“Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

Contrary to a common misconception, it was not Charles Duell, the Commissioner of the US patent office, who said this back in 1899. According toPatentlyO.com, and a host of other debunking sources online, this line was actually part of a parody that appeared in an 1899 edition of Punch Magazine. But it was a common sentiment of that era.

Over a century later, with innovations in recent years that were entirely unimaginable back in the great era of steel and steam, we might be hesitant to think everything that can be invented has been invented. But reputable economists are on hand to diminish the potential of information technology to continue to yield advances in productivity –Robert Gordonof Northwestern University, for example, “downplays the role of computer technology in the economic growth of the latter 20th century and questions the actual productivity of such technological… Read More

[The following column, penned my yours truly, appears on the Opinion Page of the Orange County Register today. I’m reprinting it below because, as luck would have it, the column appears the first day that the Register is imposing it’s firewall for readers. Who can fault me for reprinting my own piece? Here is the link to where it resides behind the paywall – Flash]

Jon Fleischman: Orange County doesn’t need an appointed CEO O.C. actually run by 5 elected supervisors, who need more of a chief of staff.

By JON FLEISCHMAN / For the Register

The county of Orange for more than eight months has been without a county executive officer. But our county government has not been without leadership. Unlike the private sector, where a corporate CEO will often answer to a part-time board of directors, providing perhaps only the broadest of oversight, the Orange County CEO answers to a Board of … Read More

Although the official announcement won’t take place until later this week, San Diego blogSD Rostraconfirmed today that former Assemblyman and 2012 San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher is returning to the Republican Party.

Fletcher caused a stir by leaving the GOP and registering non-partisan during last year’s mayoral contest, after failing to win the party’s endorsement in the race. Many political watchers believed the move was a strategic gamble to breathe life into his campaign effort. Athough Fletcher received a flurry of notoriety as a result, it ultimately wasn’t enough as he finished third behind Bob Filner and Carl DeMaioin the June primary election.

Yet, the resulting bad blood between Fletcher and local Republican leaders makes the news of his return somewhat of a surprise, if not a complete shock.

Discussions between Fletcher and the GOP have taken place for several weeks,Rostraconfirmed. Although neither Fletcher nor San Diego Republican Party Chairman Tony Krvaric confirmed the information directly, they both refused to deny… Read More

[Publisher’s Note – We are pleased to offer this original commentary from longtime FR friend the Honorable Scott Mann. Mann is currently serving as Mayor of Menifee, which is located in the Inland Empire of Southern California — Flash]

The City of Menifee is on the record unanimously opposing AB 5, often called the Homeless Bill of Rights and Fairness Act. I appreciate that homelessness is a genuine community problem across the State of California which, in public discussion, excites strong feelings on all sides.

However, even the Los Angeles Times says “While we sympathize with its (AB 5’s) spirit, we don’t support it. The solution is not to sanction the culture of homelessness or to offer blanket approval for a way of life that society generally agrees should be ended.” (1/11/13)

This bill, which even its author, Assembly Member Ammiano, concedes is “aspirational,” would impose unfunded mandates upon cities while adding homelessness to a listing of protected classes. Under the bill, “life-sustaining activities that must be carried out in… Read More

The Sacramento politicians are planning a costly attack on drivers’ wallets by changing the way some traffic violations are defined.

Generally, the public accepts the need for parking enforcement. The threat of a fine for those who overstay their allotted time helps to make sure that limited parking spaces are available to all who want to shop or do business in a commercial district. However, in many cities, like Los Angeles where parking fines have been raised 5 times in recent years and even those who park at broken meters are ticketed, the goal is revenue.

The public also tends to support fines for those whose driving puts others in danger as well as themselves. An expensive ticket for those who run a red light is intended to serve as a deterrent to those who might otherwise ignore traffic regulations. However, this system, too, can be manipulated so that driver safety takes a backseat to the primary goal, squeezing more money from the public.

Most motorists are familiar with red light cameras. A number of city councils, attracted by the potential of additional revenue, have approved these cameras using the argument that they improve… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: We are pleased to offer this perspective from longtime FR reader and occasional columnist Doug Lasken. A reminder that the views expressed here are Doug’s and do not necessarily reflect anyone else’s views, including my own – Flash]

A successful political party, by one definition, is a party that is able to create viable coalitions, where a viable coalition is one that leads to sufficient votes to ensure election of enough party members to provide some hope of fulfilling the wishes of the coalition members.

The Republican Party has not acted in accordance with the above definition, but has replaced it with this: “A successful party is one that is in the right and takes the moral high ground.” Of course Democrats claim that their party is in the right and takes the moral high ground, and that the coalitions within their party reflect that. What, then, is the difference between the two parties?

The difference is that the Democrats don’t really mean it. They are anti-war, but they promote war; they are in favor helping the poor by doling out cash (with… Read More

This is Part One of a two-part series.

The unusually speedy approval of a new NBA arena for the Kings basketball team in the heart of downtown Sacramento leaves many details and unanswered questions on the table, including how this arena project possibly will be completed and ready for opening by 2015.

Approved by the Sacramento City Council, the latest plan uses overstated revenue projections, grossly overstated projected attendance numbers and city-owned parking garages to sweeten the finances. As with all of the previous schemes to keep the Sacramento Kings in town in a luxurious arena, neither city officials nor local news… Read More

I write about and compare California with other states. While I cover many aspects, most have to do with monetary issues — taxes, regulation, litigation, utility costs, education funding, etc.

But we should also look at a broader index that includes not only the issues I highlight, but also compares the personal freedom factors among states. For years the Mercatus Center has done exactly that — comparing states on a more fundamental “freedom” level. They incorporate most of my concerns, while factoring in personal freedoms.

The new rankings are now out. Not good for the Golden State. Indeed, as Professor Mark Perry notes below, the results are not good for people living in Democrat states — period!

California continues its dismal freedom ranking of the last decade — second worst only because of totalitarian NY state. NJ is nipping at our heels in the 48th spot.

The three MOST free states? North Dakota (up from fifth best last year), South Dakota and (perhaps surprisingly) Tennessee in third place.

The Mercatus website has more detail on each state, and the factors considered. It’s worth… Read More