Grist reports on a class-action suit that is being filed against ConAgra for allegedly deceptive marketing of its various vegetable oils. The core of the complaint seems to be that some ConAgra products, such as Wesson corn oil, are labeled as “100% natural” even though they contain oil from genetically modified corn. If something comes […]
Author Archive | Jonathan H. Adler
What to Make of Jon Huntsman
What should libertarian-leaning folk make of former Utah governor Jon Huntsman’s presidential bid? Most press accounts characterize Huntsman as a “moderate” — and he certainly appears to have framed his candidacy that way — but he bears little resemblance to what usually counts as a “moderate” in the GOP. He has some positions that are […]
Asian Carp Win Again
The Great Lakes states are concerned about the potential spread of Asian carp, an invasive species not native to North America, into the Great Lakes. They fear the carp could have significant negative ecological and economic consequences for the region. For the past few years, these states have sought (unsuccessfully) to obtain an injunction requiring […]
WI Supreme Court Altercation Ends Not with a Bang, But a Whimper
This past June a disagreement between two justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court allegedly turned physical. Official inquiries were launched and the matter was referred to a special prosecutor. That inquiry has concluded, the Journal-Sentinel reports, and no criminal charges will be filed. “The totality of the facts and the circumstances and all of the […]
Can the GOP Be Anti-EPA and Pro-Environment?
Most of the GOP’s Presidential hopefuls have been savage in their criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Indeed, some have called for the agency to be dismantled. Could this possibly be a good idea? I’m all for criticizing the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of federal environmental regulation — I’ve certainly done my share — but […]
Settling on Species Numbers
Biodiversity loss may be a serious environmental problem (I certainly believe it is), but scientists have had a hard time figuring out how many species are disappearing and how fast. One difficulty is the lack of consensus on how many species there are in the first place. Approximately 1.2 million species have been identified, but […]
Is It Time to Deregulate the Law?
In today’s WSJ, Clifford Winston and Robert Crandall of the Brookings Institution argue that now is the time for the legal profession to deregulate. The reality is that many more people could offer various forms of legal services today at far lower prices if the American Bar Association (ABA) did not artificially restrict the number of […]
“No Longer Anonymous, But Still Not Quite Right”
At Prawfsblawg, Paul Horwitz offers useful perspective on “Inside the Law School Scam” and its author’s decision to reveal his identity.
An Inconvenient Truth: Christie Is Right on Climate
Until last week, many conservatives considered New Jersey Governor Chris Christie a hero. Some were even clamoring for him to enter the presidential race. Now, however, some of the same conservatives are branding him a heretic, even as he embraces policy decisions they support. What’s going on? Last week, Christie vetoed legislation that would have […]
The Education Bubble
The Atlantic‘s Daniel Indiviglio highlights the enormous growth in student loan debt over the past twelve years. Indiviglio comments: This chart looks like a mistake, but it’s correct. Student loan debt has grown by 511% over this period. In the first quarter of 1999, just $90 billion in student loans were outstanding. As of the […]
The LawProf Behind “Inside the Law School Scam”
In the latest post at Inside the Law School Scam, titled “An apology,” the LawProf reveals himself to be the author of this essay. UPDATE: Paul Caron rounds up coverage and background here. FURTHER UPDATE: Brian Leiter comments quite critically here. THIRD UPDATE: A reminder that Campos and Leiter have clashed before. FOURTH UPDATE: The comments […]
Unchain Agricultural Biotechnology
Population growth and climate change demand increases in agricultural productivity — increases that can only be achieved through the use of modern biotechnology. Yet excessive and scientifically unjustified regulatory restrictions hamper the development of more productive crop strains, particularly where they are needed most. So argues Penn State biology professor Nina Federoff in today’s NYT, […]
Rearguing Texas v. White
Some Texans, including the current governor, maintain that Texas retained the right to secede when it joined the United States. The Supreme Court’s 1869 decision in Texas v. White would suggest otherwise. But was the Court correct? Via the WSJ Law Blog comes news that the Supreme Court Historical Society is hosting a mock retrial […]
Global Warming Could Trigger Alien Attack
The Guardian reports on a scenario analysis conducted by several scientists considering possible scenarios resulting from contact with alien life forms. The analysis covers many basic scenarios, such as basic communication or the possibility of disease transmission from physical contact, but also suggests global warming could give aliens an excuse to attack. The authors warn […]
Taking a Look At Texas
Texas Governor Rick Perry’s greatest asset as a candidate is the Lone Star state’s recent economic performance. Paul Krugman may not be impressed, but the Texas economy has boomed while the rest of the country has stalled, as this analysis shows. But can Perry take credit for it? Not necessarily. Megan McArdle is skeptical. Jason […]