The wife of one of the greatest economists the world has ever known died today of heart failure.  Rose Friedman, who happened to be a damn good economist in her own right, was believed to have been 98 years young. I’ll never forget the day when I met both Rose and Milton Friedman – I walking into an elevator as they were walking out. The elevator doors opened and I couldn’t help but blurt out, “Has anyone ever told you you guys look just like Rose and Milton Friedman?!” To which they replied, “Well, that’s because we are!” And so we went and ate breakfast together. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I mean, it’s on the same level for me as getting to hang out with Pete Townshend. Doesn’t get much better than that. Rest in peace Rose, you and Milton will be truly missed.

In honor of both Rose and Milton, I urge you to watch the series Free to Choose, available in its entirety online here.

Rep. Doug Lamborn just released these town hall dates:

Congressman Doug Lamborn will hold a set of town hall meetings in Southern Colorado beginning Tuesday (TODAY) to discuss health care reform and other subjects.

The first will take place in Woodland Park at the Woodland Park City Hall, Tuesday, August 18th, 4:30-5:30pm.

The second will be on Tuesday, August 25th, at the Canon City City Hall, 4:30-5:30 pm.

The last will take place Thursday, August 27th from 7-8:30 pm at Valley High Country Club in Colorado Springs.

During the Bush administration, many within the dominant culture expressed concern about the constitutionality of detaining several hundred alleged enemy combatants in Guantanamo.

Whenever legal restrictions on abortion are proposed, many express doubt about the constitutionality of interjecting government between patients and their doctors.

But those voices have been mostly silent about the constitutionality of empowering the federal government with decisions over the life, death, and health of three hundred million Americans.

In fact, the constitutional difficulties are profound. This is certainly so for those who believe the Constitution means what our Founders understood it to mean. But it is even true for those interested only in modern Supreme Court jurisprudence.Following are some of the ways in which current health care proposals potentially clash with our nation’s Basic Law: Continue Reading »

It’s a little colder today in hell.  Despite my ego’s protests, I’ve decided to share this wonderful space I like to call the Cauldron with a man much smarter than I.  Drum roll please….. I’d like to welcome senior fellow, Rob Natelson.

Rob has been a Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Independence Institute for many years.  He’s a nationally-recognized constitutional scholar with an awesome publication record – not just in constitutional law, but in many other fields.

Rob also has a wealth of practical political experience in several different states – including Colorado and particularly Montana.  For example, during the 1990s he led a successful movement to transform Montana from a state dominated by a collectivist, anti-freedom mind-set to a state much more respectful of personal freedom.  He ran a statewide radio talk show, and in 2000 he ran second among five Republican and Democratic candidates in the Montana “open” gubernatorial primary.

Before embarking on an academic career, Rob practiced law in Colorado, taught on various occasions at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver, and wrote a regular column for the Rocky Mountain News (RIP).  He spends a lot of time in the outdoors — hiking, skiiing, and sometimes camping and shooting.  He has been an guest several times on some very popular iVoices podcasts.

Rob is particularly known as an expert on our American Founding Fathers and the intent behind the U.S. Constitution, so many of his comments will be about the Constitution.  Expect to see remarks about personal rights, states’ rights, out-of-control judges, and how our government disregards its constitutional limits.  But you can expect him to weigh in on all sorts of topics. (Of course, his opinions are his own – not necessarily those of me, the Independence Institute, or of his current employer.)

Sen. Mark Udall:
Aug. 24: Sen. Udall will hold a field hearing of his National Parks Subcommittee in Estes Park.

Aug. 27: Sen. will hold a town hall in Durango about energy.

Additional events on the Senator’s schedule will be released to the local media a few days prior to each event.

Sen. Michael Bennet:

This month, Bennet “will be visiting over 30 counties to talk to Coloradans about the issues that are important to them, such as health care, the economy, energy, fiscal discipline and more,” said spokeswoman Deirdre Murphy

Rep. Diana DeGette:

DeGette has plans for a telephone town hall this week for constituents about health care.

“The rest of the congresswoman’s schedule is still under development for August,” said spokesman Kris Eisenla.

Rep. Jared Polis:

Congressman Polis held public events in Keystone and Boulder this week.

A full list of future public events can be found on the congressman’s website, at: polis.house.gov/Calendar/

Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa:

Doesn’t like the idea of town halls….

Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins:

Aug. 20: 3 to 5 p.m., Congress on Your Corner, Longmont

Aug. 21: 1 to 3 p.m., Seniors Day Event, Greeley

Aug. 22: 10 a.m. to noon, Congress on Your Corner, Fort Lupton

Aug. 24: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., tele-town hall meeting.

Aug 26th: Lory Student Center, Room 230, Fort Collins.

