Today, I am joined by Dr. Kevin Kosar, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and writer of the foreword to the latest edition of Edward Banfield’s book, Government Project.
Kevin explains why government projects don’t work and the following: - Why does the federal government tax and spend so much? - How are some government projects better than others? - What should the future be of work? Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and rate and review it. I would appreciate it if you would subscribe to my Substack newsletter so you’ll receive my episodes, show notes, and other valuable insights in your inbox twice weekly at vanceginn.substack.com.
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Thirteen years ago today, I was a graduate student in the doctoral program at Texas Tech University and had just finished judging an undergraduate research poster competition. I was riding the bus back to my apartment when I received a horrible phone call from my mom. She said my dad has passed away in his sleep from SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/impact/mortality/sudep).
We will come back to that. But first let me tell you about this remarkable person and how he got to this point. One day in 1972, when my dad was 17 and had just left a place in Brookshire, Texas, my dad was in a terrible traffic accident. He was a passenger in a truck that was struck by what we believe was a drunk driver who had seemingly run a red light. The result was that he had a severe head injury. Little did he know it would change his life forever. After weeks in a coma and after the doctors telling his family he may not live, my dad woke up and worked every day to live a "normal" life. Without any memories before the wreck (amnesia) and short-term memory loss thereafter, he battled not knowing anyone in his classes, not knowing he was class president, not knowing he was president of his school's National Honor Society, not knowing he was a football player, and much more. To this day, I still don't know much about him before the wreck. He once shared a story with me of how he was sitting in class after he returned to school and the principal called someone over the loudspeaker. His friend tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he was just called—he periodically didn't know his own name. He was taken to a room for a National Honors Society meeting and told he should sit at the head of the table. He asked why. They said he was the president and would lead the meeting. Of course, he was unable, but the level of respect he had at Royal High School in Brookshire, TX is remarkable. This is one of many similar stories. Let me tell you more. Time passed and he went to school at Sam Houston State University for three years to study drafting before his memory declined so much he started making Bs, Cs, and eventually failing classes, all of which were the first time, I believe, that he earned less than an A. He had to drop out but took what he learned to be a productive draftsman. He would eventually sometimes work two jobs to pay the bills for the family. He later worked at a gas company, Entex, in Houston checking gas meters. He fell in love with my mom while they were living in Brookshire, TX, and they soon married. They were happy and lived life like any other newly married couple would. My dad acted a little strange from time to time, which is why his nickname was "Weird Harold," but not much else seemed wrong. Then in the mid-1980s, something started to change. He started having small petit mal seizures (he would stare into space without being able to speak and would smile big for no reason). No one paid attention the first few times. Eventually, he started having grand mal seizures (features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions; it's the type of seizure most people picture when the person falls to the ground and convulses). He was in and out of hospitals after having grand mal seizures twice per month or even more frequently. After a couple years and wrecking three cars, one while working at Entex (now Reliant Energy), he reluctantly filed for disability in 1987 and never worked or drove again. This crushed him and the numerous drugs he was on and lack of ability to remember things put pressure on his psyche and my parent's marriage—they eventually got divorced, remarried, and divorced again when I was young. He lived off and on with us to help pay bills or with his mom, mainly with my granny during most of my childhood. When he was at home, we would play baseball in the backyard or at Wilson Park and basketball in the front yard for hours. I have so many great memories of those times. He would go over my schoolwork with me while I was in home school. He was a math guru and taught me tricks along the way. He listened to me beating on the drums when I had little clue how to play and later would go to my rock concerts when I was in the band Sindrome. I remember picking him up from his mom's and taking him to the neurologist, Dr. Neumark, at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston's Medical Center for years. I learned much about epilepsy, and how it can affect someone's life from reading books, watching my dad have hundreds of seizures over my lifetime, and talking with him about the struggle he had to deal with his situation. He took roughly 12 pills per day and had a vagal nerve stimulation surgically implanted near his chest that would send electronic impulses to his brain to help him have fewer seizures. It helped reduce the seizures over time from two per month to about one every 3 or 4 months. He would keep track of all his seizures and I remember how proud we were when they were less frequent. Each time he had one he would be exhausted for several days. He was always energetic and in a fairly good mood, so after he had a seizure, it was very unlike him to sit around most the day and not talk much. During my days at Tech, I visited home, South Houston, about twice per year (9-hour drive is too long to visit often). While I was home, I would take dad out as much as possible and play pool, watch Astros games, and have fun. Without the independence to drive and few friends to take him anywhere, he spent most of his time at home and I tried my best to get him out and enjoy the world. He never complained about his situation. He did voice frustration that he couldn't drive or do things others could do, but for the most part, he lived a normal life and could do anything he wanted. Years passed and he moved in with a friend and me in a