Featured Video Archive

For more information, check out www.EconomicFreedom.org.  … more

Understanding why the stimulus failed is an important step in understanding how the government can—and cannot—goose economic recovery.  … more

Economics Professor Chris Coyne draws the distinction between crony capitalism and legitimate capitalism. Crony capitalism is government favoritism fueled by handouts and is responsible for the plight of the 99%. Legitimate capitalism, on the other hand, uses competition to align consumer and producer interests and serves to improve everyone's standard of living. … more

The Plymouth Colony was established as a communal society -- an experiment in socialism. No one had an incentive to work, so disease and famine forced the pilgrims to adopt liberty and capitalism. The result? Much for which to be thankful!

To learn more, read "The Lost Lesson of Thanksgiving." … more

Fox Business Network picks up the Michigan Capitol Confidential story about Robert and Patricia Haynes, who discuss the Michigan law that forces them to join a union because they care for their kids with cerebral palsy.

The original story can be read here: www.MichiganCapitolConfidential.com/16001. … more

In 2005, as part of a nationwide push to increase membership using government subsidies as a source for union dues, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) organized Michigan's home health aides. As a result, tens of thousands of the state's independent, private-sector workers found themselves belonging to a government employees' union, with dues skimmed from their clients' Medicaid subsidy checks.

This video features Frank, a disabled adult with severe cerebral palsy, and his health aide, Judi, who's outraged that government money meant to help Frank is instead going to a union she wants no part of.

For more information, click here. … more

After a successful professional basketball career, Jalen Rose is setting his sights on becoming an education entrepreneur. In 2011, the former University of Michigan basketball standout and Detroit native opened a brand new charter school — the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. Expectations are high here, but Rose says he's committed to giving these high school students an opportunity to succeed.

“I’m a Detroit native and I know that unions are Big Business. All adults know that. Based on the number of schools, the number of kids, the number of dollars that flow through that situation. But a lot of the people that are standing on the table with that argument can’t necessarily pose the reason why that’s valid other than money. Look at the numbers of graduation rates that we have here lately: 30 percent for 9th graders graduating. In Detroit we have 47 percent of the adults that are functionally illiterate. So there is obviously something that is not happening in the right manner.” … more

Many school districts in Michigan claim state budget cuts have forced them to make drastic reductions in programs and course offerings. This is not the case in Oxford Community Schools, which has added sports teams, doubled its entire fine arts program and created an orchestra and world language programs.  … more

Oxford Community Schools are doing something unprecedented in the state of Michigan, opening the Northeast Yucai Oxford International Senior High School in China this fall. In the video, you'll meet the principal of the school and the superintendent who believes this school will eventually help his district become financially independent from the state.

See related article at www.MichCapCon.com/15582 … more

Several union members and others gathered in the Capitol building to announce their new coalition and plans to push for legislation to add Michigan to the list of states that have enacted Right-to-Work laws.  … more

This scenario is entirely plausible due to Prohibition-era laws in Michigan that created a "Three-Tier" distribution system overseen by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. In the video see how these archaic and rigid laws are hurting beer entrepreneurs in the state's ever-growing and well-repected craft-beer industry. … more

This scenario is entirely plausible due to Prohibition-era laws in Michigan that created a "three-tier" distribution system overseen by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. In the video see how these archaic and rigid laws are hurting beer entrepreneurs in the state's ever-growing and well-respected craft-beer industry. … more

"The State of California says my trucks are killing people," says Whitney. "What do you say to that?" … more

Online learning is fast becoming another educational choice for families around the nation. In Michigan, one school district has taken its virtual program beyond the district boundaries as a way to not only educate more students but lessen its recent financial struggles. Find out how an entrepreneurial approach has set Berrien Springs Public Schools apart.

See also the Mackinac Center for Public Policy's 2011 study about virtual learning: http://www.mackinac.org/14727 … more

Michigan’s state-run school system is the largest and most expensive government service state taxpayers support – spending more than $20 billion a year. It employs more than 350,000 people, who work in one of the more than 4,100 different entities. Given the enormity and complexity of the system, it’s no surprise that myths abound about how public schools are funded. … more

Fox Business Network experts debate whether using hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas is dangerous to the environment. … more

While cities across the country are cutting services, raising taxes and contemplating bankruptcy, something extraordinary is happening in a suburban community just north of Atlanta, Georgia.

Since incorporating in 2005, Sandy Springs has improved its services, invested tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure and kept taxes flat. And get this: Sandy Springs has no long-term liabilities. … more

O'Toole and producer Harmon Kaslow tell Reason.tv what viewers can expect to see in the movie, which covers the first of three sections in Rand's novel.  … more

Demonstrator says new emergency financial manager program for cities in financial distress is comparable to powers taken by Nazi leader.

