Every state has an unclaimed property department of some sort. This is where uncashed checks, forgotten bank accounts and other "abandoned" monies go. The idea is simple enough; if money or other things of value are not claimed, they are turned over to th...

Why do many poor people live just outside of our towns and cities? Because we won't let them live any closer. You see, low income residents are more likely to live in ugly homes and apartments. Other residents seek to ban such ugliness, and so attack the ...

The exclusionary rule need to be thrown out! This body of law basically says that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in a criminal prosecution. The idea is that this will prevent the police and the justice system in general from illegally searchin...

Tax policy discussions are meant to do what? Arrive at a rational policy, or garner votes. I think it is the latter. What is lost in all the debate over tax increases versus tax cuts, is science. Contrary to what most people may think, there is some scien...

Is the standard lie detector test (also known as the polygraph) reliable? Should you be concerned about taking a polygraph test? Let's start with a true story. The FBI gives agent applicants a lie detector test before hiring them. After 9/11, their po...

Really, if you want to know how to pass a drug test, the simplest solution is to stop doing drugs. I have no moral argument here. They are just plants that scare people and lawmakers. As a practical matter, though, there are so many problems with doing il...

Corporate crime? I'm not sure that there is such a thing. If we want to reduce the crimes that are given that lable, we need to quit handing out large punitive fines to corporations. The idea isn't as radical as it sounds. First of all, when I say that...