Radley Balko on the Radio

Radley Balko | June 30, 2008

At 6:38 ET (in about 10 minutes), I'll be on WGN radio in Chicago discussing an op-ed I had in yesterday's Chicago Tribune (cool accompanying graphic here).

The op-ed is based on the cover story from our August/September issue (on newsstands this week), where I ranked the 35 largest cities in the U.S. on personal freedom issues, including sex, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, freedom of movement, food, gambling, and guns.

Chicago came in last, by a pretty wide margin.

Comments

J sub D|6.30.08 @ 7:01PM|#

From the comments to the linked op=ed piece.

The Dish
South Bend, IN
What is Reason magazine?

Ouch! That's gotta hurt.

GG|6.30.08 @ 7:04PM|#

Great article, Radley.

The comments, however, are another story. (I need more brain bleach and sporks.) I don't care what they say. "Regions Magazine" rocks!

|6.30.08 @ 7:10PM|#

And to everybody supporting Obama, it's worth remembering that the very clowns who helped Chicago receive this dubious honor were aided by none other than Mr. Barack "The Audacity of Patronage" Obama.

|6.30.08 @ 7:27PM|#

Radley was IN the radio. My God, I hope they let him out after his bit.

Thank you, I'm here till the weekend. Try the veal. It's organic.

|6.30.08 @ 7:31PM|#

Jd

As if the question wasn't bad enough, you get this answer:

It's sort of a libertarian-conservative, Ayn Rand kind of magazine. In my view it's one of the best publications on the right in this country.

robc|6.30.08 @ 7:32PM|#

Woo Hoo!!! My home town in #1 in guns and booze!!!! Up yours, Cincinnati!

(Cincinnati was picked nearly at random)

|6.30.08 @ 7:37PM|#

J sub D-

Another commenter, DBX of Chicago, responded to Dish's question stating, "it's sort of a libertarian-conservative, Ayn Rand type of magazine. In my view it is one of the best publications on the right in this country."

What do you think?

|6.30.08 @ 7:42PM|#

Are the complete city rankings available?

|6.30.08 @ 7:44PM|#

Clearly, the best thing that can come of this is for someone like Justin Raimondo to post a comment explaining how reason is a mouthpiece for the Kochtopus and not really libertarian at all, followed by a lively reply from any regular reason commenter. Within two posts, it should be completely incomprehensible to the average reader.

|6.30.08 @ 7:56PM|#

J sub D-

Another commenter, DBX of Chicago, responded to Dish's question stating, "it's sort of a libertarian-conservative, Ayn Rand type of magazine. In my view it is one of the best publications on the right in this country."

What do you think?

I think all of the folks on the right will be somewhat surpised at Reason's rightist positions on the War on Drugs Sanity, trade with Cuba, pornography, immigration, prostitution and gay marriage.

Both the political right and the left are commonly abused around these here parts.

Ayn Rand/objectivism does get some respect.

|6.30.08 @ 7:58PM|#

Are the complete city rankings available?

I echo that request. I want to see how the big cities I've lived in rank.

Dan|6.30.08 @ 8:29PM|#

It says its in the August issue so check your mailbox or wait a few weeks for it to appear online.

|6.30.08 @ 8:40PM|#

What do you think?

Their subscription ran out in the '90s.

|6.30.08 @ 8:48PM|#

Radley Balko's articles are the best thing about Reason.

There, I said it. I'd almost subscribe, and that's high praise coming from one of the Raimondo-esque types you mentioned earlier.

SIV|6.30.08 @ 9:00PM|#

REASON isn't a right wing mag?

Do you guys filter everything but Howley and Balko's articles?

|6.30.08 @ 10:20PM|#

Is it just me or does it seem Politicians have WAY too much spare time on their hands?

JT
http://www.Privacy-center.net

Rhywun|7.1.08 @ 10:26AM|#

Fifteen years of a booming economy and encouraging drops in violent crime have given America's city councils a proverbial case of idle hands.

You hit the nail on the head there. The obvious conclusion is that none of this will get better without, say, a depression to put Americans' minds onto something other than controlling each other.

Egosumabbas|7.1.08 @ 2:01PM|#

Oh man the socialist commentariat did NOT like your article at all. I can confirm that living in Chicago is quite expensive, as all the taxes and regulations have jacked up the price of *everything*. Chicago does have some silver lining. The bars are open until 4AM. A lot of the restrictive laws aren't enforced (one of the flip sides of corruption). For instance, jaywalking is violently suppressed in Seattle, but everybody seems to do it in Chicago. Also the drug laws aren't enforced as stricty on those with melanin deficiency. On the other hand I don't see how people are able to be self-employed here. Even if your business manages to survive the oppressive taxation, your business might be rezoned into oblivion, or bulldozed to make way for a new condo in the name of Eminent Domain.

At least the bars here are open until 4AM, and I finally found a dive where the drinks are under $5