Voice For Liberty
Individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas.
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Or follow Bob Weeks on Facebook at Bob Weeks. |
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The kind of rules we should have are the kind that we'd make if our worst enemy were in charge.
-- Walter Williams
All systems either of preference or of restraint, therefore, being thus completely taken away, the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord. Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man, or order of men..
-- Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations
It is exports that pay for imports. The greater exports we have, the greater imports we must have, if we ever expect to get paid. The smaller imports we have, the smaller exports we can have. Without imports we can have no exports, for foreigners will have no funds with which to buy our goods.
-- Henry Hazlitt
No matter how cynical you get, it is just impossible to keep up.
-- Lily Tomlin
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Intrust Bank Arena loss for 2019 nears $5 million |
A truthful accounting of the finances of Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita shows a large loss.
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Local government employment in Kansas |
Kansas has nearly the highest number of local government employees per resident, compared to other states.
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In the second quarter of 2020, the Kansas economy contracted at the annual rate of 30.3 percent, compared to contraction of 3.5 percent in the previous quarter. While GDP fell in all states, Kansas performed better than most, ranking nineteenth.
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Kansas government employment and payroll by function |
Looking at the number of state government employees in proportion to population, Kansas has many compared to other states.
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Support the Voice for Liberty |
You can support the Voice for Liberty in several ways.
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GDP by state and industry illustrates the pandemic’s effect |
Recent GDP data shows the sharp effects of the pandemic on production, but it is not uniform among the states and industries.
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In Kansas, explanations for tax collections may vary |
Kansas officials have explanations for low tax collections, but don't mention the same contributing factor when touting high collections.
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Kansas tax revenue, September 2020 |
For September 2020, total Kansas tax revenue fell by 2.0 percent from last September. Over the three months of the current fiscal year, tax revenue rose by 29.7 percent.
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Wichita jobs and employment, August 2020 |
For the Wichita metropolitan area in August 2020, the number of unemployed persons is up, the unemployment rate is up, and the number of people working is down, all by large amounts, when compared to the same month one year ago. The recent trend, however, is positive, although Wichita is recovering slower than the nation.
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A group opposing any future plan to raze Century II or the former central library building has filed an appeal of the decision in their lawsuit.
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Metropolitan area employment, August 2020 |
Data released today shows the effects of the response to the pandemic in the metropolitan areas for August 2020. This is an interactive visualization.
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Explore and compare the approval ratings of presidents in this interactive visualization.
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The Trump record on job creation |
The United States economy has created many jobs since Donald J. Trump became president. How does the record compare with the previous administration and others?
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During the Trump administration, the economy grew |
The United States economy has grown since Donald J. Trump became president, until the pandemic. How does the growth compare with the previous administration?
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The employment situation in Kansas rose continued to improve in August 2020 as the response to the pandemic continued to affect the economy.
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Kansas school spending, through 2020 |
Charts of Kansas school spending presented in different forms.
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Have you suspected that the country has become more partisan? An index supports that.
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Updated: Effects of pandemic on employment in states |
The effects of the response to the pandemic vary widely among the states, but federal government employment has been little affected.
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Could drug price regulation produce good and not harm? |
A sampling of criticism of drug price controls.
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Rethinking the city and the community for a post-pandemic world |
How has the pandemic affected cities in general and Wichita specifically, and what are implications for the future? This is a video lecture by sociologist Chase M. Billingham.
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Kansas general fund spending and receipts |
The Kansas budget is volatile, with rising spending and a large deficit.
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Wichita officials may have won a battle, but the Century II war isn’t over |
On Century II, Wichita City Hall won the first round, but the public issue remains, writes John Todd.
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Kansas governmental spending from several perspectives.
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Wichita economic development examined |
"What may look like economic growth on the surface ends up being, upon closer scrutiny, an expensive exercise in the rearrangement of existing business activity."
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Updated: Presidential data explorer |
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of data, with new updates for August.
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STAR Bonds redirect jobs, not create them |
As Kansas desperately searches for ways to pull itself out of the COVID-19 depression, policymakers will undoubtedly consider economic development tools as an answer. Kansas Sales Tax Anticipation Revenue Bonds, or STAR Bonds, are some of the most notable tools at the disposal of state and local governments. However, the latest research suggests that policymakers shouldn’t rely on STAR Bonds to grow jobs.