townhouse in Lubbock on June 1, 2008. It was my second year of graduate school. We would go eat breakfast in the mornings when I didn't have class. We would go for long walks and talk about my research, politics, and the meaning of life. That was how he relaxed; he would go on long walks. There was nothing better for him than being with family or alone with nature. He could get away from the thought of being disabled or feeling trapped in a body that kept him from doing the things he wanted. After I moved in with Emily, dad got an apartment in the same complex about 30 yards away. It was the first time he ever lived on his own and had a sense of independence since that cloudy day in 1972 when his life changed forever. We would barbecue together and he would visit us often. I am so thankful he had the opportunity to know Emily and she will have memories to tell our two sons (oldest has dad's middle name) and daughter. Dad and I had many great memories together in Lubbock. He had some complications with his epilepsy and I stayed in the hospital with him for a week as they did a number of tests to see if they could surgically repair the place on his brain that caused the seizures. They determined it was too risky because it was near the part of your brain that controls your speech and he went on with his life. After two and a half years (in December 2010) living near me in Lubbock, dad moved to Houston to live with my sister, Tiffany, and her family. He was excited about living with them and being around his grandkids, but he was upset about leaving his life in Lubbock. Although I missed him every day, I knew he was happy and everything seemed fine. Then that day came in 2011 when I was on the bus that I received the phone call from my mom. My mom said Tiffany had checked on dad after he seemed to be sleeping unusually late. She found him lying there, not breathing. My first reaction was to my mom telling me he wasn’t breathing was: Why not? What are you doing about it? Is he at the hospital? My mom had few answers other than: "Vance, he passed away." It was the first time that I had someone close to me die. The person that I did not live with much growing up, didn’t know much about his childhood, but had got to know much more during the previous two-plus years had suddenly, without any warning, passed away! I was crushed. I screamed uncontrollably at the front of a packed bus and ran off the bus to my truck as soon as it stopped. I sobbed driving home and frantically paced back and forth around my apartment when I made it home. My dad, one of my best friends, and the person I learned so many lessons from was taken from me. How could I go on? So many things raced through my head and I hoped that I would soon wake up from this nightmare. A truly life-changing event challenged me in ways that I’ve never been challenged. To this day, that moment still gives me chills and makes me teary-eyed. Dad died from what is known as SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy). My sister said that he went to sleep the night before without signs of anything wrong. The best explanation from doctors that we have is that he went to sleep, had a seizure, and his organs shut down. It was not painful and he probably did not know anything was going on. Doctors say that even if he was in the hospital there would be little chance they could have saved him. There is little known about SUDEP and what triggers it, which is why we allowed an autopsy and continue donating to the Epilepsy Foundation today. Somehow, someway, God has a mysterious way of working in our lives. Prayer, family, and friends helped me through the hurt. Days, weeks, months, and years later I find myself weeping over the loss of my dad. To this day, I feel deep sorrow. However, I think about the numerous lessons I learned from my dad during my 29 years around him and treasure the many memories. He loved music. He would sing to classic rock songs and loved Journey, Elton John, and many others. He would snap his fingers when dancing and would clap when listening to music. Music helped him release his worries, along with walking. He also loved playing pool. A man with what some could consider so little left to live for had so much courage to take on the world. No complaining and no handout. He would work every day if he could. Love others unconditionally and never give up is what I take from his life. There are too many who have less and live with many more problems than we do. If my dad can take on the world with his faith in God and his ability to see the sun shining with so many clouds around, it is easy to find hope and find beauty in this world. There is so much for us to be thankful. Thirteen years have passed. Years that I will not be able to tell him the wonderful things that have happened in my life and those in the family. However, I have faith that he knows. I believe he is still watching over us and that we will see him again someday. I believe he is with my kids, me, and the family always. His bright smile is the picture in my head that I see and it fills the hearts of all those who knew him. Years pass in a flash, but my dad's memory will live on. Harold Wayne Ginn was a wonderful father, pepaw, and hero. He will always be our family's hero. There is so much to say. His life is a testimony that I hope will bring joy and a stronger faith for others. I know it does for me. I know he was a Godly, kind, smart, generous, loving, sweet, caring, empathetic, and more man. Thank you, Dad! I love you. Today, I am joined by David Bahnsen, founder, managing partner, and chief investment officer of The Bahnsen Group and author of his latest book, Full-Time Work and the Meaning of Life.
David provides valuable insights on these issues and more on the following: How does full-time work provide meaning in life? What does the Bible say about work and a free and virtuous society? How does the government create barriers to work, and how should we remove them? Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and rate and review it. I would appreciate it if you would subscribe to my Substack newsletter so you’ll receive my episodes, show notes, and other valuable insights in your inbox twice weekly at https://vanceginn.substack.com/. You can also find this information and more at https://vanceginn.com/ . The TRUTH about Government’s Role in Social Mobility with John Phelan | Let People Prosper Ep. 904/1/2024 Today, I am joined by John Phelan, economist at the Center of the American Experiment in Minnesota, on the Let People Prosper Show episode 90.
