Entries by Andrew Cline

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How licensing makes you wait longer for a haircut

Unless you’re still growing your pandemic beard, you might’ve noticed that getting an appointment with your barber or stylist seems to take longer than it did before the pandemic.  It’s not all the extra alcohol you got accustomed to consuming on a weekly basis since 2020. The supply of barbers, hairdressers, hair stylists and cosmetologists […]

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An island of liberty — under attack

New Hampshire’s view of national politics is distorted by the presidential primary. The distortion is so strong that sometimes we fail to see broader national trends until they become part of a narrower story about presidential ambitions. Gov. Chris Sununu’s 2023 inaugural address is a perfect example. The speech stands on its own as a […]

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The foundation of all Christmas giving is prosperity

The legend of Santa Claus is based on the actual St. Nicholas, and all tales of jolly old St. Nick share the same beginning.  Nicholas, born in 280 AD, was orphaned when his parents died in an epidemic. He went to live with his uncle, a Christian bishop. Strong in his faith, the young Nicholas […]

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Humbug! Scrooge would want fewer apartments

In the opening of “The Muppets Christmas Carol,” Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat are selling apples in a dingy London market. Gonzo scolds Rizzo for eating the inventory.  “Hey, I’m creatin’ scarcity,” Rizzo replies. “Drives the prices up.” Rizzo is a clever rat. Later in the movie, the ghosts of the Marleys tell Scrooge how […]

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Be thankful for our amazing abundance

As Americans and Granite Staters, we have so much to be thankful for that keeping track of it all can be difficult. Where does one begin?  Family and friends, health and happiness, clean air and water, mountains and maple syrup, having a buffer of at least three states between us and New Jersey.  Gratitude often […]

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Florida passes New Hampshire as most economically free state

New Hampshire has lost its title as the most economically free state in the union. The top spot this year goes to Florida, by a hair, according to the 2022 Economic Freedom of North America report released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. Florida scored 7.94 out of 10 […]

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Massachusetts votes to raise New Hampshire’s median income

One of the more important New Hampshire stories of the 2022 mid-term elections happened in Massachusetts, where voters approved a so-called “millionaires tax.” That vote represents a pivot back toward the old “Taxachusetts” days when Bay State lawmakers disregarded the interstate competitive effects of their tax policies. When it takes effect, the “millionaires tax” will […]

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Federal agency lobbied to block New England access to domestic natural gas, emails show

A federal government agency worked in the winter of 2019 to prevent New England from accessing adequate supplies of natural gas, emails recently obtained by the Cato Institute show.  Government is supposed to work on behalf of citizens, not special interests. But the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), a subdivision of the U.S. Department of Transportation, […]