Reason.tv - Editors' Picks

California Redevelopment Agencies Abuse Their Powers & Should Never Return

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

by InstituteForJustice on Mar 6, 2012

The California legislature recently dissolved the state's redevelopment agencies, notoriously the nation's worst abusers of eminent domain—when the government condemns perfectly fine properties not for public use, but for private development. California should stand firm in its decision to eliminate these rogue agencies, which have siphoned billions in taxpayer dollars away from schools and local infrastructure, and destroyed lives for ill-conceived projects, that often never meet expectations or even come to fruition. Watch this video to learn more about redevelopment in the Golden State.

Don't Mess with Firefly! How SciFi Fans Made a Campus Safe for Free Speech (feat. Neil Gaiman)

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

TheFIREorg on Dec 24, 2011

This video, which features an interview with legendary author Neil Gaiman, is a lighthearted look at how the University of Wisconsin--Stout backed down from its censorship of Professor James Miller's posters, one featuring a quote from the science fiction show Firefly, and the other condemning fascism. Stout stood by its actions until FIRE's advocacy campaign on Miller's behalf inspired Gaiman, along with Firefly actors Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin, to take to Twitter to encourage their millions of followers to contact the university with their support of free speech.

Music by audionautix.com.

FREE SPEECH FIGHT: New Orleans Bureaucrats Silence Speech, Tour Guides Fight Back

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

InstituteForJustice on Dec 12, 2011

http://www.ij.org/nolatours

In New Orleans, it is a crime to charge people for a talking tour without first getting permission from the government.

City officials require every tour guide to pass a history exam, undergo a drug test and an FBI criminal background check every two years merely for speaking. People who give tours without a license face fines up to $300 per occurrence and five months in jail.

The First Amendment does not allow the government to be in the business of deciding who is—and who is not—allowed to speak about various topics. That is why four New Orleans tour guides have joined with the Institute for Justice in a federal lawsuit seeking to secure their free speech rights.

Vindicating this principle will help protect the rights of countless people across the country that speak for a living—whether they speak as news reporters, stand-up comedians or tour guides. This lawsuit was filed on December 13, 2011, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: A History

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

InstituteForJustice on Oct 11, 2011

The Fourteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1868 to empower the federal government -- including particularly federal courts -- to stamp out a culture of lawless tyranny and oppression in the South by enforcing basic civil rights of newly freed blacks and their white supporters. This culture of oppression took many forms, including widespread censorship, the systematic disarmament of freedmen and white unionists, and the wholesale denial of economic liberty. At the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment was the Privileges or Immunities Clause, which the Supreme Court effectively deleted from the Constitution in the 1873 Slaughterhouse Cases. Today, that judicial error continues to take its toll on important freedoms like private property and the right to earn an honest living, which receive virtually no protection from courts despite their obvious importance to ensuring the economic autonomy of the freedmen following the Civil War and all Americans today.

http://www.ij.org/cje

Would You Give Up The Internet For 1 Million Dollars?

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EDT

TFASvideo on Jul 6, 2011

The number of Internet users worldwide has now surpassed two billion and so many of us have integrated the web into our lives so much that it's hard to quantify how much it's worth to us. But why not give it a shot? Think about it.

How much would someone have to pay you to give up the Internet for the rest of your life?

Would a million dollars be enough? Twenty million? How about a billion dollars?

"When I ask my students this question, they say you couldn't pay me enough," says Professor Michael Cox, director of the O'Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business.

The free market, says Cox, creates a huge gap between what consumers would be willing to pay for Internet access and how much it actually costs.

It's cheap to get online and getting cheaper all the time. We see the same pattern with many other products. Take the cell phone. When it first arrived in the 1980s, the cell phone had no apps, no music, and no Internet access--it was pretty much a brick with buttons. Yet that brick cost about $4,000, and that's why only the super rich could afford them (think Gordon Gekko in Wall Street). Today, it takes only about 40 bucks to walk home with an iPhone.

Turns out capitalism has its own built in welfare transfer system.

"When a new product comes out we all get in line for it," says Cox. "The wealthiest people are in the front of the line and they pay the highest price for the worst version of a product." Real life Gordon Gekkos buy the products when they're expensive, and that lets the rest of us enjoy the cheaper, better versions.

Even in a lousy economy we all enjoy things, from smart phones to aspirin to air conditioning, that weren't available to the world's wealthiest people just a short while ago. And if we have access to something like the Internet, something that's worth so much to us, we just might be richer than we realize.

CREDITS:

Presented by The Fund for American Studies

Written and produced by Ted Balaker, hosted by Michelle Fields, music by Jason Shaw @audionautix.com http://audionautix.com/.

