Featured Video Archive
Republican and Democrat Against Forfeiture
Michigan Republicans and Democrats find common ground in reforming civil asset forfeiture by demanding more transparency from government when claiming personal property. … more
Property Seized, Money Taken - No Charges Filed
Police seize assets of Michigan residents who have not been charged with crimes. One man was told he could get his belongings back for a price. Another had his bank accounts frozen and was unable to pay bills. He also lost property he called "auctionable." Last year, law enforcement raised over $20,000,000 from seizing personal property. … more
Unionization for the 21st Century
How new models can help unions attract members and better serve workers. Read the study by clicking here. … more
Star International Academy: CAP Success Story
Star International Academy is the highest ranked high school in Michigan on the Mackinac Center for Public Policy's Contest and Performance report card for both 2014 and 2012.
The study and a database of every school in the state can be found at www.Mackinac.org/CAP. … more
Will Net Neutrality Save the Internet?
Advocates say that "Net Neutrality" will "save the Internet." But does the Internet need saving? … more
Dan Gilbert and Mark Cuban on Direct Tesla Sales
Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans CEO, wants to know what Mark Cuban thinks about Michigan's bill banning direct Tesla sales. … more
How to End the Public-Sector Pension Crisis
"Optimistic scenario: it's $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities," says Adrian Moore, vice president of policy at Reason Foundation about public-sector pensions at the state, county, and local levels. "More realistic scenario: You're looking at $2 trillion to $4 trillion in unfunded liabilities. That's a huge debt." … more
Term Limits Coming to Your Neighborhood?
Two women have hit the trail trying to get term limits passed in the city of Grand Rapids. Their efforts could be a barometer of public sentiment as some Lansing politicians discuss the merits of eliminating term limits for state lawmakers. … more
Michigan Teacher Illegally Forced to Pay for Union Business
Adam Neuman was not afraid to put his life on the line; he's certainly not afraid of union bullying. He fought for freedom overseas, and he simply wants to exercise it back home. But the Brighton Education Association and his school district are violating his rights. … more
MCPP@Work Audrey Spalding
Mackinac Center for Public Policy Director of Education Policy Audrey Spalding describes her latest study on right-to-work law violations in public school contracts and suggests why districts and unions are ignoring the law. … more
MEA Calls Teachers "Freeloaders," but Won't Let Them Free
Steve Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association, calls teachers who don't want to financially support the MEA "freeloaders." However, MEA leadership wants to continue to represent those who do not want to pay and refuses to allow teachers to represent themselves. … more
$40 Million Silver Line Bus Line vs. the Car
Can Michigan's first "rapid transit bus" beat a car on the same route? Or, beat an existing bus route? The results may surprise you. … more
Uber Wars: How D.C.Tried to Kill a Great New Ride Technology
Like most powerful innovations, Uber disrupts the status quo by competing with established business interests. In Washington, D.C., the service was an instant hit with city residents - and almost as quickly found itself at odds with D.C.'s powerful taxi lobby and its allies on the city council. … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Teenage Unemployment
Central Michigan University economist Jason Taylor explains how raising the minimum wage will hurt teen workers trying to find their first job. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Local Economies
Northern Michigan University economist Hugo Eyzaguirre discusses how raising the minimum wage will hurt emerging local economies. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Low-Income Wage Earners
Stonehill College economist Sean Mulholland discusses how the minimum wage is a poorly targeted tool to help low-income earners. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
Jazz and Civil Society
The Detroit International Jazz Festival brings together music and charitable giving. Read more about this "spontaneous order" by clicking here: http://www.mackinac.org/7885 … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Minorities
St. Lawrence University economist Steven Horwitz discusses how the minimum wage was used to block immigrants from taking scarce jobs during the depression era. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
MCPP@work, August Opt Opt with F. Vincent Vernuccio
The Michigan Education Association says members may leave only in the month of August. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has set up www.AugustOptOut.org to help inform MEA members of their rights. … more
Why We Left the Michigan Education Association
Teachers describe why they left the MEA and what impact it has had on their working conditions.
