McKee's Economic Suggestions - October 2025

 

McKee’s NewsHour Economic Suggestions

Librarians Fight Book Bans

Over 6800 books were banned last year. 80% of all the attempts to ban books in public schools happened in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. A ban would be a law, enforced by the government, making this an example of command. Traditionally parents determine what books their own children should read but these people want to determine what any and all children can and cannot read. Librarians are joining together to fight the bans, in their traditional role of making the resources of books available to all. The potential opportunity cost of book bans is that it would increase the scarcity of information that children want and need. 

 

Oregon Governor Takes on Trump

President Trump's announced plans to deploy National Guard troops in Portland, which is Federal government intervention (command) is not supported by Governor Tina Kotek.  A similar plan for troops in Illinois has led to a lawsuit from their governor. Oregon's governor has spoken with Trump and told him his characterization of Portland as being a burning hell-hole is because of misinformation he has about the city. Kotek told Trump that the protests are confined to a one block area and that local law enforcement has things under control, which is the traditional way of dealing with things. 

Governor Kotek told PBS about the tradition of the Portland Marathon, which was run last week and goes past the area of the protests. Protesting government actions like those of ICE is traditional in the US and is guaranteed by the Constitution, which is an example of command. 

If Governor Kotek did not intervene with pushing back against the president, the opportunity costs could include troops acting against US citizens in Portland. When the Federal government sends in troops, that is an example of command economy (government intervention). National Guard troops are a resource for the governor of a state, to be called on during an emergency, and if they are in Portland working for Trump, there could be a terrible opportunity cost if they are needed to help during a natural disaster.