David Friedman’s Substack

David Friedman's Substack explores a wide range of subjects from economic principles and climate change to intellectual debates and law enforcement, emphasizing critical thinking, skepticism towards mainstream narratives, and the interplay of natural and social sciences in understanding human behavior and societal issues.

Critical Thinking and Truth Seeking Political and Economic Theories Science and Climate Change Legal and Ethical Considerations Societal and Cultural Analysis Philosophy and Morality Education and Learning Methods Technology and Society

The hottest Substack posts of David Friedman’s Substack

And their main takeaways

Obama's Tax Proposals

0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 08
  1. Obama's tax proposals aimed to raise taxes for those making over $250,000 and reduce taxes for others.
  2. Details about Obama's plan on corporate taxes and federal spending are crucial in understanding the overall impact.
  3. Questions remain on whether Obama's plans will actually reduce total federal spending as claimed in the article.

A Different View of Sarah Palin

0 implied HN points • 07 Sep 08
  1. Defending Sarah Palin against some attacks that seem wrong.
  2. Providing a link to a potentially true open letter discussing Sarah Palin.
  3. Acknowledging the possibility of the information being false.

Boarding South-Western: The Sound of One Hand Clapping

0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 08
  1. A suggested approach to improve airplane boarding process is to line up passengers in reverse seat order.
  2. South-Western airlines implemented a unique boarding system with groups A, B, C despite having open seating.
  3. The boarding pass number was not relevant on the South-Western flight with no preassigned seats.

Travel Notes: Suggestion for the Airlines

0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 08
  1. In situations where baggage is delayed, airlines should announce when all baggage from a particular flight has been put on the carousel.
  2. This would help passengers know if their bags are missing and take appropriate action.
  3. Passengers often wait unnecessarily without this information.

Travel Notes: Florence x 3

0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 08
  1. Florence is like three cities in one: historic, tourist, and modern.
  2. Interesting places in Florence for non-art lovers include museum of masaic work, a restored medieval house, and an enormous covered market.
  3. Some museums in Florence ban cameras to prevent competition with their authorized publications, which raises questions about their choice from an economic perspective.
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Taking Children from their Parents: The General Issue

0 implied HN points • 29 May 08
  1. In some cases, the state removing children from their parents may not be in the best interest of the children.
  2. The actions of government agencies, like in the Texas case, can raise concerns about their true motivations and care for children.
  3. There are alternative ways to protect children from abusive parents, such as shifting power to the children themselves or enabling easier refuge for runaways.

Enterprising Lawyer Needed

0 implied HN points • 22 May 08
  1. The Texas Child Protective Services were guilty of restraining adult women under false pretenses.
  2. The CPS made false claims about women and the FLDS without evidence.
  3. There may be legal recourse through tort claims against the CPS for deliberate and malicious actions.

About those pregnant FLDS minors ...

0 implied HN points • 17 May 08
  1. Some pregnant FLDS minors were actually adults.
  2. About 1/5 of the girls found at the ranch were pregnant, not 60% as initially claimed.
  3. Texas is now claiming custody over the infants born to these women.

Consequences of disputed age: A Legal Question

0 implied HN points • 01 May 08
  1. Child protective services relying on physical appearance as evidence for age can lead to legal disputes.
  2. There may be legal ambiguities in cases where someone's age is disputed by authorities.
  3. The hypothetical scenario highlights potential issues with wrongful imprisonment and legal oversight in cases involving disputed ages.

And yet more on the FLDS phone call

0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 08
  1. The phone call to anti-polygamy activists claiming to be an underage FLDS girl was likely fake.
  2. Law enforcement may not have properly verified the origin of the phone call before raiding the FLDS compound.
  3. There were questions raised about the truthfulness of statements made by the spokeswoman for the Child Protective People regarding the girls seized.

