Patrick Tyrrell
Washington, D.C.
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Articles by Patrick Tyrrell
Donald J. Trump’s: The New Normal
Why Donald J. Trump? Because he does what a large fraction of Americans want to do — and seemingly without consequences. We are a representative democracy, and President Trump does a superb job of representing the baser inclinations of the populace. Perhaps this is the most realistic expression of representation we have seen in decades.
We’ll Make Great Pets: The Age of Obedient Humanity
Inspired by the lyrics of Jane’s Addiction, this reflection explores how modern technology has trained us — obedient, optimized, and oblivious — to perform for the systems we once believed we controlled. The machines don’t need us to think. They need us to obey — and to keep the performance going. They need us to feed them, train them, and one day entertain them. This isn’t a future of rebellion, but of obedience masquerading as agency. We were told technology would free us.
The Airwaves We Gave Away
The Airwaves We Gave Away We gave corporations free access to the public airwaves in exchange for one hour of civic journalism each night. We failed to protect that deal — and in the vacuum, news became entertainment, trust eroded, and democracy was reduced to performance. — - “The reason we failed isn’t a mystery.
Priests and Cannibals: On the Beautiful Horror of Being Human
We are moral creatures. At least, that’s what we tell ourselves. We write codes, pass laws, build institutions — all to enshrine our values and define what is right. And yet, history reads like a blood-soaked contradiction of that claim. The same species that preaches compassion builds gas chambers. The same civilization that celebrates justice drops bombs. We do monstrous things — and then explain, rationalize, celebrate, or forget.
Title: The Spear-Holder’s Shadow: Coercion, Legitimacy, and the Fragility of Civilization
Title: The Spear-Holder’s Shadow: Coercion, Legitimacy, and the Fragility of Civilization Introduction While other theories — such as the social contract, communal consensus, or economic coordination — suggest government originated through mutual benefit or administrative necessity, this essay explores what emerges when coercive power becomes either the foundation or the undoing of legitimacy.
The Empire Always Falls: What History Teaches Us About America’s Fragile Myth
From imperial China to the Soviet Union, great powers have always leaned on powerful stories to justify their dominance. Today, America’s myth is unraveling — not through conquest, but through confusion. What happens when the narrative collapses before the state does?
A modern allegory inspired by Thucydides, exploring how the logic of empire plays out in U.S.
A modern allegory inspired by Thucydides, exploring how the logic of empire plays out in U.S. policy toward Greenland and beyond. A Political Allegory Infused with Reality By Patrick Tyrrell This is not ancient Athens, but it may as well be. The language is different, the arsenal more sophisticated, but the moral math has barely changed. Where once stood Sparta, now stands China. Where Corinth once tugged at Athenian ambition, Taiwan now flares on radar screens.
Tariffs Were Killing New Zealand’s Economy. Free Trade Turned It Around.
The new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump have generated intense controversy. With the debate ongoing, it might be useful to examine how other countries have dealt with similar policy debates in the past. New Zealand now ranks third in The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom and is one of the champions of economic freedom around the world. But it wasn’t always so.
Oil Production Is Up 53% Since 2010, But It’s Declining on Federal Lands. Here’s Why.
Thanks to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling methods perfected at the end of last decade, production of crude oil in the United States has skyrocketed. This chart shows the swift takeoff in crude oil production. U.S. oil production is up 53 percent since 2010, but the increase has occurred almost entirely on non-federal lands. Production on federal lands has not seen a similar liftoff, and is actually down overall. The reasons federal area drilling has lagged is not because of lack of oil.
How to Persuade Successful Inventors to Immigrate to the US: Lower Taxes
Evidence of a “Brain Drain” from countries with high top tax rates and a “Brain Gain” to countries with low top tax rates comes from a new National Bureau of Economic Research paper by Ufuk Akcigit, Salomé Baslandze and Stefanie Stantcheva.
Trump Can Help Poor Americans by Identifying Big-government Policies That Hurt
If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail. This certainly applies to big-government advocates who think the only way to promote economic opportunity and help the poor is through the hammer of big government. But here’s the reality: Big government often hinders Americans from getting ahead. And those it hurts most are the poor. Across the federal government, policies drive up the costs for purchasing basic needs such as energy, food and housing.
Oil Production Is Up 53% Since 2010, But It’s Declining on Federal Lands. Here’s Why.
Thanks to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling methods perfected at the end of last decade, production of crude oil in the United States has skyrocketed. This chart shows the swift takeoff in crude oil production. U.S. oil production is up 53 percent since 2010, but the increase has occurred almost entirely on non-federal lands. Production on federal lands has not seen a similar liftoff, and is actually down overall. The reasons federal area drilling has lagged is not because of lack of oil.