Aug 27th: 10-11:45 a.m., Group Publishing, 1515 Cascade Ave.

Aug 28th: 9-10:30 a.m., Fort Morgan City Hall, Council Room, 110 Main St., Fort Morgan.

Sept. 1, 8:30-10 a.m., Johnson’s Corner, Johnstown.

Sept. 2, 1-3 p.m., Windsor Community Recreation Center, 250 N. 11th St., Windsor.

Sept. 3, 3:30-5 p.m., Wasson Room, Estes Park Public Library, 335 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs

Congressman Doug Lamborn will hold a set of town hall meetings in Southern Colorado beginning Tuesday to discuss health care reform and other subjects.

The first will take place in Woodland Park at the Woodland Park City Hall, Tuesday, August 18^th, 4:30-5:30pm

The second will be on August 25^th, at the Canon City City Hall, 4:30-5:30 pm.

The last will take place Thursday, August 27^th from 7-8:30 pm at Valley High Country Club in Colorado Springs.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora:

Coffman will also be holding town hall meetings in Douglas and Elbert counties. Details will be forthcoming

“August represents an important opportunity for Members to hear from constituents about pressing issues,” Coffman said. “Right now that means health care and jobs. Americans have real concerns with the Democrat proposals and I look forward to discussing these concerns at my upcoming town hall meetings.”

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden:

Aug 20, 2009
Time: 6:00PM
Title : Radio Townhall on 760 AM with Mario Solis-Marich
Register through 760 AM Radio.

Aug 22, 2009
Time: 8:00AM
Title : Housing Fair with Reps. Perlmutter and Polis
Maragaret Capenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Boulevard, Thornton, CO 80233

Aug 24, 2009
Time: 7:00PM
Title : Healthcare Reform Telephone Townhall
Visit perlmutter.house.gov/townhall to sign up.

http://www.perlmutter.house.gov/events.aspx

Why do the Denver city central planners hate senior fellow Mike Krause’s property rights so much they want to downzone his entire Berkeley neighborhood — so that no one can ever add value to their property through redevelopment? This week, Denver City Councilman Charlie Brown and Mike Krause of the Independence Institute join guest host Jessica Corry to discuss the future of property rights in Colorado’s largest city. Tune in tonight at 8:30pm, KBDI channel 12, with a repeat viewing next Tuesday at 5pm.

Remember those anti-Bush bumper stickers that read, “He’s not my President”?  Well, I am pleased to announce that we at the Independence Institute debuted our new awesomely awesome bumper stickers yesterday at the Mike Coffman townhall.  They went faster than we could hand them out! Check it out: (click to enlarge)

If you’d like to show the world that Obama is not your doctor, email Mary MacFarlane at mary@i2i.org and send her your name, address, and primary email account, and we’ll send you a brand spanking new bumper sticker – free of charge!

***PS – Due to the overwhelming demand, please limit your bumper sticker requests to just 2 per household. Thanks!

You can really tell government officials’ priorities best during a “fiscal crisis.”  While some governments look to cut fire and police budgets, Denver is continuing forward with planned public art projects.  Who needs cops when you’ve got great phallic public art?

Our investigative reporter Todd Shepherd uncovered Denver’s strange fiscal priorities in his latest report, “Facing $120M Budget Shortfall, Denver Presses Forward with $4M in Artwork Spending.” I sat down with Todd to discuss the matter further in this iVoices.org podcast.

To each his own, but I would guess most people would rather have an extra cop or two than some of what passes for art in the city of Denver.

You’ve been there before. You’re at a function, your dinner table, or the grocery store and you hear it: silly, half reasoned arguments for yet MORE government interference in health care. Nevermind that Colorado already has 46 health care mandates as of 2007. Simply put, the idea that yet MORE mandates will somehow solve the problem is laughable.  But by now, we’ve heard it all.  “But single-payer has lower administrative costs!!!”  “How come all the other first world countries have it and we don’t?!”  “But health care is a RIGHT!!”  blah, blah, etc, etc.

To combat the sheer looniness of the other side, health care policy analyst Brian Schwartz has come up with a concise guide to dissecting, and responding to emotional, fact-less health care arguments.  Consider it your garlic to Obama Care vampires supporters.

In less than 90 seconds this new health reform video highlights the upside-down priorities of Oregon’s Medicaid system. Lobbying groups have used the political process to push coverage for special-interest causes like substance abuse and weight loss treatment ahead of treatments for some kinds of cancer on the priority list.

If you’d like a more in depth view of this awful byproduct of Obama Care… Here is Amy Oliver discussing the horrors of Oregon’s medical rationing with Health Policy Center director Linda Gorman a couple months back.