My Retro Dream Phone

0 implied HN points • 23 Mar 08
  1. The author is looking for a cell phone that combines internet connectivity, pocket computer functions, and specific features like a 3G connection, usable keyboard, and a large screen.
  2. The author's dream phone is inspired by the Psion Revo, a past favorite gadget with a 5' screen and excellent keyboard, and would include upgrades like a color touch screen, 3G cell phone internals, and added features like a camera and GPS.
  3. While the specific device he envisions may not exist on the market, the author believes that certain companies could potentially create a similar device by licensing the keyboard design and incorporating modern technology and software like Google's Android operating system.

Why Risk Aversion Isn't

0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 08
  1. Many technical terms in various fields are misunderstood by people who think they know what they mean.
  2. Risk aversion does not mean aversion to physical risks, but rather a preference for certain monetary outcomes.
  3. People's willingness to take risks can vary depending on the context and the perceived utility of the outcomes.

Declining marginal utility, progressive taxes, and fairness

0 implied HN points • 02 Mar 08
  1. Tax progressivity should consider both tax amount and proportion of income paid by different income groups.
  2. The argument for equal utility burdens in taxation may not hold up under closer examination.
  3. Fair taxation involves complexities beyond just equal utility costs.

Ideology as Coalition: Environmentalists vs The Poor

0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 08
  1. Political parties and ideologies are made up of diverse groups with varying views and interests.
  2. Modern left-leaning individuals support causes like environmental regulation and redistribution for the poor, creating potential conflicts within the coalition.
  3. Conflicts arise within leftist objectives due to unintended consequences of certain policies, such as the impact of economic development on the environment.

Smartphone search: A Progress Report

0 implied HN points • 13 Dec 07
  1. The author is searching for a pda/phone combo meeting specific requirements.
  2. Potential options include i-mate Ultimate 9502, HTC X7501 Advantage, and Toshiba Portege G900.
  3. Considerations include screen size, weight, and US availability.

Why Tie Showing to Selling?

0 implied HN points • 26 Nov 07
  1. Consider offering services to help customers choose a product instead of just selling the product itself.
  2. Separate the cost of showrooms and selling to allow customers the option of paying for each service separately.
  3. Bundling showroom and selling services together is a common practice; question why it is the norm.

Reading the IPCC Report

0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 07
  1. The IPCC report suggests global food production may increase with a slight temperature rise for the next fifty to a hundred and fifty years.
  2. Climate change could cause unfavorable impacts in European regions, but the report is cautious with predicting sea level rise.
  3. The IPCC report relies heavily on social sciences like economics, indicating uncertainty in the results and potential adjustments to changing climates.

Global Warming Hype

0 implied HN points • 17 Nov 07
  1. Getting a Nobel prize doesn't necessarily prove scientific expertise of a panel.
  2. The emotional language in news stories about global warming tend to overshadow the actual data.
  3. Actual predictions about global warming, like a rise of less than two degrees by 2100, can be buried in articles.

Another Nokia E90 Gripe

0 implied HN points • 14 Nov 07
  1. Nokia claimed high-speed 3G connection support in the US for the E90, but no US networks actually support it.
  2. The misleading initial claim on the E90's 3G connection could lead to customer dissatisfaction.
  3. The author questions if the misleading claim was due to dishonesty or incompetence.

Choosing a College

0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 07
  1. Consider a college's core curriculum to see if it aligns with your preferences and values.
  2. Look for schools with high average SAT scores to find intellectually stimulating environments.
  3. Seek out independent views, interact with students, and attend classes to get a feel for the student environment at different colleges.

Subjective Status or Fooling Our Genes

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 07
  1. In our social systems, individuals often seek status that was once linked to reproductive success.
  2. Humans have evolved to prioritize social status for reproductive success, but our desires are not always aligned with genetic objectives.
  3. Our brains have the power to override genetic programming, choosing status markers that provide pleasure and satisfaction.

Prejudice: The Watson Case

0 implied HN points • 21 Oct 07
  1. Prejudice is a belief held before evidence.
  2. Watson's claim about differing populations is likely true.
  3. Arguments for racial equality of intelligence focus on lack of evidence for differences.

Neither Anarchy nor Minarchy is Necessarily Libertarian

0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 07
  1. Anarchy and minarchy may not always lead to libertarian outcomes.
  2. Establishing limited government does not ensure libertarian laws.
  3. Anarchy tends to align more closely with libertarian ideals compared to minarchy.