Special thanks to Mr. Robert Hoffman.

Unraveling Unconstitutional Government Regulation in Arizona

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT

InstituteForJustice on Jun 27, 2011

Eyebrow threading is a natural and safe method of hair removal that uses a single strand of cotton thread to remove unwanted hair, most commonly from the eyebrows, with no chemicals, dyes, hot wax or sharp objects. But state bureaucrats have decided that threaders cannot practice their trade without first obtaining an unnecessary and expensive government license. The Arizona Board of Cosmetology is now requiring skilled threaders to obtain an aesthetician license, which requires at least 600 hours of classroom instruction—not one hour of which teaches or tests threading—and that can cost over $10,000. But threaders do not need full-blown cosmetology training.

http://www.ij.org

'No Knock Raid' by Lindy Vopnfjord

josh.swain@reason.tv (Josh Swain) — Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT

agatajaworska on Jan 6, 2011

Recorded at Willow Pond B&B, here's a song inspired by the writing of reason magazine's Radley Balko.

Nashville's Sedan Drivers Fight City Effort To Run Them Off the Road

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EDT

InstituteForJustice on Apr 19, 2011

Until 2010, sedan and independent limo services were an affordable alternative to taxicabs. A trip to the airport only cost $25. But in June 2010, the Metropolitan County Council passed a series of anti-competitive regulations requested by the Tennessee Livery Association-a trade group formed by expensive limousine companies. These regulations force sedan and independent limo companies to increase their fares to $45 minimum.

The regulations also prohibit limo and sedan companies from using leased vehicles, require them to dispatch only from their place of business, require them to wait a minimum of 15 minutes before picking up a customer and forbid them from parking or waiting for customers at hotels or bars. And, in January 2012, companies will have to take all vehicles off the road if they are more than seven years old for a sedan or SUV or more than ten years old for a limousine.

These regulations have nothing to do with public safety. Nashville could have limited its requirements to those regulations that are designed to genuinely protect the public's health and safety, such as requiring insured and inspected vehicles, and driver background checks, but instead, Nashville is stooping to economic protectionism to put affordable car services out of business in favor of more expensive services that happen to have more political power. Many Nashville residents who regularly use limos and sedans will be forced to spend twice as much money for exactly the same service and hard-working sedan drivers will be driven out of business.

On April 20, 2011, the Institute for Justice teamed up with three Nashville entrepreneurs and filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee to vindicate the right of Nashville's limo and sedan operators to earn an honest living free from excessive government regulation.

EPIC EMINENT DOMAIN BATTLE: Inner-City Kids, Boxing Gym Fight Back

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EDT

InstituteForJustice

A San Diego-area boxing gym that serves at-risk kids is showing what it takes to fight for what is right and to win. The Community Youth Athletic Center (CYAC) has had to endure a series of low blows by National City's local government in a case that time and again demonstrated how difficult it is for California property owners to defend themselves against tax-hungry governments and land-hungry developers bent on eminent domain for private gain.

Jackpot Justice: More Lawyers, Fewer Doctors

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

The third film titled "More Lawyers, Fewer Doctors" takes a sobering look at how frivolous medical-liability lawsuits have triggered closure of medical facilities and caused a mass exodus of doctors from overlawyered states leaving residents without access to care.

Jackpot Justice is a Documentary Series based on the policy research of Lawrence McQuillan, Pacific Research Institute's director of Business and Economic Studies. The film was produced by Lur Films and Ozymandias Media and made possible by the support of The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation.

Jackpot Justice: Judicial Hellholes

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

The second film titled "Judicial Hellholes" takes audiences on a tour of American cities notorious for litigation tourism, where personal injury lawyers have learned that judges and juries are more likely to rule in their favor.

Jackpot Justice is a Documentary Series based on the policy research of Lawrence McQuillan, Pacific Research Institute's director of Business and Economic Studies. The film was produced by Lur Films and Ozymandias Media and made possible by the support of The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation.

Jackpot Justice: Lawyers Gone Wild

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

The first film in the Jackpot Justice series titled "Lawyers Gone Wild" takes a humorous look at the absurd warning labels on everyday consumer products revealing a serious underlying problem—rampant abuse of our nation's civil-justice tort climate.

Jackpot Justice is a Documentary Series based on the policy research of Lawrence McQuillan, Pacific Research Institute's director of Business and Economic Studies. The film was produced by Lur Films and Ozymandias Media and made possible by the support of The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation.

