Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Source: The Daily Economy
by Patrick Carroll

“Oklahoma’s protectionist casket laws block competition and inflate costs. But some entrepreneurs are fighting back, taking their case to court to defend economic freedom.” (03/12/26)

https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/entrepreneurs-take-on-the-funeral-monopoly-when-selling-a-box-becomes-a-crime/

Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Attila Rebak

“In the spring of 1812, British textile workers smashed power looms across Nottinghamshire, convinced that the machines would make their skills worthless and their families destitute. They were right about the disruption. Mills did displace hand-weavers. Communities that had organized themselves around a particular kind of skilled labor were genuinely torn apart. The Luddites weren’t stupid, and they weren’t wrong to feel the ground shifting. They were wrong about one thing: the conclusion. The labor those machines displaced didn’t vanish. It migrated into factories, railways, cities, and industries that hadn’t existed, filling wants that hand-weavers in 1812 couldn’t have imagined needing to satisfy. We are the Luddites now. Not the smashing machines part — the being right about the disruption and wrong about the conclusion part.” (03/12/26)

https://mises.org/mises-wire/robot-wont-take-your-job-government-might

Source: RealClearPolitics
by Melinda Henneberger

“[T]he Hunts want to build their new $3 billion domed stadium in Wyandotte County, just across the river from larger and wealthier KCMO. We can debate how much economic development stadiums really bring, but both Republicans and Democrats in Topeka are determined to impose such a one-sided deal on heavily minority and historically economically disadvantaged WyCo that if there were any shame left in this world, they’d be walking around wondering what that unfamiliar but unpleasant feeling might be. The deal, such as it is, exempts the stadium from property taxes and gives the team 100% of both football and non-football revenue, while Wyandotte County residents provide most of the money for building the stadium. There is no community benefits agreement spelled out in writing, and that’s one of many problems. But hey, those pushing this thing do offer free lectures to anyone with questions.” (03/12/26)

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/03/12/chiefs_get_massive_giveaway_while_woman_gets_tone-policed.html

Source: Washington Post
by Anastasia Boden

“The 100-year-old protectionist law deserves more than a temporary waiver.” (03/12/26)

https://archive.is/1Y3tm

Source: Independent Institute
by Scott Beyer

“The tougher the laws, the more secretive that Congressional stock trading becomes. That may be the point.” (03/12/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/03/12/be-skeptical-of-congress-insider-trading-fix/