“Time zones, a subject we’ve discussed recently, were invented by the railroads (not government) to help schedule rail traffic. But then, along came the automobile and freedom from rails. And from effective monopolies in many areas, because of the complexity of railroads – and their cost. But times change. Automobiles, like horse-drawn wagons, could and did do more than just serve an area around a railroad station. They began to go long distances. And then… well, read on.” (11/03/26)
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Ryan McMaken
“Perhaps one of the most abused and misunderstood phrases in American history is found in the Declaration of Independence where Thomas Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal.” Since at least as early as the mid nineteenth century, the phrase has been used by many American politicians as justification for government intervention in the name of imposing whatever interpretation of ‘equality’ happens to be popular at the time.” (11/03/26)
“Last week, the FDA announced a recall of more than 4.3 million tubes of toothpaste. The recall covers 17 varieties, including several marketed to children under brands like Crayola, Hot Wheels, and My Little Pony. No illnesses or injuries have been reported. But toothpaste recalls are just the latest in what seems like a never-ending list of products being recalled by the FDA. The public has noticed. A recent survey reported by Fortune finds 94 percent of Americans are concerned about how often food is being recalled, and two-thirds now avoid an entire food category after a single recall.” (11/03/26)
“Yesterday’s election has major implications for the political era ahead. The scale of Democratic congressional victories lays a foundation for 2028. If Democrats win the presidency in 2028, they may be able to build on those majorities—perhaps even reaching a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate — and have the kind of decisive control of Congress that they have had in major eras of reform like the 1930s and 1960s. As a result, for the next two years, Democrats shouldn’t only be standing up to Donald Trump and investigating corruption. They should be laying the groundwork for reforms that they can take into the 2028 election as a national program, refining ideas, developing support for them, and even getting Trump to veto popular bills that will then be teed up for 2029.” (11/04/26)
“Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, has fled Brazil after the corrupt socialist incumbent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was ‘reelected’ to a fourth term by what the American Spectator calls ‘a stunningly irregular vote.’ Flávio’s father has been in prison since 2024 for supposedly plotting a coup against Lula. And this October, after the results of the second round of the presidential election were announced, the Lula government tried to prevent the son from traveling by acting to confiscate his passports. But Flávio Bolsonaro saw the writing on the wall and got out before he could be arrested for having the temerity to run for president.” (11/03/26)
“These days, elections don’t end when the votes are cast and counted. In every close race (and many not-so-close races) of consequence, the supposed losers and their supporters move immediately to screeching ‘Rigged! Stolen!’ They demand recounts. They go to court seeking to have ballot boxes seized and election officials indicted. … No matter what happens today, expect Election 2026 to drag on into the new year.” (11/03/26)
“Think of a political or social issue you care about. Now imagine your local city council is considering taking some action related to that issue. You decide to show up to the public comment period and make your voice heard. Then you learn that local police will be monitoring the meeting, looking specifically for ‘unusual questions,’ ‘verbal conflict,’ ’emotional confrontations,’ ‘social media amplification,’ and more. Such conduct will be treated as ‘suspicious behavior’ posing ‘public safety risks.’ Would you think twice about freely sharing your opinion? Unfortunately, that thought experiment isn’t hypothetical.” (11/03/26)
“On October 21, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay the state $25 billion for violating its Unfair Practices Act. That penalty is massive. But the bigger problem is how the judgment treats the gap between a platform’s moderation promises and its imperfect enforcement as deception, penalizing platforms for moderating protected speech and sidestepping Section 230 and the First Amendment. If nothing is done to stop these attacks on free expression, we will all lose access to online platforms, big and small, as we know them.” (11/03/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“Notwithstanding the manifest failure of America’s welfare-warfare state and managed-society way of life, with its massive spending, taxation, inflation, and debt, Americans unfortunately remain wedded to this dysfunctional system. The midterm elections are simply a battle over who will exercise the power and dispense the largess that comes with the evil and immoral systems that have destroyed our liberty, privacy, and well-being. To get our nation back on the right track, Americans must move beyond trying to elect the ‘right’ people to public office through a political game of musical chairs.” (11/03/26)
“The Trump-era Republican record of debt and war makes Republicans, with few exceptions, unworthy of support. However, many Democrats offer an unacceptable alternative.” (11/03/26)
