Fourth of July

I find it very interesting that on this day - a day to celebrate the birth of so much of what the United States stands for - so many people choose to spend the day with family and friends. Cooking out, boating, playing yard sports, watching fireworks (lighting fireworks); all these activities, to me, speak of values and ideals fundamental to our nation. Freedom, initiative, family, deterrence (you do know that the tradition of fireworks in America started with the celebratory detonation of military ordnance).

Anyway, enough musings - on to my main point. Isn't it amazing that we live in a country where so many counties, townships, and cities can afford to spend tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of dollars on making nice explosions in the sky? Does anyone think that such an outlay of wealth could happen in a country without a free economy on a local level without negatively impacting the other functions of the local or state government?

ps - the fireworks show went really well last night. The Finale was AWESOME - one of the best I've ever done.

Economics Everywhere

(with apologies to Marginal Revolution for the title)

Yeah, I know it's been a while, but I've been busy. I'll actually be teaching two sections of "economics for the citizen" at Patrick Henry College in the fall.

But that's beside the point.

The reason I'm writing: I'm spending the week of the 4th with my family, in Michigan, doing fireworks. (we are part of a commercial fireworks crew) We're just about to eat breakfast, and my dad walks into the room and starts paying "bounties". On Chipmunks! The bounty is $2.00 a head, paid by my dad, upon the killing (and removal) of every chipmunk. It truly is amazing how the bounty has turned my siblings into vicious chipmunk hunter. Pellet guns, slingshots, bike tires, water buckets - they are rather creative in their destruction.