Author Profile: Sheldon Richman

Biography »

Sheldon Richman is the editor of The Freeman and "In brief." He is a contributor to The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics.
Email the author

Articles »

Volcker Clashes with Obama over Banking Regs
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 21 October 2009
Stats: 1 views and No Comments “[Former Fed chairman Paul Volcker] wants the nation’s banks to be prohibited from owning and trading risky securities, the very practice that got the biggest ones into deep trouble in 2008. And the administration is saying no, it will not…
Obama Administration Freezes out Chamber
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 20 October 2009
Stats: 0 views and No Comments “The White House is moving aggressively to remove the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from its traditional Washington role as the chief representative for big business, the latest sign of a public feud ignited by disagreement over the administration’s effort to…
Zero-Waste Recycling Coming into Vogue
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 20 October 2009
Stats: 2 views and No Comments “Across the nation, an antigarbage strategy known as ‘zero waste’ is moving from the fringes to the mainstream, taking hold in school cafeterias, national parks, restaurants, stadiums and corporations. The movement is simple in concept if not always in execution:…
Justice Department Changes Policy on Medical Marijuana
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 20 October 2009
Stats: 2 views and No Comments “People who use marijuana for medical purposes and those who distribute it to them should not face federal prosecution, provided they act according to state law, the Justice Department said Monday in a directive with far-reaching political and legal implications.”…
Guaranteed Mortgage Lending Goes on
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 19 October 2009
Stats: 2 views and No Comments “So you thought easy-money mortgages with little or no down payment for people with bad credit was a thing of the past? Think again. You can get just such a loan today — and it’s guaranteed by the federal government.…
CBO’s Guesses Guide Policymaking
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 19 October 2009
Stats: 3 views and No Comments “As Democrats embark on a plan to reorder one-sixth of the U.S. economy, the CBO [Congressional Budget Office] is the umpire, charged by Congress with assessing the effect on the federal budget and the potentially profound impact on American lives.…
Obama Can Take or Leave “Public Option”
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 19 October 2009
Stats: 0 views and No Comments “Obama continues to support the concept of a government-sponsored insurance option, but ‘he is not demanding that it is in’ the final legislation, Valerie Jarrett, a senior White House adviser, said on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press.’” (Washington Post, Monday)…
Frustrating Michael Moore
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in The Goal Is Freedom on 16 October 2009
Stats: 137 views and 25 Comments Whether he realizes it or not, Michael Moore favors a system in which an elite necessarily would make critical decisions for the rest of us. He’d be incredulous to hear that, but if he ever comes to understand it, libertarians might end up with an unlikely ally.
Judge Denies Marriage License to Interracial Couple
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 16 October 2009
Stats: 1 views and No Comments “A white Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.” (Herald, Friday) Why is marriage even a concern of the…
Raw Milk Sparks Controversy
By Sheldon Richman
Posted in In brief on 16 October 2009
Stats: 5 views and No Comments “A national battle is heating up between proponents of drinking raw milk for health benefits and food safety advocates such as the Food and Drug Administration. Drinkers of raw, or unpasteurized, milk say it tastes better, helps with digestive problems…