Affirmative Action, Richard Sanders and Thomas Sowell

0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 07
  1. Affirmative action in law schools may reduce the number of black lawyers due to mismatched students and schools.
  2. Research suggests a race-blind admission policy could lead to more black students passing the bar exam.
  3. Thomas Sowell's argument about mismatched students and schools is not new and has been previously applied to colleges.

Income and Human Mating Patterns

0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 07
  1. In poor societies, monogamy is more common because men can't afford to support two families.
  2. Rising incomes might lead to more women choosing short-term mating strategies.
  3. Enforced monogamy can affect the price of a wife and influence dowry customs.

Loaded Dice: How to bias research

0 implied HN points • 07 Jun 07
  1. Research can be biased through the manipulation of questions and definitions.
  2. Be cautious of how questions are structured in research studies.
  3. Consider the underlying motives behind the design of research methodologies.

Wanted: The Inn Between the Worlds

0 implied HN points • 17 May 07
  1. A solution proposed for overcrowded game servers is an 'Inn Between the Worlds' where players can meet and interact regardless of their game server.
  2. The concept could be extended to new games by creating a virtual inn where players can bring their characters from different games to socialize.
  3. Cooperation between game companies would be essential for implementing this idea successfully.

Two Views of Democracy

0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 07
  1. There are two main models of how democracy works: one based on incentives for politicians, and the other on the selection of good candidates.
  2. The incentives model suggests that politicians work to please voters to get elected and reelected.
  3. The selection model relies on voters being able to identify good and capable politicians, potentially leading to charisma-focused campaigns.

Physics, Economics, Hurricanes and Mistakes

0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 07
  1. Hurricanes are not directly caused by warm ocean temperatures, but by temperature differences between air and sea.
  2. The Phillips Curve in economics demonstrates how mistaking an effect for its magnitude can lead to false conclusions.
  3. Variables being higher or lower than usual can be mistaken for having absolute high or low impacts.

Who to Believe: Auto Speed and Accident Mortality

0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 07
  1. The survival rate of pedestrians decreases significantly with higher car speeds.
  2. There are concerns about the accuracy and consistency of the data used to advocate for slower driving speeds.
  3. Reducing the speed limit in urban areas can lead to a decrease in both pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

Obesity, Caloric Restrictions, and protecting children

0 implied HN points • 28 Feb 07
  1. Some studies show that caloric restriction can increase life expectancy in animals.
  2. Severely obese people with a BMI over 45 may live up to 20 years less than those not overweight.
  3. The complex issue of obesity raises questions about child protection measures around diet-related life expectancies.

Liberals, libertarians, Objectivists and National Review

0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 07
  1. An alliance between liberals and libertarians could be beneficial, as there is a sizable block of voters interested in less government involvement in both social and economic matters.
  2. The split between libertarians and conservatives may be partially due to libertarians prioritizing different reasons for supporting liberty, leading to disagreements on the fundamental basis for political decisions.
  3. Republicans could be natural allies for libertarians if they supported less government involvement, regardless of the specific philosophical reasoning behind their views.

A Tactic for Libertarians

0 implied HN points • 01 Dec 06
  1. Argue with people's assumptions to make them rethink their beliefs in different contexts.
  2. Highlight government incompetence in one area to question its competence in other areas.
  3. Suggest that skepticism of government extends to various contexts, not just selective areas.

The Mont Pelerin Society, Milton Friedman, and the World

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 06
  1. The Mont Pelerin Society was created by Friedrich Hayek to support free markets after World War II.
  2. At a certain point, there was debate about dissolving the Society because pro-market views had become more widely known and accepted.
  3. The Society continues to serve a purpose for individuals in various regions around the world, where pro-market beliefs are still in the minority.

Private Schools for the Poor

0 implied HN points • 10 Nov 06
  1. In poor countries, many children from low-income families are attending private schools that charge around five dollars a month.
  2. Parents are choosing private schools because they believe their children receive a better education compared to free public schools.
  3. Studies have shown that children attending affordable private schools outperform those in public schools.