $20 an hour minimum wage https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/454212-rashida-tlaib-minimum-wage-should-be-20-an-hour-not-15 Foolishness of the week Montgomery county, Maryland wants to require landlords to provide air conditioning https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/as-temperatures-rise-montgomery-asks-should-landlords-have-to-provide-ac-to-tenants/2019/07/16/4b5c7406-a7dc-11e9-86dd-d7f0e60391e9_story.html Topic of the week: When does a person become an adult? Ages of majority across the states https://hrpo.wustl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/5-Determining-Legal-Age-to-Consent.pdf Bill calls for raising the smoking age to 21 https://www.rollcall.com/news/congress/senate-majority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-introduces-bill-raise-federal-legal-smoking-age-21 Legal drinking ages across countries https://drinkingage.procon.org/minimum-legal-drinking-age-in-190-countries/ Legal marriage ages across states https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/table_marriage Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Citizens United, a conservative non-profit corporation, was once caught in the crosshairs of campaign finance law. The company violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act by broadcasting a political film within 30 days of a primary election. The Supreme Court split 5-4 on the issue. Did the court side with the free speech of a corporation? What happens when there are two different visions of the First Amendment? Are corporations people? Join James Harrigan, Antony Davies, and special guest Trevor Burrus as they recount the courtroom drama of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits The bystander effect https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31157529 The world is becoming a better place https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP59tz2WreY Advances toward a cancer cure https://www.studyfinds.org/strategic-medicine-researchers-develop-trojan-horse-drug-that-tricks-then-kills-cancer-cells/ Foolishness of the week https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/17/health/beef-environment-resources-report/index.html Topic of the week: Political Speech and the Citizens United Decision Trevor Burrus https://www.cato.org/people/trevor-burrus Trevor Burrus on Twitter https://twitter.com/tcburrus McCain-Feingold, Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act https://ballotpedia.org/Bipartisan_Campaign_Reform_Act Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission https://ballotpedia.org/Citizens_United_v._Federal_Election_Commission https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/michael-moore-trumpland-might-have-been-illegal-citizens-united-its-all Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce https://ballotpedia.org/Austin_v._Michigan_Chamber_of_Commerce Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As people like, share, and upload on social media platforms, data is generated by users and gathered by tech companies. It’s a bit unclear, however, how companies handle user data. Is selling or storing user data a problem? Does the Fourth Amendment protect internet privacy? Should the government get involved?Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies—live from the University of Arizona!—as they discuss End User License Agreements, copyright law, data breaches, and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers. Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick hits President Trump may not block critics from his Twitter feed https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-twitter-first-amendment.html CBO estimates of the effect of a minimum wage hike https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/08/cbo-estimates-effects-of-house-democrats-15-minimum-wage-plan.html Foolishness of the week Google recorded then leaked conversations that Google Assistant overheard https://mashable.com/article/google-assistant-recordings-leaked/ Topic of the week: Privacy Expectation of privacy https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/expectation_of_privacy Katz v. United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katz_v._United_States Olmstead v. United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmstead_v._United_States Join the conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let us know what you think mailto:[email protected] Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices