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Plea bargains let persons accused of crimes plead guilty and receive reduced charges or a reduced sentence.

Heartland’s Donald Kendal and Justin Haskins are joined by Isaac Orr in episode #201 of the In The Tank Podcast. This episode features work from the Center of the American Experiment, FEE, PERC, and the Reason Foundation.

Advocates of occupational licensure argue that it protects the public interest by excluding incompetent and unethical individuals from sensitive jobs. This is certainly the case in some fields, such as health care — but in general, research reveals weak evidence that licensure confers a tangible benefit on public safety or the overall quality of services provided to consumers. What it mainly does is increase costs: Kleiner estimates that licensing increases prices 5 to 33 percent, depending on the occupation and geographic location.

One thing that is not in it is the poem by Emma Lazarus, which is on the Statue of Liberty. Nothing in the Law of the Land requires the U.S. to freely admit “the wretched refuse of your teeming shores”—or requires U.S. citizens to feed and provide housing and medical care for them. The load could crush our system, starting with the medical system.

America has the resources to be the world’s number one producer of oil, natural gas, and coal. The development of these mighty energy industries would be the backbone of renewed booming economic growth and prosperity for the United States.

Imagine you have been wrongfully arrested, charged with murdering a child. Although the evidence against you is vague, authorities are anxious to appease those demanding justice so your case is rushed to trial. Your lawyer decides that, considering public sentiment, it is best to plead guilty and throw yourself at the mercy of the court.

In 1811, British factory workers literally “fought the machine,” protesting against technology under the banner of mythical figurehead King Ludd. Upset about being replaced by more efficient machinery, cost-ineffective factory workers rebelled against the installation of threshing machines and other force-multipliers.

A judge in Sangamon County Circuit Court has blocked a modest reform of Illinois’ pension system for state workers and retirees outside Chicago from taking effect June 1, giving Gov. Pat “Four Counties” Quinn the excuse he’s probably been looking for to block reforms for two of Chicago’s pension plans. (I’ll explain “Four Counties” in a moment.)

The Department of Homeland Security sets up shop in a mental hospital. Meanwhile, the IRS wants out of Obamacare.