Weighing benefits against costs is the way most people make decisions - and the way most businesses make decisions, if they want to stay in business. Only in government is any benefit, however small, considered to be worth any cost, however large.

The desire of businessmen for profits is what drives prices down unless forcibly prevented from engaging in price competition, usually by governmental activity.

Too much of what is called 'education' is little more than an expensive isolation from reality.

The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.

The promotion of "self-esteem" in our schools has been so successful that people feel free to spout off about all sorts of things - and see no reason why their opinions should not be taken as seriously as the views of people who actually know what they are talking about.

What is history but the story of how politicians have squandered the blood and treasure of the human race?

Military pay has been allowed to lag behind to the point where career enlisted men with families to feed have been forced to resort to food stamps.