Until last Friday, it was illegal for certain producers to sell or import U.S. No. 1 grade “Creamer size” (long and skinny) Irish potatoes. Creamer size potatoes are identical in taste, texture, and weight to their stouter, rounder counterparts.
In the Idaho-Eastern Oregon growing region, this led to over $7 million worth of potatoes to go unsold. That’s a lot of uneaten meals. Hopefully the USDA will repeal similar aesthetic restrictions on other types of food. It is bad policy to keep perfectly good food off the market, especially during times of recession and high food prices.
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Posted in Regulation of the Day
Tagged agriculture, creamer, creamer size, creamer size potatoes, food, idaho, idaho potatoes, irish potatoes, oregon, potatoes, regulation, Regulation of the Day, regulations, usda
I am shocked — shocked — that $6 million of stimulus money went to a company accused of “overbilling, bribery of union officials and other alleged improprieties on several large New York projects.” Such lapses in oversight never happen with government spending projects!
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Posted in Political Animals, Stimulus
Tagged bribes, government, government spending, government waste, graft, non-competitive bidding, overbilling, spending, Stimulus, union corruption, unions
Teenage unemployment is 25.5% — an all-time high, and nearly triple the general unemployment rate.
Maybe the fact that the minimum wage has increased three years in a row has something to do with it. Why would an employer hire someone unless they produce at least what they’re paid?
A lot of younger people have little experience and no marketable skills. Such things take time to develop. Until they do, they will remain unattractive hires unless they can be paid what they’re worth. Minimum wage laws, of course, make that illegal in many cases.
Another case of good intentions gone awry.
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Posted in Economics, Price and Wage Controls
Tagged econ 101, Economics, economics 101, good intentions, jobs, minimum wage, price controls, regulations, teen unemployment, unemployment, wage controls
If your company exports chemical weapons, make sure you keep good records. Every year, on company letterhead, you have to list ten things for the government. This includes which chemicals you exported, in what quantities, to whom, etc.
Reasonable enough. Chemical weapons in the wrong hands could pose a legitimate security threat. And supplying people with the means to kill other people is, shall we say, ethically dubious.
Still, the sixth item of our ten struck me as superfluous: “Purpose (end-use) of export.” This is rather obvious, is it not?
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Posted in Regulation of the Day
Tagged chemical warfare, chemical weapons, ethics, regulation, Regulation of the Day, regulations, war
Even the humble wooden crate cannot escape the government’ watchful regulatory eye. The rules include provisions for:
-Which types of trees from which countries may be used to make crates.
-Bark removal from the logs used to make the crates.
-Pest inspection.
-Heat treatment.
-Fumigation.
-Treated wood must be marked (the Department of Defense is exempt from this requirement).
-There are other rules for bamboo crates.
-And for loose wood.
Posted in Regulation of the Day
Some time ago I said that President Bush’s chronically low approval ratings were a good thing. Evidence of widespread skepticism about politicians. Or at least one of them.
This is why I welcome today’s news that 52% of Americans — a clear majority — have an unfavorable view of Congress. There is still much to do, though. Even after enduring two simultaneous land wars in Asia, record spending, record deficits, a housing crisis primarily of congress’ creation, bank bailouts, cap-and-trade, and cash for clunkers, 37% of Americans still retain a favorable view of Congress.
Jeez, what’s it take? Maybe health care?
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Posted in Political Animals
In Wisconsin, you need a license to work as a soil scientist. The requirements are listed here, and the paperwork (up to 27 forms!) is here in case you’re interested in applying.
Comments Off on Regulation of the Day 44: Soil Scientists
Posted in Regulation of the Day
Bryan Caplan says there are only two ways for a monopoly to form: government protection, or being the best.
“If the firm has a monopoly because the government made competition illegal, the solution isn’t antitrust; it’s legalizing competition. If the firm has a monopoly because it’s the best, the solution isn’t antitrust; it’s a little freakin’ appreciation.”
Inertia Wins! 