By One Measure, 95.5 Million Are Dependent on the Federal Government
How many people are dependent on the federal government? That’s a hard nut to crack. Counting people who rely on the government to sustain their lifestyles is more complicated than simply counting up the number of dependency program enrollees. If you did that, people on the rolls of more than one program at a time would be over counted. Relying on survey data is also problematic; the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey notoriously undercounts program enrollees.
Private-Sector Job Openings Are Up, but Not Thanks to the Government
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data this week showing that the ratio of unemployed people per job opening remains at the lowest it has been since April of 2001, at 1.3. The number of total private-sector job openings now stands at 5,358,000—an all-time high since the statistic was first tracked in 2000. Is the government creating those jobs? Not likely. Total government job openings stood at 513,000 in July—a tick lower than June, and a step down from the high of 648,000 in April 2010.
Ozzy Osbourne is checking out of Hotel California. Why? Taxes
"Heirs of a cold war, That’s what we’ve become. Inheriting troubles, I’m mentally numb." —Ozzy Osbourne Those song lyrics from a different time (1980) in Ozzy Osbourne’s classic hard rock anthem “Crazy Train” might describe the world the singer-songwriter inhabited at that time decades ago, but these days the “Diary of a Madman” rock star has something else troubling his mind—the exorbitantly high taxes of the state of California .
Ozzy Osbourne Is Checking Out of Hotel California. Why? Taxes.
“Heirs of a cold war, That’s what we’ve become. Inheriting troubles, I’m mentally numb.” —Ozzy Osbourne Those song lyrics from a different time (1980) in Ozzy Osbourne’s classic hard rock anthem “Crazy Train” might describe the world the singer-songwriter inhabited at that time decades ago, but these days the “Diary of a Madman” rock star has something else troubling his mind—the exorbitantly high taxes of the state of California.
New Rule Would Force Climate Change Reporting on Most Companies
The Biden Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring publicly traded companies to not only calculate and report their own greenhouse gas emissions but those of their suppliers, customers, and logistics operators. The proposal could conceivably cover almost every company in America—even those that aren’t publicly traded and don’t fall under the SEC’s purview—adding enormous compliance costs and legal fees to their bottom lines.
New Rule Would Force Climate Change Reporting on Most Companies
The Biden Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring publicly traded companies to not only calculate and report their own greenhouse gas emissions but those of their suppliers, customers, and logistics operators. The proposal could conceivably cover almost every company in America—even those that aren’t publicly traded and don’t fall under the SEC’s purview—adding enormous compliance costs and legal fees to their bottom lines.
How High Inflation Imperils Monetary, Economic Freedom
Economic freedom in the United States is on a perilous journey. The U.S. fell five places in The Heritage Foundation’s 2022 Index of Economic Freedom, to 25th-most economically free country in the world from 20th in last year’s rankings. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) The main culprit for the decline in this year’s index was astronomical deficit spending in the wake of COVID-19, to the tune of 15% of gross domestic product in 2020.
How High Inflation Imperils Monetary, Economic Freedom
Economic freedom in the United States is on a perilous journey. The U.S. fell five places in The Heritage Foundation’s 2022 Index of Economic Freedom, to 25th-most economically free country in the world from 20th in last year’s rankings. (The Daily Signal is the news outlet of The Heritage Foundation.) The main culprit for the decline in this year’s index was astronomical deficit spending in the wake of COVID-19, to the tune of 15% of gross domestic product in 2020.
A Lot Can Go Wrong as ‘Emperors’ Preaching ESG Claim to Represent Us
The misappropriation of the economic freedom of millions of mom-and-pop investors by BlackRock Inc. CEO Larry Fink has unintended consequences. “We have a new bunch of emperors, and they’re the people who vote the shares in the index funds,” Charlie Munger, business partner of philanthropist Warren Buffett and a big proponent of index fund investing, recently said. “I think the world of Larry Fink, but I’m not sure I want him to be my emperor,” Munger said.
Study Finds More Jobless Benefits Prolong Unemployment
If common sense and reports from thousands of employers weren’t enough, a recent National Bureau of Economic Research paper found conclusively that paying people not to work during the COVID-19 pandemic was why many of them remained unemployed. That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, except that last year, major news reports were saying the opposite was true, before the evidence was in. Leave it to the American media to get something important wrong.
When “Emperors” Preaching ESG Purport to Represent Millions of Us, a Lot Can Go Wrong
The misappropriation of the economic freedom of millions of mom-and-pop investors by BlackRock Inc. CEO Larry Fink has unintended consequences. “We have a new bunch of emperors, and they’re the people who vote the shares in the index funds,” Charlie Munger, business partner of philanthropist Warren Buffett and a big proponent of index fund investing, recently said. “I think the world of Larry Fink, but I’m not sure I want him to be my emperor,” Munger said.