The MEA says the only time members may leave is in the month of August. www.AugustOptOut.com … more
MCPP@Work Hohman
Meet James Hohman, Assistant Director of Fiscal Policy at the Mackinac Center. James discusses his latest project, an analysis of Proposal 1, the proposal on personal property tax reform that will appear on the August 5th ballot. Read more about Proposal 1 here: http://www.mackinac.org/20246 … more
PSA: Educational Choice Now
A new public service announcement called “Educational Choice Now” features NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the WNBA’s Lisa Leslie, the NBA’s Jalen Rose, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Lou Gossett, Jr., Vivica Fox, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Laila Ali, Mary Millben, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Christian artists “Mary, Mary.” … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Income Mobility
Ohio State University economist Todd Nesbitt discusses how increasing the minimum wage makes it less attractive for low wage earners to want to invest in education and job training. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm Mom and Pop Shops
Northern Michigan University economist Tawni Hunt Ferrarini discusses how increasing the minimum wage hurts Mom and Pop businesses. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
How Minimum Wages Lead To Job Discrimination
Alma College economist Feler Bose describes how racist employers are helped by raising the minimum wage. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
How Minimum Wage Laws Harm The Poor
Duquesne University economist Antony Davies talks about the Catch-22 in the job market and how the minimum wage is responsible for it. See more at "Raising the Minimum Wage, Lowering Opportunity." … more
MCPP At Work: Evaluating Harris v. Quinn
Mackinac Center for Public Policy senior attorney Derk Wilcox explains an important case the Supreme Court is currently considering. … more
Eat the Rich
Take all of the profits, salaries and assets of the rich and liquidate them and the United States would barely pay one year of current deficits. Prosperity must be built up in order to overcome deficits. Earning potential is infinite, Bill Whittle explains, but the destructive power of taxes is all too real and will bring us to a finite zero. … more
Milton Friedman - Redistribution of Wealth
Milton Friedman clears up misconceptions about wealth redistribution, in general, and inheritance tax, in particular. … more
Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy
People tend to think the world is much worse off than it actually is. Bad news gets a lot more attention than good news. Professor Bryan Caplan calls this "Pessimistic Bias," and argues that it affects the policies people vote for. Despite the amazing economic gains of the past 100 years and even the past decade, most people are under the impression that things are just getting worse. But Prof. Caplan argues that even with all the tough problems in the world, there is reason for optimism; contrary to most people's expectations, he contends that the best is yet to come. … more
Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams On the Minimum Wage
Minimum wage laws have been an effective means of creating unemployment and protecting unions from unskilled competition. … more
Overpopulation is a Myth
"Are we asking the right questions, or are we still in this old mindset where we think it's all about overpopulation? Because it's not," says Jessica Yu, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind the new documentary Misconception. … more
The Detroit Bailout 'Grand Bargain'
Mackinac Center Director of Fiscal Policy Michael LaFaive talks about bailing out Detroit, selling a Detroit Institute of Arts painting, taxpayers being on the hook for Detroit's mismanagement and where Michigan tax dollars could be better used. … more
Why Does 1% of History Have 99% of the Wealth?
Throughout the history of the world, the average person on earth has been extremely poor: subsisting on the modern equivalent of $3 per day. This was true until 1800, at which point average wages—and standards of living—began to rise dramatically. Prof. Deirdre McCloskey explains how this tremendous increase in wealth came about. … more
From Detroit To The Ivy League: One Student's Journey
Meet Daniel Felix, the valedictorian for Detroit's Cesar Chavez Academy and his winning formula for success: inter-drive, strong family values, school choice.
… more
VoteSpotter: The Easiest Way to Spot an Important Vote
Michigan legislators vote on hundreds of bills every year. Keeping track of them can seem like a full-time job.
Not any more. VoteSpotter alerts you to important votes, but it doesn't stop there. You can vote on their vote, let them know if you agree or disagree, and share your views on social media. It's the easiest way to spot an important vote.
EconPop - The Economics of Dallas Buyers Club
In this premiere episode of EconPop, Andrew discusses the economics of Academy Award winner Dallas Buyers Club. Subjects include public health and safety regulations, crony capitalism and the role of regulatory capture, the emergence of black and grey markets, and commercial exchange as a means for increased social tolerance. … more
Does Capitalism Exploit Workers?
