Under the Government’s Wing

A needle, spoon, and drug

Safe injection sites create risk and confusion about drug policy.

By Justin Katz | October 25, 2021 |

The news is national that Rhode Island has become the first state to greenlight sites where users have heavy drugs can go to take them: Rhode Island plans to create supervised spaces for users to inject illegal drugs, in a big test of the idea that reducing harm to drug users is more effective than…

A fading man on train tracks

We must address the roots of our society’s depression and anxiety.

By Justin Katz | October 15, 2021 |

Russ Roberts’ conversation with writer Johann Hari on a recent episode of EconTalk was interesting for a variety of reasons, not the least because it seems Hari’s work on anxiety and depression changed his own mind a bit.  One might say he’s moved toward the conservative view of the world, at least on this question, and…

A water drop and ripples

Note what details are important to our overlords.

By Justin Katz | October 7, 2021 |

Glenn Reynolds shares a really good point from a friend of his: Remember: They’ll spend trillions on bills they haven’t read but want details on how you spent $600.

Sledge hammer

McKee & Alexander-Scott: COVID Didn’t Crash RI’s Healthcare? Let us Take a Whack!

By Monique Chartier | October 3, 2021 |

Hospitals, healthcare facilities and nursing homes around Rhode Island have been dutifully firing their valued, ESSENTIAL employees to comply with Rhode Island’s rigid edict that all healthcare workers must receive the COVID-19 vaccine or lose their license. Over ninety health care facilities, including Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam Hospital and dozens of nursing homes, were not…

Dr. Stephen Skoly's office building

The State of Rhode Island Comes for Dr. Skoly

By Justin Katz | October 1, 2021 |

A compliance order issued to Dr. Skoly on the basis of a Providence Journal report shows the state Department of Health looking to make an example of him.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark shows how socialism creates a permanent underclass.

By Justin Katz | September 22, 2021 |

A July episode of the Econtalk podcast is worth your time.  University of Chicago Economist James Heckman (a Nobel Laureate) and host Russ Roberts discuss the former’s research on social mobility in Denmark, a country with frighteningly detailed data on all of its citizens.  Here’s a key point worth teasing out, from Heckman (emphasis added): … Denmark…

Autumn Labyrinth by Jacek Yerka

The Left Discovers the “Time Tax,” Wants More Government

By Justin Katz | August 6, 2021 |

The solution is not to lean into the welfare-state, but to lean toward the free market.

A fisherman with his net

Fishing boats are another example of government bragging about easing problems it caused.

By Justin Katz | July 20, 2021 |

Liberty Rhode Island caught the RI House of Representatives bragging about softening its grip around the Ocean State’s economic neck.  The example comes from the House’s Facebook page, which appears to be a partisan outlet to promote newspaper clippings that say nice things about House Democrats.  The page quotes an article by Ryan Blessing in The…

Vincent Van Gogh Tree Roots

Elorza’s view of poverty perfectly encapsulates progressives’ error.

By Justin Katz | July 14, 2021 |

No doubt many smart progressives would spot Democrat Mayor of Providence Jorge Elorza’s error in thinking, but this statement, as quoted on GoLocalProv, perfectly summarizes the progressive approach to policy: “If there’s one thing that causes poverty, it’s the lack of money,” said Elorza of the program that is currently funded through private donations —…

A water mill on a river

Matos’s Census Lessons and the Formation of a “Company State”

By Justin Katz | May 4, 2021 |

RI Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos took to the pages of the Boston Globe to herald the state’s Census-count success as a model for the provision of services, but progressives like her are redefining the relationship of the people with their government.