Across the United States, myriad pension and trust funds are in trouble. Serious trouble. The U.S Postal Service’s retiree health benefits fund is underfunded by $70 billion and will be depleted in 10 years. In Illinois, the state’s teacher pension fund…

The United States Postal Service has many troubles. Mail volume has plunged more than 30 percent since 2007. The agency, which was designed to be self-funding, has run deficits for many years. And earlier this year, the postmaster general told…

Last month, Elizabeth Warren paid a visit to the National Education Association (NEA). She was doing what candidates always do: hunting for votes. So one can understand why she was there and why she wanted to please the union. But…

Eric Felten, an award-winning drinks writer, recently pointed out a glaring downside to government-run drinks shops: I heard last week from an intrepid subscriber to the Washington Examiner who had read my May 10 column about how I like my…

Keystone State legislators may abolish Pennsylvania’s stealth drinks tax. The House Liquor Control Committee is examining HB 1512, which would end the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s “flexible pricing” power. Rep. Jesse Topper, the measure’s primary sponsor, argues that flexible pricing…

Raise your hand if you enjoy alcoholic beverages. Now raise your other hand if you love free markets. Alright, AmSpec readers, you can put both your arms back down — this is not a stick-up — and continue scrolling downward. Wouldn’t…

Some weeks back I made a decision: I would buy no new bottles of liquor for as long as possible. My reason was not anxiety about my weight or a sudden conversion to teetotalism. No, I had simply grown tired…

Have you heard the news? So-called “sin taxes” — particularly those on alcoholic beverages — are being rebranded as “health taxes.” It’s true. I am happy that we may finally cast aside the term “sin taxes,” a label that oozes…

It is 10 p.m., I am in a cabin, and sipping my third Negroni from a coffee cup. No, this is not the typical evening. Let me explain. It was a very good night on the dock. Panfish were plentiful,…

A few months back, a friend came to town from Tennessee. His schedule was jammed as was mine, but I was eager to see him. He works in insurance and I inevitably learn a lot when he explains  the various…