by Runaway Slave | Jul 17, 2006 | Essays & Articles, Government, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing
I’ve been watching tattoo artist Sal Unvar’s journey through the corrupt, absurd and often ridiculous labyrinth of Key West Code Enforcement in my two-week-old issues of Key West the Newspaper. From my present vantage point in a third world country, far...
by Runaway Slave | Jun 7, 2006 | Essays & Articles, Government, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing
An AP article last week announced the conclusions of a Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sponsored study of American's restaurant eating habits. The FDA thinks restaurant owners should help the FDA improve our health by cutting portion size. Not satisfied...
by Runaway Slave | Nov 7, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freemarket, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Liberty, Licensing
Like a Pope Gregory granting dispensation from sin to Crusaders, our local government has suspended the need for building repair permits in our flood ravaged city. In doing so our leaders admit what they never would in normal times. Permitting and building inspection...
by Runaway Slave | Jun 14, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Liberty, Licensing, Politics
Never appeal to a man’s "better nature." He may not have one. Invoking his self-interest gives you more leverage. — Robert Heinlein It’s summer again in Florida. Weathermen are in their glory. Floridians are wondering how the patio doors will hold up...
by Runaway Slave | May 26, 2005 | Essays & Articles, Freedom, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing, Taxes
"Politicians are interested in people. Not that this is always a virtue. Fleas are interested in dogs." — P. J. O'Rourke A victory for fair play and the free market has put local politicians and bureaucrats in a tizzy. A jury has brought in a verdict...
by Runaway Slave | Nov 16, 2004 | Essays & Articles, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing, Politics
Like a drunk driver fleeing the scene of an accident, the Key West City Commission careens wildly toward its next inevitable collision with unintended consequences. The speeding City Government Hummer, drivers giddy on lawsuit fumes, the wreckage of the short-term...
by Runaway Slave | Mar 25, 2004 | Ecology, Essays & Articles, Law, Libertarian Curmudgeon, Licensing
The dirty little secret of environmental protection in the Florida Keys is not “lack of commitment on the enforcement side” as your editor maintained in the editorial of February 7, “Weekend clear-cutters should pay higher price” but a failure to admit that condemning...