Ben Franklin on the NSA spying issue (~240 years early)

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety”

- Benjamin Franklin

Good short reads

I read way, way, way too many economics articles, but I am always looking for a prompt to help make the best decisions possible. (Economics isn't the study of money per se, but rather an explanation of decision making.)

What follows are a collection of mainstream articles by economists that really caught my eye this month.

First up: great tips from an economist on how to find great food when dining out. Tyler Cowen presents 6 ways that thinking like an economist will result in a better meal and a better deal.

Next: 25 great quotes from Thomas Sowell. A brilliant economist, Sowell is most known for making economics accessible and for challenging on economic grounds racial and political orthodoxy.

Then: Cowen on how America is changing and what it will mean for the next generation. If you read one economics article this month, read this one. His analysis is fundamentally econometric, but the real highlight are the distilled implications and strong, direct conclusions.

Finally, here's a cool graphic that sums up the case against the TSA:



Created by: OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com

More great quotes…..

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” - John Maxwell


“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it” - Unknown


“There are three qualities a leader must exemplify to build trust: competence, connection, and character.” - John Maxwell


A lot more great leadership & motivational quotes here: http://sourcesofinsight.com/john-maxwell-quotes/


And, as a bonus, a clever take on the Euro financial crisis, courtesy of Tyler Cowen's Marginal Revolution.

Quote worth sharing

"The secret of success is to understand the point of view of others." - Henry Ford

more proof that Ben Franklin was spot on...

Just saw this quote from Franklin and thought it worth repeating:

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” —Benjamin Franklin

Thought of the day:

“It’s nice to elect the right people, but that isn’t the way you solve things. The way you solve things is by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things.” - Milton Friedman.

Another timely Jefferson quote.....

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." TJ.


The guy was well ahead of his time.....

Grab bag with more cool stuff.

Here's a quote worth reading and couple of great articles to make up for my Facebook-like natterings:

Quote:


"This is the issue...... Whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.


You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream — the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, “The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.”


The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose."


Is that Newt Gingrich or Ron Paul or Jeff Flake critiquing the Obama governing philosophy? Nope, it's from 1964, also known as the beginning of the Great Society. This quote was delivered as part of a larger, very prominent speech written and delivered by none other than Ronald Reagan in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign. As CATO points out, today is the 45th anniversary of the speech, and it is as relevant today, as it was then.

2 articles worth your time:

Everything You Know About China Is Wrong

and

The Long Road to Indecision

If you're an Obama fan, this article tracks the evolution of the US Af-Pak strategy. If you're not an Obama fan, you'll read this as 7 months of dawdling, indecision, and confusion. 

At the least, it is clear at this stage that Obama is waiting for the US elections next week before announcing his decision on McChrystal's request. No matter which way he goes, he'll disappoint a large number of people. I just wonder if the the stalling ight be costing lives.

Great quotes to consider:

From "Top 10 Coaches Quotes" (linked above):

Inspiration from Vince Lombardi:

“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.”

Deep one, from Al McGuire: “The only mystery in life is why the kamikaze pilots wore helmets.”

And one funny, but accurate one from Bobby Knight:

“If the NBA were on Channel 5 and a bunch of frogs making love was on Channel 4, I’d watch the frogs, even if they were coming in fuzzy.”

The other 7 quotes are worth a read.....