We discuss the following and more:
Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Subscribe to my Substack newsletter to get my podcast show notes and much more in your inbox: vanceginn.substack.com Visit my website for more economic insights: vanceginn.com Today, I am joined by Dr. Ed Timmons, the Service Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Knee Regulatory Research Center at the John Chambers School of Business and Economics at West Virginia University.
Join us on Let People People Show Episode 89 as we discuss the following: - Purpose of government licenses - Costs and benefits of occupational licensing - Ways to get the government out of the way of work Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack - www.vanceginn.substack.com Visit my website for economic insights - www.vanceginn.com Today, I am joined by Dr. John B. Taylor, the George P. Shultz Senior Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution and the Mary and Robert Raymond Professor of Economics at Stanford University.
Join us as we discuss the economic situation, the performance of monetary and fiscal policies, the importance of policy rules like his famous Taylor rule, and lessons in economic freedom. Without economic freedom and policy rules, we are unlikely to let people prosper. Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. See show notes for this episode on Substack and subscribe to receive it in your inbox: www.vanceginn.substack.com Visit my website for economic insights: www.vanceginn.com Today, I am joined by Dr. Justin Callais, who is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Join us as we discuss social mobility in the 50 states, Louisiana’s economic and population challenges, sound economics, and much more. This includes the lack of social mobility in Louisiana from too much government. Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. See show notes for this episode on Substack and subscribe to receive it in your inbox: www.vanceginn.substack.com Visit my website for economic insights: www.vanceginn.com Today, I am joined by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity’s President Dr. Dan Mitchell. Join us as we discuss Biden’s hype about junk fees, excessive spending crisis, and much more.
Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack - www.vanceginn.substack.com Visit my website for economic insights - www.vanceginn.com Episode 85 is with Dr. Adam Michel, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute.
Today, we discuss: 1) Problems with OECD and global taxes; 2) Tax cliff coming in 2025 from many expiring TCJA provisions; and 3) Why a fiscal crisis without major spending reforms, how taxes influence human behavior, the truth about The Laffer Curve, and much more. Please like and comment on this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Thanks! Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Episode 84 is with Dr. Sven Larson, author and economics writer for The European Conservative.
Today, we discuss: 1) Larson's experience growing up in Sweden during its economic collapse and Sweden's example of how big government can destroy the economy; 2) How America's welfare system is beginning to mimic Europe's; and 3) How increased taxes and increased spending decrease GDP growth and opportunities for young workers. Please like and comment on this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Thanks! Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Episode 83 is with Dr. Michael Strain, director of Economic Policy Studies and the Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute.
Today, we discuss: 1) Why the American Dream is NOT dead, and much economic pessimism is overblown; 2) The problem with populism and its origins on both sides of the aisle; and 3) Reasons for optimism on wages, GDP, and much more. Please like and comment on this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Thanks! Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Podcast: Are Republicans and Democrats Causing America’s Fiscal Crisis? Will the 2024 Election Help?2/5/2024 Episode 82 is with Dr. Bryan Caplan, professor of economics at George Mason University and a New York Times bestselling author.
Today, we discuss: 1) Myth of the rational voter and how politics has become a religion, 2) Reasons why the U.S. is heading toward a fiscal crisis because neither party will restrain spending; and 3) Case against education, school choice pros and cons, selfish reasons for having more kids, and open borders. Please like and comment on this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Thanks! Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Episode 81 is with Dr. Bruce Caldwell, research professor of economics at Duke University and author and editor of numerous books, including Hayek: A Life, 1899-1950.
Today, we discuss: 1) Friedrich Hayek’s early life, views, and economic influences; 2) The significance of some of Hayek’s iconic contributions to economics, such as the knowledge problem, spontaneous order, and free trade; and 3) What advice would Hayek have for our current economy, and would he be a conservative today? Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Podcast: Is Texas Becoming Like California? TRUTH On State Spending, Property Taxes & More1/24/2024 This BONUS episode of the Let People Prosper show is with Bradley Swail, host of the Texas Talks podcast.
Today, we discuss: 1) Why "largest property tax relief in Texas history” became the second biggest due to excessive state spending and how the Lone Star State can eliminate the property tax for good; 2) The problem with a mandated minimum wage and reckless spending at the state and federal levels and; 3) Policies Texas leaders and lawmakers should adopt to strengthen the Texas model. Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Today, I’m joined by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, senior fellow in the Centre for Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute and author of the new book, “The Road to Freedom: Estonia’s Rise from Soviet Vassal State to One of the Freest Nations on Earth.” Don’t miss this website with terrific interactive information and videos on Estonia and the costs of socialism.