Small Businesses See Inflation as Big Problem in Next 6 Months
More small-business owners expect bleaker business conditions six months from now than expect to see an improvement—35% more, to be exact. That is the somber message of data released Tuesday in an annual survey from the National Federation of Independent Business. From January to October 2016, the prediction in the Small Business Optimism Index Survey for business conditions six months ahead was never positive.
Small Businesses See Inflation as Big Problem in Next 6 Months
More small-business owners expect bleaker business conditions six months from now than expect to see an improvement—35% more, to be exact. That is the somber message of data released Tuesday in an annual survey from the National Federation of Independent Business. From January to October 2016, the prediction in the Small Business Optimism Index Survey for business conditions six months ahead was never positive.
COVID-19 Protests in New Zealand Are About Economic Freedom
New Zealand was one of only five economically free countries in the world, as measured by The Heritage Foundation’s 2021 Index of Economic Freedom. For years, the people of New Zealand have enjoyed robust rule of law, clear regulatory efficiency, and free and open markets. The size of the government has been relatively small, which is a boon to economic freedom.
Want More Robust Supply Chains? Support Economic Freedom
The Biden administration announced last Wednesday that the Port of Los Angeles will now operate 24 hours a day. That’s belated good news, but how operations have been going at the neighboring Port of Long Beach, which is also operating around the clock, suggest that this might not be enough to solve California’s supply chain collapse.
Global Trade Freedom Has Declined for the Fourth Straight Year
Government efforts to control the ability of individuals and businesses to exchange goods and services freely across borders have once again intensified during the past year. The Heritage Foundation’s forthcoming 2022 Index of Economic Freedom finds that the global average of countries’ trade-freedom scores has declined from 70.9 to 69.5 on the Index’s 0-to-100 trade-freedom scale. This is the fourth straight year that the global average has dropped.
What Is Wrong With 'ESG' Wokeism
Everywhere you look, leftist members of big investment companies like BlackRock, Inc. and “woke” CEOs at companies like Delta Air Lines, Inc. prattle on about “ESG,” which stands for environmental, social, and governance responsibility. Environmental, social, and governance responsibility advocates force companies to take positions in the political arena on issues that may have nothing to do with the company’s actual business activities.
What Is Wrong With Corporate Wokeism on Political Causes
Everywhere you look, leftist members of big investment companies like BlackRock Inc. and “woke” CEOs at companies like Delta Air Lines Inc. prattle on about “ESG,” which stands for environmental, social, and governance responsibility. Environmental, social, and governance responsibility advocates force companies to take positions in the political arena on issues that may have nothing to do with the company’s actual business activities.
Tariffs Are Never a Good Idea. Those on Aluminum Are Especially Bad.
Aluminum prices are up 59% from a year ago, and America’s 10% tariffs on the metal are not relieving any headaches at beer and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers. The tariffs were originally put in place in 2018, ostensibly to protect domestic aluminum producers. The theory was that China and other foreign producers were “dumping” aluminum into the U.S. at low prices below cost, to capture market share and supposedly drive American producers of aluminum out of business.
Trade and Prosperity in the United States: The Case of New England
The six states that make up New England in the northeast United States have a long history of benefiting from international trade and related prosperity. And they fought to get it. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island were among the original thirteen states. Fellow New England state, Vermont, was the fourteenth state in 1791, and the other New England state, Maine, was added in 1820.
Trade and Prosperity in the States: The Case of California
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in the 50 states as governors and lawmakers have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on businesses and individuals, which severely curtailed economic activity. States with strict stay-at-home orders have been bearing heavy costs in the areas of alcoholism, suicide, physical and mental health problems, and personal and governmental financial shortfalls.REF The Golden State has been among the strictest states in terms of COVID-19 distancing measures.
In Hong Kong, Pro-Democracy Newspaper Closes and Editor Is Arrested
Last week, Apple Daily, the largest pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong, announced it will shut down. The organization’s management said they decided to cease operations “in view of staff members’ safety.” The tabloid’s decision was likely influenced by the fact that the Hong Kong Police Force raided the newspaper’s offices a few weeks ago.
Economic Freedom Would Be Fastest Route to Recovery for Spain
Spain has been on an economic roller-coaster ride throughout the past decade. Economic freedom for the European Union’s fourth-largest economy has improved remarkably over the past few years. Now, however, in trying to spur economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain may be pushing economic freedom to the sidelines.
Economic Freedom in Balkans Requires Reducing Government Corruption
The U.S. sanctions recently slapped on Albania’s former prime minister for corruption represent the latest in a string of events highlighting shortfalls in government integrity in the Balkans.
Tariffs on Canadian Softwood Lumber Hitting U.S. Homebuyers Hard
Lumber prices have gone through the roof over the past year—up 370%. The lumber needed to build a new home now costs nearly $36,000 more than just 12 months ago. The reasons include lower production levels at U.S. sawmills when the pandemic was raging, high demand for new homes as millennials enter the peak homebuying age group, and increased use of lumber by do-it-yourselfers on home improvement projects as they spend more time in their homes.