This story presents a report from Kansas Policy Institute.
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Libertarian campaign visits Wichita |
In Wichita Story, Tim O’Bryhim reports on the visit of the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate to Wichita.
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Border wall procedures criticized |
A government watchdog says the procedures for acquiring the southern border wall are inadequate, and the ability to maintain complete operational control is diminished.
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Updated: Century II resource center |
The Century II resource center has been updated with documents and news stories, including coverage of the recent court decision.
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Trump-supporting QAnon seen as public security threat |
QAnon, a conspiracy theory group mentioned favorably by President Donald J. Trump and embraced by other Republican leaders, represents a public security threat, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
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Updated: Economic indicators in the states |
Economic indicators in the states, an interactive visualization. In the coincident index, the effects of the response to the pandemic are evident. Before the pandemic, the coincident index for Kansas was growing at about the same rate as the nation.
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Added to presidential data explorer: Primary Energy Net Imports |
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of energy independence.
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Economic development incentive to be canceled |
The City of Wichita will consider canceling an economic development incentive for a firm that no longer meets policy requirements.
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Wichita property tax on commercial property: High |
An ongoing study reports that property taxes on commercial and industrial property in Wichita are high. In particular, taxes on commercial property in Wichita are among the highest in the nation.
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Airport traffic statistics, 2019 |
Airport traffic data presented in an interactive visualization, updated through 2019.
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Added to presidential data explorer: Mortgage rates |
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of mortgage interest rates. This is an interactive visualization.
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Updated: Measuring household experiences during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic |
An updated interactive visualization of household data on the effects of the pandemic.
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Presidential data explorer |
To examine the record of presidents regarding economics, I gathered data from several sources and present it in an interactive visualization. Data includes:
- Jobs
- Labor force
- Unemployment
- Dow Jones stock market index
- Gross Domestic Product
- Inflation
For each president, data is presented by month, with the first month of each president’s term having number one.
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Unemployment claims by state |
A visualization of unemployment insurance claims by state, adjusted for population.
The number of people filing for unemployment insurance each week is a useful indicator of the state of the economy. I present this data for each state and the nation in an interactive visualization.
Because states vary widely in population (the most populous state has 68 times the population of the least populous), I’ve cast the data as claims per thousand residents of each state.
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Household income in the states |
A visualization of household income by state, adjusted for inflation.
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Dow Jones by presidential term |
An animated chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for each month of a presidential term.
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Today we learned that Herman Cain has died at the age of 74. He had been hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a statement on his website.
He was an interesting man. In 2010, as he was rising in national prominence, I interviewed him in his hotel suite in Las Vegas. He ran for president in 2012.
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Wichita aerospace manufacturing concentration |
Wichita leaders want to diversify the area economy. Has there been progress?
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Unemployment in the world after the pandemic |
The unemployment rate in the United States rose sharply as the response to the pandemic affected its economy. How have other countries fared?
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COVID Survey: Small businesses fighting for survival in Kansas |
A survey of Kansas businesses, conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Kansas Policy Institute, and the Gwartney Institute of Ottawa University found several inconsistencies between what small business need and what state and local officials have done or will do.
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Federal revenue and outlays |
An interactive visualization of federal government revenue and spending from 1962 to the present.
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Measuring household experiences during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic |
An interactive visualization of household data on the effects of the pandemic.
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Presidential jobs explorer |
Explore the jobs creation record of presidents, starting with Harry S Truman. This is an interactive visualization.
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Relations with North Korea |
The Congressional Research Service has produced a summary and timeline of recent events pertaining to the United States and North Korea relationship.
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Stephen Ware: Debate on masks, freedom |
This op-ed by Kansas University Law Professor and noted libertarian Stephen Ware shows how libertarians can tolerate, if not embrace, a government mandate to wear masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Tariffs, after all, are paid by Americans |
Action taken in April by President Donald J. Trump confirms: The tariffs he imposed on China are paid by Americans.
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An interactive visualization of monthly employment in the states by major industry category.