Prof. Matt Zwolinski explains why capitalism actually tends to protect workers' interests. And Zwolinski contends that even if it were exploitative, increasing political regulation and control would actually make the problem worse. Increases in government make citizens more vulnerable to the state. Political officials are tempted to exploit this vulnerability for the benefit of the politically well connected. Unlike free market transactions, which are mutually beneficial, when politics is involved one party's gain usually comes at someone else's expense. … more
Play Ball: President Bush's Opening Pitch at Yankee Stadium After 9/11
Now that baseball season has started, it is worth watching the behind-the-scenes action that took place before President George W. Bush's first pitch at Yankee Stadium in 2001. Watch it in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those serving us today. … more
MEA Lets Two Teachers Out; 8,000 More Not Paying Dues
Coopersville kindergarten teacher Miriam Chanski and Petoskey wrestling coach William "Ray" Arthur sued the Michigan Education Association for not allowing them to exercise their rights to leave the union and stop paying dues. The union threatened to ruin these teachers' credit. Not intimidated, the teachers continued to stand for their rights, refusing to go along with a settlement that would have forced them to keep quiet about being let out of the union. Eventually, the union backed down, allowing the teachers to do what they should have been able to do all along. … more
Mackinac Center on Fox Business: Hollywood Exodus
The Mackinac Center's managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential, Manny Lopez, on Fox Business's "Money with Melissa Francis" show discussing film makers' exodus from Hollywood. … more
The MEA Under Oath: 8,000 Teachers Short
In 2013, school districts no longer could automatically collect dues. The MEA, unlike any other unions, gives members just one month to quit: August. Here's the catch: many teachers were unaware of the rule, and have filed complaints against the MEA. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation provides representation and counsel for many of these teachers. … more
The Real 'Truth About the Economy': Have Wages Stagnated?
Prof. Don Boudreaux responds to "The Truth About the Economy," a recent video featuring former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. In the video, one of Reich's key points is that most people's wages have barely increased since 1980. However, when Reich's numbers are examined in greater detail, his claim does not hold up. … more
Remy: Working 9 to 5 (Obamacare Remix)
The new health care law shakes up Remy's employment situation. … more
VoteSpotter: The Easiest Way to Spot an Important Vote
Michigan legislators vote on hundreds of bills every year. Keeping track of them can seem like a full-time job. Not any more. VoteSpotter alerts you to important votes, but it doesn't stop there. You can vote on their vote, let them know if you agree or disagree, and share your views on social media. It's the easiest way to spot an important vote.
Does the Minimum Wage Hurt Workers?
The minimum wage sounds nice on the surface: workers earning $8 per hour would certainly be better off if they were earning $12 per hour instead. But economics professor Antony Davies explains that this view of the minimum wage overlooks an important detail: The minimum wage does not force employers to pay a particular wage to every worker; it forces employers to pay a particular wage to every worker they choose to keep. While the minimum wage may be well-intentioned public policy, it often hurts the very workers most in need of our help. … more
New Menu Item at Zingerman's: The Minimum Wage
The well known Ann Arbor deli and gourmet food shop recently raised its lowest wage. Recently, it held a promotional event for government to force others to raise the minimum wage for all businesses, but questions remain if all businesses can afford it. … more
The Gender Wage Gap Is a Myth
The wage gap myth, most recently used by President Obama during the State of the Union Address, states that women make only 77 cents to every dollar that men earn. AEI resident scholar Christina Hoff Sommers debunks the bogus statistic. … more
How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers
The NFL raked in over $9 billion in revenues last season and the league is pushing team owners to triple that mark over the next decade.
With the league's overwhelming success, many cities are eager to get a piece of the action, often offering billions in public subsidies to attract (or keep) football in their localities. But with the NFL making record profits, is it right for cities to spend public money on these type of projects? Especially when over half of NFL team owners are ranked on the Forbes billionaire list? … more
Get Konnected with The Kronies Action Figures
The Kronies are in action...Mandating, Tarrify-ing, Inflating, and Boondoggling their way to profits powered by their special konnection to the G-Force. Watch Big-G and his team stomp out competition! … more
The Highland Park Transformation
This is the story of how the Detroit-area Highland Park school district is being transformed from a failing district to an improving one. Under the old system, the school buildings were filthy and filled with rodents. Now, as one of Michigan's first charter school districts, Highland Park schools are clean and fit for learning. … more
Should Michigan Raise the Minimum Wage?
CapCon associate Jarrett Skorup debates the minimum wage at Grand Valley State University.
“Among the most basic laws of economics is if you make something more expensive, you will have less of it,” Skorup said. “Minimum wage laws make hiring someone more expensive, and thus you’ll get less of it.” … more
Disabled Family Sees 300 Percent Increase In Health Insurance Costs Under Obamacare
Obamacare was supposed to help families with pre-existing conditions, not hurt them. But that has not been the case for the Davert Family of Bay City, Michigan. … more
Schools of Choice in Michigan: A Mackinac Center Study
The study measures growth over time and geographic spread, and reveals student and parental preferences the program brings to light. The study finds that SOC participation has grown steadily, with enrollment growing by 144 percent over the past 10 years. … more