Today, we discuss: 1) Estonia’s inspiring people-led overthrow of socialism and achieving independence; 2) How it became one of the most economically free nations in the world; and 3) What the U.S. can learn from Estonia about taxes, regulations, freedom, and more. Today, we discuss:
1) Why South Carolina was the fastest-growing state in 2023; 2) How SC leads the way in low supplemental poverty and abundant opportunities to prosper; and 3) Why the newly released 2025 SC Sustainable Budget would take South Carolina to the top. Today, we discuss:
1) How U.S. health care evolved away from a free-market system and the importance of restoring consumer control; 2) How to reduce health care costs and improve quality by reducing regulations and subsidies; and 3) The importance of reining in health care costs of Medicare and Medicaid to reduce government spending and balance the federal budget. Episode 78 is with Adam Thierer, innovation policy analyst at R Street Institute and author of, “Evasive Entrepreneurs and the Future of Governance: How Innovation Improves Economies and Governments?"
Today, we discuss: 1) What makes nations rich and how America has become the most prosperous nation on earth; 2) The economic importance of failure, freedom, and permissionless innovation; and 3) Why AI and technology must be embraced, and the issues with Biden's AI executive order. Check out Adam's book: https://www.amazon.com/Evasive-Entrepreneurs-Innovation-Economies-Governments/dp/1948647761/ref Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Episode 77 is with Dr. Mark Calabria, former chief economist of former Vice President Mike Pence, senior advisor at Cato Institute, and author of “Shelter from the Storm: How a COVID Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted.”
Today, we discuss: 1) His lessons learned from working as Former Vice President Mike Pence's chief economist; 2) How he helped the nation avert a mortgage crisis during COVID and issues with pandemic policies and their ongoing impacts; and 3) Why was the economy in 2019 so successful, and what should be done to improve things in 2024? Check out Mark's book: https://www.cato.org/books/shelter-storm Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Thank you for tuning into the FINAL Let People Prosper podcast episode 76 of 2023! Today, I have a brief but informative podcast for you, recapping the highlights of the economy and my business, Ginn Economic Consulting, LLC.
As a Christmas gift, I am giving away a complimentary subscription to the paid version of my newsletter and a copy of Lexi Hudson’s fantastic book, “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the information at the link and rate my podcast on either Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Is there anyone whom you would like for me to interview in 2024? Leave them in the comments. Today, I cover:
Thank you for tuning into the 75th episode of the Let People Prosper Show podcast!
Today, I’m joined by Dr. Chris Coyne, professor of economics at George Mason University and author of the book, “In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace.” Today, we discuss: 1) The economic impact of war and the many consequences of engaging in it; 2) What Friedrich Hayek's principle of "fatal conceit" reveals about America's involvement with war; and 3) The truth about terrorism, what the U.S. got wrong with Afghanistan and Iraq, and Chris' thoughts of how Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas can be at peace. Is Being Big Bad? Are Antitrust Accusations of “Big Tech,” “Big Sandwich,” and Others Warranted?12/11/2023 Thank you for tuning into the 74th episode of the Let People Prosper Show podcast.
Today, I’m joined by Jennifer Huddleston, a technology policy research fellow at The Cato Institute. Today, we discuss: 1) What is the proper role of government in regulating or adapting to technological advancements; 2) Pros and cons of restricting AI, and why antitrust accusations are on the rise, specifically targeting “big tech,” and; 3) What you should know about government regulation on social media for minors, and how parents can be empowered to facilitate social media use at home. Episode 73 is with Dr. Gale Pooley, adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute, senior fellow at The Discovery Institute, and co-author of the new book, "Superabundance."
Gale and I discuss the following and more: 1) The state of abundance in America and how we compare to other countries; 2) How government interference through regulations and subsidies are restricting healthcare, education, and entrepreneurs; and 3) Why AI should be embraced, not feared, and money is not our most valuable economic asset. If you found today's discussion valuable, be sure to check out Gale's book: https://www.cato.org/books/superabundance Please like this video, subscribe to the channel, share it on social media, and provide a rating and review. Also, subscribe and see show notes for this episode on Substack (www.vanceginn.substack.com) and visit my website for economic insights (www.vanceginn.com). Don’t miss episode 72 of the Let People Prosper show with guest Avik Roy, president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP).
We discuss America’s biggest economic problems and how to solve them. Avik and I discuss the following and more:
Check out the full show notes at my Substack newsletter and subscribe to get my posts directly in your inbox. To show my gratitude this Thanksgiving, I am offering a limited-time special giveaway to one lucky winner!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday yesterday, and thank you for tuning in to today’s 36th episode of “This Week’s Economy.” This episode includes a special opportunity for one of you to win a complimentary year-long subscription to this newsletter, which is essential in light of my transitioning to a paid format soon. Click the link to enter the giveaway. |
Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
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