Arizona School Choice Fight Goes to U.S. Supreme Court

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EDT

On November 3, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the oral arguments in the case Garriot v. Winn. Arizona, like many states, offers tax credits to individuals and businesses for donations to fund scholarships for students to attend private schools. The goal of these programs is to give as many students as possible the resources they need to get a good education. The Dennard family has benefited from this program. Hear their story.

http://www.ij.org/winn

Camp Politics: Training the Next Generation of Censors Since 1974

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT

An Important Message From The Staff of Camp Politics:

Our mission is to train your son or daughter to win political office and then stay there - mainly by using campaign finance laws to suppress political speech that threatens their reelection.

But, unfortunately, many in the public have the absurd idea that free speech should receive the full protection of the First Amendment. One of the chief proponents of this view is the Institute for Justice. It just launched its "Citizen Speech Campaign," which it calls "a multi-state effort to restore full protection to political speech about candidates and ballot issues." If you truly care about your children's future as successful incumbent politicians, please do not allow the Institute to dissuade you from sending them to Camp Politics.

Learn more about the Institute for Justice's Citizen Speech Campaign.

http://www.CampPolitics.org

Cast:
Narrator: Steve Izant
Counselor: Nick Hanson
Kids: Sophia Cabana, Zachary Cabana, Nicky McBroom, Sam McBroom, Julia
Simpson, Kate Simpson, Natalie Simpson

Cops on Camera

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT

This video was produced by the Cato Institute . We all have to deal with the opportunities and challenges presented by widespread video technology. The same is true for police. But law enforcement might prefer that cameras not be a part of their interactions with citizens. Citizens should have the right to record their interactions with police and police should be required to record their most intense interactions with citizens. The video features attorneys David Rittgers and Clark Neily and journalist Radley Balko.

Produced by Caleb Brown and Evan Banks. Additional lighting and camera by Brian Haynesworth and Lester Romero.

Free the Monks & Free Enterprise

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Under Louisiana law, it is a crime for anyone but a licensed funeral director to sell "funeral merchandise," which includes caskets. To sell caskets legally, the monks of Saint Joseph Abbey would have to abandon their calling for one full year to apprentice at a licensed funeral home, learn unnecessary skills and take a funeral industry test. They would also have to convert their monastery into a "funeral establishment" by, among other things, installing equipment for embalming human remains.

How to Create One Million Jobs

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Many public opinion polls show "jobs and unemployment" as Americans' top concern. Other polls are beginning to find "federal debt" is most worrisome to the public.

It's no wonder why: 15 million people are unemployed and government spending has created a debt close to the size of our entire economy.

We know of a way to help halt the growth of debt AND create jobs. Just follow the 5 easy steps outlined in the video.

The Greecing of America, Simplified

dan.hayes@reason.org (Dan Hayes) — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Be first to receive videos about economic policy. Subscribe at http://www.bankruptingamerica.org
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The repercussions from Greece's fiscal crisis are starting to ripple around the world. But are lessons being learned?

Thousands of Greeks have violently rioted against their government because the game is up. For years, the Greek government made spending promises to its people that it could never keep (much like a Bernie Madoff-style Ponzi scheme).

When taxes couldn't cover the cost of spending, the Greek government took out loans. Loans quickly turned to a debt so large it's 115% the size of Greece's economy.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is doing the exact same thing. Watch the video to find out more and, if you approve of the video's message, please pass it along to others.

It's too late for Greece. But it's not too late for us. We can still cut spending and save our economy from crisis.
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Want to stay informed and take action with others? Sign up at http://www.bankruptingamerica.org

Policing for Profit

dan.hayes@reason.org (Dan Hayes) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Civil forfeiture laws represent one of the most serious assaults on private property rights in the nation today. With civil forfeiture, police and prosecutors can seize your property and use it to fund their budgets—all without charging you with a crime. Americans are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, but with civil forfeiture, your property is guilty until you prove it innocent—and law enforcement has a huge incentive to police for profit, not justice.

If police suspect that you committed a crime, they can arrest you and put you on trial. At that trial, prosecutors must prove you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

But if police suspect your car was involved in a crime, they can take it, sell it and, in most places, pocket the proceeds to pad their budgets. They need not prove you committed any crime—or even arrest you—to take your property away.

Welcome to the upside-down world of civil asset forfeiture.
With civil forfeiture, your property is guilty until you prove it innocent to get it back.
And because most state and federal laws allow police and prosecutors to pocket the proceeds, they have a big incentive to pursue profits, not justice.

How big? In 1986, the Justice Departments forfeiture fund took in 94 million dollars. Now it has more than a billion. State and local agencies receive forfeiture funds, too—but we dont know how much because most states dont publicly report on forfeiture.

