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My basic principle is that the world should be constructed, so nearly as can be efficiently done, such that the costs and benefits of decisions accrue to the people making them, and that, within that framework, people are free to make their own decisions. Liberty and rule of law are more important than democracy; indeed, the primary virtue of the latter is its ability to protect the former.
Decisions made by others should, thus, not be too wantonly inflicted on others; I intend to finish my screed against democracy at some point. It should probably include some quotes from Lincoln's debates with Douglas.
Fat people have a right to be fat -- and take any consequences that go with it.
Put people before dumb slogans.
Better safe than sorry, but better neither than both.
Things Everyone Should KnowScalia's PGA v. Martin dissent
Class size research. Limited benefit to student achievement at a high cost; this is the sort of thing government does best. I think we should double class size so we can pay teachers twice as much, then fire any that don't produce educated kids.
A great short lesson in thinking properly about just that sort of thing. From Thomas Sowell, unsurprisingly.
"We have certain standards of life that we believe are best for us. We do not ask other nations to discard theirs but we do wish to preserve ours...We reflect on no one in wanting immigrants who will be assimilated into our ways of thinking and living." -- Calvin Coolidge, newspaper column, Dec. 13, 1930