A Steeper Tariff on Canadian Softwood Lumber Is Not the Solution
Despite lumber prices soaring to a record high of $1,670.50 per thousand board feet, and the housing market booming at a 17.2% price increase from April 2020, the U.S. Commerce Department, rather than helping, plans to impose further burdens on U.S. consumers through increased taxes on imported softwood lumber. On Friday, the Department of Commerce announced its proposal to more than double tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber to 18.32%, from 8.99%.
Cyberattack on Pipeline Shows How Jones Act Is Risk to National Security
The Eastern European or Russian hacking ring DarkSide’s cyberattack has wreaked havoc on the Colonial Pipeline, which transports a large percentage of the gasoline, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum into several states throughout the southeastern U.S. and mid-Atlantic.
Trade and Prosperity in the States: The Unique Case of Florida
COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in the 50 states as governors and lawmakers have imposed wide-ranging restrictions on businesses and individuals that severely curtailed economic activity. States with strict stay-at-home orders have been bearing heavy costs in the areas of alcoholism, suicide, physical and mental health problems, and personal and governmental financial shortfalls.
Fox Business’ Charles Payne Assesses Economic Freedom in US
Charles Payne of the Fox Business Network sat down with Jack Spencer, vice president of the Institute for Economic Freedom at The Heritage Foundation, to discuss the revealing—and alarming—key points from the 2021 Index of Economic Freedom at the index’s launch event Thursday. The index shows that the United States suffered a large setback in economic freedom last year, primarily because of a steep drop in fiscal health due to the ballooning federal deficit.
The World Trade Organization Gets It Wrong
The World Trade Organization has released a new report that offers recommendations to world governments on how to stimulate innovation in digital economies. Regrettably, the policy recommendations are heavy on big government intervention, and ignore a fundamental principal of free-market economics: that governments should first and foremost get out of the way of competitive entrepreneurial activity.
How Beijing Is Threatening Hong Kong’s Status as Global Financial Center
China’s recent Hong Kong security legislation could be the beginning of the end for Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading financial and trading centers. Many of the 9,000 foreign firms—1,300 of them American—that have regional headquarters there are evaluating the threat from the new law and what many perceive to be a deteriorating commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Exits from Hong Kong are already beginning.
Fierce Advocate for Liberty, Economic Freedom
The world this week lost a great defender of economic freedom with the passing of the great American economist Walter E. Williams. Williams’ legacy will be one of fighting for lasting liberty at every turn against those who would be dictators over their fellow man. As an economics professor at George Mason University, Williams gave numerous speeches at The Heritage Foundation over the years, and he always had fascinating things to say.
Christmastime is Not the Time to Hold Tariff-Cutting Program Hostage
After a year that was tough on businesses and consumers alike, the Christmas season could give a much needed boost to the economy—as well as the morale of people across the country. But if a federal program that cuts tariffs is allowed to expire—thanks to political game-playing by liberals in the senate—then the resulting spike in consumer prices will be sure to dampen holiday cheer.
The Horrific Killing of Christians in Nigeria
Horrific massacres of Christians in the northern and middle parts of Nigeria at the hands of Muslim militants and terrorists have been a daily occurrence in recent years. Nigeria, a nation of close to 200 million, is made up about evenly of Christians and Muslims. Christians live predominantly in the South; Muslims are the majority in the North. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria since June 2015, Genocide Watch reported in April.
Chinese Economic Data Is Often False, and That's a Problem
China has a long history of opaqueness when it comes to reporting economic statistics. Although the communist regime claims the economic numbers it reports are factual, a new report by the New York Federal Reserve shows China’s gross domestic product growth volatility is incredibly—and unbelievably—low compared to other countries.
Now More Than Ever, What Nigeria Needs Is Economic Freedom
What began as peaceful demonstrations against extrajudicial killings, police brutality, extortion, and torture committed by Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad have become more violent in the days following the killing of at least 10 demonstrators on Oct. 20 at a place called Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, Nigeria. That night, police fired live ammunition into the crowd randomly, less than 30 minutes after turning off the streetlights.
11 Million Spent Half of Their Income on Rent.
A recent report out of Harvard University has found the number of struggling household renters at an all-time high. A table in the appendix of the report shows that almost half (49.3 percent) of renters in 2014 spent at least 30 percent of their household income on housing costs. Why are so many spending so much?
How Beijing Is Threatening Hong Kong’s Status as Global Financial Center
China’s recent Hong Kong security legislation could be the beginning of the end for Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading financial and trading centers. Many of the 9,000 foreign firms—1,300 of them American—that have regional headquarters there are evaluating the threat from the new law and what many perceive to be a deteriorating commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Exits from Hong Kong are already beginning.
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