One chart, titled “Single State Comparison,” lets you select one state. It then plots that state as one line, and all other states as another line. The nearby example shows this chart with Kansas as the selected state, with data starting in 2010 and ending this February, the last month before the response to the pandemic significantly affected jobs in the United States.
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Wichita city population rises in 2019 |
Wichita city population rose in 2019, but is still below its recent peak. Includes an interactive visualization.
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Quarterly Real GDP in Kansas |
Examining changes in GDP and industry contribution in Kansas. An interactive visualization.
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The misclassification error in the May 2020 jobs report |
Due to an error, the unemployment rate for May is higher than the 13.3 percent figure widely reported.
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Wichita metro population for 2019 |
For 2019, the estimated population for the Wichita metropolitan area is up -- and also down.
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Real personal income in states and metros |
When adjusted for regional differences, personal income in Wichita and Kansas is higher than otherwise, but growth is slow.
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Wichita presents industrial revenue bonds |
A presentation by the City of Wichita regarding IRBs is good as far as it goes, which is not far enough.
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State government tax collections for 2019 |
Kansas state government tax collections rose to $3,443 per person in 2019, an increase of 5.0 percent from 2018.
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Wichita needs transparency from its agencies |
When the Wichita city council delegates spending to outside agencies such as Visit Wichita, it should insist on the same transparency requirements the city itself faces.
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Regulation reform could jump-start Kansas economy after COVID |
The COVID-19 outbreak has not only posed a severe public health risk, but actions to combat it now risk a global economic collapse, writes Michael Austin.
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Based on post-pandemic conditions, the projections from the Congressional Budget Office for the immediate future are grim, but look better for the future.
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Should Wichita have a deputy to the mayor? |
A proposal to hire a deputy or chief of staff to the Wichita mayor is a good idea which will increase transparency and accountability of elected officials.
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Wichita water plant financing on agenda |
The Wichita city council will consider borrowing $280 million from the federal government, and also consider issuing bonds of up to $331 million to repay the loan.
Of note, while the summary documents provided by the city cite a loan amount of $280,860,714, it is important to realize that this is “capitalized interest excluded.” In an ordinance the council will consider Tuesday, there is this language: “… the City proposes to issue and deliver to the WIFIA Credit Provider a revenue bond in the principal amount not to exceed $331,000,000 (the ‘WIFIA Bond’).” The difference between the two amounts, about $50 million, is capitalized interest.
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In 2019, the Kansas economy grew at the annual rate of 0.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent the previous year, and ranked forty-fifth among the states.
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Small area income and poverty estimates |
An interactive visualization of household income and poverty data for states and counties.
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For 2019, the rate of personal income growth in Kansas was near the middle of the states.
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At Naftzger Park: ‘Sunflower Exclusive’ |
"Sunflower Exclusive," a poem by Chinyere G. Okafor, is featured at Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita.
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Intrust Bank Arena economic impact holds mistake |
A report on the economic impact of the first ten years of operation of the Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita incorrectly reported tax revenue.
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If you want to keep up with news regarding Naftzger Park, join this Facebook group:
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Kansas school employment rose for the current school year. An interactive visualization.
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The Reality of Economic Development Incentives |
Patrick Tuohey spoke to the Wichita Pachyderm Club February 21, 2020, on “The Reality of Economic Development Incentives: Lessons from Kansas City and Elsewhere.”
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Performance levels in Wichita schools |
There is some good news in the performance level reports for Wichita public schools.
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This is an interactive visualization of Kansas school salaries for superintendents, principals, and teachers, for each school district.
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Missing from Wichita city documents: Sales tax |
It would be simple for the City of Wichita to include additional relevant information regarding economic development incentive decisions.
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KPI releases A-F Grading for Kansas schools |
Kansas Policy Institute releases A-F Grading of Kansas schools for school year 2018-2019. A-F Grading places a letter grade on the existing Kansas State Department of Education definitions stemming from state assessment exams.
The A-F Grading for Kansas Schools uses state assessment data generated by the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) under the operation of the KSDE and assigns an overall school letter grade much like a student report card.
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Private investment declines |
While government spending rises, private domestic investment declines.
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Litigating for Liberty in Kansas |
Samuel G. MacRoberts, Litigation Director and General Counsel for the Kansas Justice Institute, spoke to the Wichita Pachyderm Club on February 7, 2020 about his work “Litigating for Liberty in Kansas.”