No surprise—abuse is rampant. One New York police department spent forfeiture funds on food, gifts and entertainment. In Georgia, forfeiture funds paid for football tickets for a DAs office. In Louisiana, cops used funds to pay for ski trips to Aspen. And a DA in Texas used forfeiture dollars to buy TV ads for his re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, citizens are seeing cash, cars and other property taken away for the flimsiest of reasons. Carrying too much cash? Police can accuse you of selling drugs or laundering money and seize it, no conviction or even arrest required.

An Institute for Justice study grades state laws on how well they protect people from wrongful forfeitures. Only three states receive a B or better. The rest range from mediocre to awful—and so does federal law.

Worse, a federal legal loophole allows police and prosecutors to bypass state protections and keep pocketing forfeiture money. IJs research shows that the easier and more profitable these laws make forfeiture, the more it is used and abused.

Its time to end civil forfeiture. People shouldnt have their property taken away without being convicted of a crime. And law enforcement shouldnt be policing for profit

Learn more at http://www.ij.org/PolicingForProfit

Ephemerisle Seasteading Documentary

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Ephemerisle Documentary by Jason Sussberg from The Seasteading Institute on Vimeo.

Freddy's Bar Fighting Eminent Domain in Brooklyn

dan.hayes@reason.org (Dan Hayes) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

...

Saving Lives: Challenging the Ban on Compensating Bone Marrow Donors

dan.hayes@reason.org (Dan Hayes) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

FOR MORE ON THIS CASE, VISIT http://www.ij.org/bonemarrow

Every year, 1,000 Americans die because they cannot find a matching bone marrow donor. Minorities are hit especially hard. Common sense suggests that offering modest incentives to attract more bone marrow donors would be worth pursuing, but federal law makes that a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

That is why on October 28, 2009, adults with deadly blood diseases, the parents of sick children, a California nonprofit and a world-renowned medical doctor who specializes in bone marrow research joined with the Institute for Justice to launch a legal fight against the U.S. Attorney General to put an end to a ban on offering compensation for bone marrow donors.

The National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984 treats compensation for marrow donors as though it were black-market organ sales. Under NOTA, giving a college student a scholarship or a new homeowner a mortgage payment for donating marrow would land everyone—doctors, nurses, donors and patients—in federal prison for up to five years.

NOTAs criminal ban violates equal protection because it arbitrarily treats renewable bone marrow like nonrenewable solid organs instead of like other renewable or inexhaustible cells—such as blood—for which compensated donation is legal. That makes no sense because bone marrow, unlike organs such as kidneys, replenishes itself in just a few weeks after it is donated, leaving the donor whole once again. The ban also violates substantive due process because it irrationally interferes with the right to participate in safe, accepted, lifesaving, and otherwise legal medical treatment.

The only thing the bone marrow provision of NOTA appears to accomplish is unnecessary deaths. A victory in this case will not only give hope to thousands facing deadly diseases, but also reaffirm bedrock principles about constitutional protection for individual liberty. This is the first time NOTA has ever been the subject of a constitutional challenge.

'Actual Bone Marrow Donation' photo reproduced under a Creative Commons license from flickr user limowreck666.

New Jersey Considers Medical Marijuana

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT

New Jersey considers a medical marijuana law

Cuba Rebelion - Official Trailer

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Cuba RebelioN! is a documentary about Cuban underground rock musicians who rebel against the Castro-regime. It shows the painful reality of musicians who are not allowed to express themselves publicly but are nevertheless willing to put their freedom at risk by playing their music.

Order DVD at www.coldsun.eu

Nick Gillespie on Che movie here . Michael Moynihan on Sean Penn and Porna Para Ricardo here .

The Power of the Poor from Free to Choose Media

dan.hayes@reason.org (Dan Hayes) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

"The Power of the Poor" coming to PBS October 8, 2009.

To those who watch television in the developed world, there doesn't seem to be a better system on earth than the capitalist system. We are experiencing the longest economic expansion in modern history. Soviet Communism has been defeated.

But make no mistake, as we will demonstrate in this program, capitalism is surprisingly vulnerable. The moment of capitalism's greatest triumph is the moment of its greatest crisis, its Moment of Truth. In fact, capitalism is not working for the vast majority of humanity that lives on the planet. Two thirds of the world's population has been locked out of the global economy, forced to operate outside the rule of law, they have no legal identity, no credit, no capital, and thus no way to prosper. To unlock The Power of the Poor is to change the world. If we fail, these people will turn against capitalism as they have turned against other failed economic systems, and that could make for a very difficult, violent time.

Filmed on location from Latin America to Africa, The Power of the Poor will demonstrate how free markets, individual freedom and especially the right to property can transform the poor into the most powerful resource in the world. At its heart is the potential triumph of capitalism as a system.