In our work promoting smart policies on harm reduction around the world, the Consumer Choice Center is often engaged in battles to stave off vaping flavor bans or tax hikes that will harm consumers and smokers looking to quit. And while those efforts are vital to individuals moving away from tobacco in liberal democracies, there are countries […]
A Tribute to My Grandfather
There is so much to say about my grandfather. We shared a love of history, a skepticism of centralized authority, and a high regard for Truth. Growing up miles and countries apart, I was blessed to get to know him better when I could hop on the ViaRail train from Montreal to visit him in […]
Oui, j’élève ma fille en français
Oui, j’élève ma fille en français. Elle n’a pas pu visiter ma province natale, mais c’est quelque chose que je vise à changer dès que possible. Elle saura ce qu’il signifie le fait d’être québécoise. Même si je suis moi-même encore un étranger dans un autre pays qui ne parle pas ma langue (l’immigré à […]
The storming of the US Capitol fueled by demagoguery and a threat to republican democracy
On Wednesday, we saw the worst passions of the American Republic storm through the doors of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. For hours, people around the world watched as marchers and protestors transformed into rioters who ransacked various congressional offices, posed for photos on the House floor, and terrorized hundreds of congressmen and women, […]
Thanksgiving Grinch
Before the law came callin’, we need a callback. On Wednesday, I arranged to meet my contact who happens to be a butcher (Servus Herr Mader!) who supplied me with his freshest 6.5kg (15lb) turkey from the Austrian countryside. I flashed my Apple Card® and we exchanged a few words in our usual banter, flooded […]
Now They’re Coming After Your Delivery Apps
Throughout the course of the pandemic, the world of commerce has shifted primarily online. That’s made online retail, digital services, and delivery apps a godsend for millions of us sequestered in our homes. This entirely new sector of the economy has allowed us to safely buy, enjoy, and use goods and services without the risk […]
In Kamala Harris, do consumers have an ally or a foe?
This week, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden revealed Sen. Kamala Harris of California as his running mate for the November general election against President Donald Trump. Because Harris’ influence on the Biden campaign will loom large, and be important to whomever American voters choose in the fall, it’s worth looking at some of her ideas […]
The Language of Love and Fatherhood
My latest moments of pride rest exclusively on seeing our daughter grow and develop into her own person. She doesn’t know all the negativity of our COVID reality, the canceled vacation plans to see family in North Carolina, or the dark specters of doom that fill our newsfeeds every day. She knows happiness, eating with […]
My Strange, Crazy, and Smart Expat Healthcare Plan
Here is my current healthcare set-up for those who are interested. Note: Ideally, this is for anyone who is an American citizen (or has a social security number), travels for business or pleasure at least one or two months a year, is generally skeptical of the current healthcare system and wants to empower themselves. High-deductible Health […]
Should the U.S. have a Parliamentary System?
There have been some important debates and actions in various parliamentary democracies lately. Canada held its 43rd general election on Monday, Austria’s legislative elections were three weeks ago, and the UK Parliament is in the midst of the Brexit deal debate. With its first-past-the-post parliamentary system, Canada’s election won current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a […]