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News of a Sedgwick County Commissioner's trip to Africa has raised some controversy, and something like this has been tried before.
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Wichita should post fulfilled records requests |
When the City of Wichita fulfills records requests, it should make those records available to everyone.
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Wichita property tax rate: Up |
The City of Wichita property tax mill levy rose for 2019.
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Naftzger Park event management agreement ambiguous |
The profit-sharing agreement for Naftzger Park event management contains ambiguity that could lead to disputes.
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Wichita public schools, by the charts |
Data from the annual report for the 2018-2019 school year for USD 259, the Wichita, Kansas public school district.
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Century II resource center |
Updated and refreshed: A resource of information about the Century II Performing arts and Convention Center in Wichita.
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Wichita legal notices an easy start on the path to transparency |
Kansas law requires publication of certain notices in newspapers, but cities like Wichita could also make them available in other ways that are easier to use.
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City code on ethical conduct in Wichita |
Wichita has a city code governing ethical conduct by council members, but it seems to have no teeth.
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Financial state of the cities |
Wichitans carry a "Taxpayer Burden" of $1,200 per taxpayer, which is not as bad as many cities.
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In the Electoral College, residents of different states have widely varying influence.
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Wichita aerospace manufacturing concentration |
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Wichita leaders want to diversify the area economy. Has there been progress?
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Renderings, at least believable |
How believable are architectural renderings of a Ferris wheel and swimming pool in Wichita?
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Wichita to consider tax forgiveness outside policy parameters |
The Wichita city council will consider a tax giveaway for an economic development project that does not meet its stated policy.
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Can Wichita learn from a setback? |
What can Wichita learn from the news of layoffs at Spirit and Textron?
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It may become more expensive in Wichita |
The City of Wichita plans to create a large district where extra sales tax will be charged. The city proposes to pass the ordinance on emergency first reading.
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Wichita economy grows, and a revision |
The Wichita economy grew in 2018, and revised statistics show growth in 2017.
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GDP by metropolitan area and component |
An interactive visualization of gross domestic product by metropolitan area and industry.
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Downtown Wichita population is up |
New Census Bureau data shows the population growing in downtown Wichita.
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Downtown Wichita jobs rise |
The number of jobs in downtown Wichita rose sharply in 2017.
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The Wichita baseball team's name |
Is the name of the new Wichita baseball team important? Yes, as it provides insight.
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Net neutrality, regulation, and the internet |
Dr. Theodore Bolema spoke at the Wichita Pachyderm Club on the topics of net neutrality and regulation of the internet. Vide
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Wichita consent agenda reform proposed |
The Wichita city council will consider reforms to the consent agenda. In the past, the city has placed major items on the consent agenda, such as authorizing a $2 million contract with the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau.
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Sedgwick County talent attraction |
In an index ranking counties in talent attraction, Sedgwick County has not performed well.
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Wichita has amenities that are promoted as creating an uncommonly superior quality of life here, but many are commonplace across the country.
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Kansas sees large drop in test scores |
Using demographically-adjusted scores, Kansas falls in state rankings of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Looking at change across all four tests, Kansas had the largest drop in state rankings except for New Hampshire.
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State and local government employees and payroll |
Looking at the number of government employees in proportion to population, Kansas has many compared to other states, and especially so in education.
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Wichita, not that different |
We have a lot of neat stuff in Wichita. Other cities do, too.
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United States manufacturing jobs |
During the first two years of the Trump administration, United States manufacturing jobs grew at a monthly rate of 15,833 in 2017 and 22,000 in 2018. For 2019, through September, the monthly rate is 4,556.
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In NAEP mapping study, Kansas shines |
In a new edition of a study that assesses the stringency of state school assessments, Kansas performs well. Click for more. |
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Wichita metro employment by industry |
An interactive visualization of Wichita-area employment by industry. Click for more. |
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Wichita checkbook updated |
Wichita spending data presented as a summary, and as a list.