For more on Michigan's new EFM law, see www.MichCapCon.com/14739  … more

A demonstrator at the state capitol on Tuesday says the purpose of Gov. Snyder's proposal to tax pension income is to open factories in Mexico and China.

Michigan is one of just three states that exempts pension income from the state income tax. The governor's tax proposal would eliminate this exemption and tax pension income the same as other income. The plan would also reduce the state personal income tax for all taxpayers, eliminate the Michigan business tax and replace it with a new, smaller business tax. … more

Meet Pat Gillespie. He and his company want to build two upscale apartment complexes where parking lots now lie along the riverfront in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Find out how Big Labor recently threatened to halt both the cleanup and economic development of the property unless the developer agreed to pay union-scale wages and benefits for all of the construction jobs needed for his project.

Please see the related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14006 … more

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder proposed reforming the state's film subsidy program of up to a 42% refund on film spending in Michigan.

On March 11, 2011, the council held its first meeting since the governor released his budget. The council lambasted Snyder over the expense cap of $25 million, essentially making a direct lobby for the industry. … more

WNEM TV-5 got some surprising answers back in 2009 when it asked Michigan lawmakers to fess up to taxpayers about who works for them and how much they are paid. … more

Former Washington D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty joins a round table discussion about Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin and voices his support. … more

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As momentum for school reform grows and state budgets continue to shrink, the system of teacher tenure is under increasing scrutiny

To see more on this issue in regards to Michigan, click here. … more

Michael Van Beek gave a national perspective on school funding in Michigan, pointing out that Michigan has some of the highest education spending when taking into account the state wealth — in other words, the ability of state taxpayers to support that spending.

Despite having the nation's highest teacher average salaries when controlling for state per-capita person income, Michigan students score relatively low on national standardized tests, even after controlling for socio-economic status.

Click here for more information on school funding myths. … more

The bizarre forced unionization of day care providers raises a fundamental question: If they are union members, who is their employer?

For more information and videos on the underhanded unionization scheme, click here. … more

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie discusses collective bargaining, public employee unions, and why great teachers need to make more money. … more

This Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony will be held in Hollywood as usual, but it's increasingly common for Hollywood films to be produced outside California or even outside the United States.

Filmmaker Joe Gressis isn't surprised when Hollywood productions leave the Golden State. He's surprised when they stay. "The fact that we remain here is kind of ridiculous," says the three-time Emmy-nominated Gressis.

Topics include: tax incentives, the benefits of shooting in Hong Kong, and why Gressis admires Michael Bay. … more

For the past century, funding for public schools has moved in one steady direction -- up. Despite some policies that make school budgeting more difficult than it needs to be in Michigan, school funding has proven to be remarkably stable.

Read more about this and other school funding myths at www.mackinac.org/12610. … more

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy discovers that the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters uses non-union labor to protest a Grand Rapids area businessman. What's worse, the union has even recruited demonstrators who frequent local homeless shelters, including a shelter which gets help from the very same businessman targeted by the union.

See related story on the main page or at: www.MichCapCon.com/14563 … more

ABC - An Ohio mother's attempt to provide her daughters with a better education has landed her behind bars. Kelley Williams-Bolar was convicted of lying about her residency to get her daughters into a better school district.  … more

The video explains that the idea is aimed at deficit spenders in both parties.

See our related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14531.  … more

For more information, see www.kidsarentcars.com.

Also check out our related story at MichCapCon.com/14225. … more

Charles Krauthammer discusses the pension problems plaguing country. … more

Hangar42 developer arraigned over fraud: woodtv.com

See our related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14190.  … more

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder believes that public employee compensation needs to be reduced so as to be more in line with the private sector and more in line with what is affordable. Mackinac Center research also shows billions of dollars in annual savings if the state goes down this path. So what do the lawmakers who now control Lansing think about all of this?

See more on this issue at MichCapCon.com/14271. … more

Several hundred demonstrators showed up with a new message for Michigan's elected officials during Gov. Granholm's final State of the State address. From February 2010.

The video explains how the debt relief amendment might actually win.

See our related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14190.  … more

The video explains that the idea is aimed at deficit spenders in both parties.

See our related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14190.  … more

The Daily Show wonders who is responsible for their child's health; parents or the government? … more

RestoringFreedom.org is spearheading a drive to put the following amendment into the U.S. Constitution:

"An increase in the federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the separate States.”

See our related article at www.MichCapCon.com/14190.  … more