Of note, the city does not make this data available on its website. Click for more. |
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In Wichita, here’s what tax decrement means |
Wichita has a financing mechanism known as the Gilbert-Mosley tax decrement fund. I knew about tax increment financing, but I never really understood how tax decrement financing worked. I had thought that in this context, “decrement” had a sophisticated meaning that I wasn’t able to understand because I wasn’t smart enough, or I hadn’t tried hard enough, or I didn’t have the correct documents to read.
Now, Chase M. Billingham and Sean Sandefur have published detailed research that explains how the Gilbert-Mosley financing works. Click for more. |
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Wichita transit, by the numbers |
Transit in Wichita isn’t working very well, and it is expensive. Click for more. |
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Wichita transit center application |
Although plans have changed, an application by the City of Wichita holds interesting observations and claims. Click for more. |
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Kansas Freedom Index for 2019 |
The 2019 Freedom Index is intended to provide educational information to the public about broad economic and education issues that are important to the citizens of our State. It is the product of nonpartisan analysis, study, and research and is not intended to directly or indirectly endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. From Kansas Policy Institute. Click for more. |
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Updated: National transit database |
An interactive visualization of data over time from the National Transit Database. Now with data through 2017. Click for more. |
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Wichita and other airports |
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New metropolitan rankings regarding knowledge-based industries and entrepreneurship |
New research provides insight into the Wichita metropolitan area economy and dynamism.
There have been some rankings showing Wichita doing well in jobs at young firms. That’s good, as young firms — which are different from small business — are vitally important to economic growth.
This study, however, shows Wichita lagging in young firm employment ratio. In these rankings, Wichita came in at position 247 of 379 metro areas. That is better than the overall ranking for Wichita, which is at number 319. Click for more. |
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Populations of the states |
An interactive table and charts of populations in the states and regions, from 1929 through 2018. Click for more. |
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The finances of Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita |
A truthful accounting of the finances of Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita shows a large loss. Despite hosting the NCAA basketball tournament, the arena’s “net income” fell. Click for more. |
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Wichita ballpark STAR bonds, 2018 issue |
A bond disclosure document anticipated a development agreement for land surrounding the new Wichita ballpark. Click for more. |
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Wichita population falls; outmigration continues |
The population of the Wichita MSA fell from 2017 to 2018, and net domestic migration continues at a high level. Click for more. |
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Wichita and national jobs |
Overall, since 2011 — roughly the end of the Great Recession — Wichita has been gaining jobs, evidence being its trend line above zero in the nearby chart which shows the change in jobs over the same month one year ago. But the line has not always been above zero, indicating months where the Wichita metropolitan area had fewer jobs than the year before. Click for more. |
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In Wichita, respecting the people’s right to know |
The City of Wichita says it values open and transparent government. But the city’s record in providing information and records to citizens is poor, and there hasn’t been much improvement. Click for more. |
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Job growth in Wichita: Great news? |
A tweet from a top Wichita city official promotes great news that really isn’t so great. There is good news — Wichita is not forecast to lose jobs, as it has in the recent past. But the rate of growth seen for Wichita is not robust, and that’s a serious problem, especially when our officials think it’s good. Click for more. |
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Sedgwick County tax exemptions |
Unlike the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County has kept track of its tax exemptions. Click for more. |
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The use of sales tax proceeds in Wichita |
Must the City of Wichita spend its share of Sedgwick County sales tax proceeds in a specific way? Click for more. |
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Sedgwick County income and poverty |
Census data show Sedgwick County continuing to fall behind the nation in two key measures. Click for more. |
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Ranked-choice voting in Kansas |
A look at ranked-choice voting and how it might have worked in the Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary election in August 2018. Click for more. |
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Kansas highway pavement conditions |
Each year the Kansas Department of Transportation surveys the condition of highway pavement and issues a report called the Network Optimization System (NOS) Survey.
Of the condition of highways, the report notes: “Since the data was first collected in 1983, the percentage of pavement surface in good condition has appreciably increased while the percentage of poor pavement has significantly decreased.”. Click for more. |
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Kansas state and local taxes |
Among nearby states, Kansas collects a lot of taxes, on a per-resident basis.
From the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2018, Kansas and its local governmental units collected an average of $681 per quarter per resident in taxes. Of nearby states and a few others, Arkansas and Iowa had higher values, and Iowa is higher by only one percent. Click for more. |
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