Vegas is not build on freedom - at least the strip. At best it is built on hedonism. It consumes wealth, it does not create it.

No it is less than a zero sum game.

Vegas - at least the strip is build on human stupidity or at best stupid consumption.

IT does not actually create wealth - it is built on human stupidity.

yep

hear hear

Never even heard of the thing, until I saw Donald Trump's presentation on MSNBC. Really enjoyed it.

Considering Vegas thumbs its nose at rules and restrictions, why would it not be appropriate?

I don't know why, but this reminds me of a story my mom used to tell. Her brother was in the war, and she sent a letter addressed to just his name, somewhere in Korea. He got it. His end of the story is that some guy walked up to him, asked his name, then asked if this was still Korea... Then this must be for you. :)

No, sorry, I went to John Allison's talk. Until recently head of CATO Institute.

oh, ok, then that's here she must be. lol thanks

Sounds like that was written by Goldman Sachs and Morgan-Chase to me.

It's definitely in San Diego right now.

Did you see Db' s talk yesterday?

Isn't it in LA right now? My daughter is working it

"Is Vegas an Appropriate Spot for FreedomFest?" Obviously it is. FreedomFest attracts a growing number of attendees each year (currently about 2,000), including such luminaries as Steve Forbes, Charles Murray, David Boaz, Doug Casey, Peter Thiel, John Aglialoro, George Gilder, John Mackey, Stephen Moore, John Allison, Robert Poole, Marco Rubio, John Stossel, plus the heads of the Ayn Rand Institute and the Atlas Society. Most of those attending appear to enjoy Vegas as a gathering spot for the annual event. I don't know whether such a diverse and interesting set of personalities within the "freedom movement" could be assembled elsewhere. No venue is perfect, but I've been going to FreedomFest for over 10 years and enjoy it every time.

Visit the Ale-Inn at Rachel, NV. It's on the ET Highway and you can get your official abduction certificate. The ET Highway beats the hell out of US 50 for being the "Loneliest Highway" in the US.

Having lived in vegas since about 1990, I would argue that its not a zero sum game here. If a tourist brings in $1, they spend at least some of that on having a good time here in hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, etc. IF they gamble, on the average they exchange winnings and losings with fellow visitors, but the casinos get a cut no matter what. That money stays with the casinos to rebuild their properties, pay workers, etc., and a lot of that money goes to local people who work there. I read that 100 billion $$ gets left here by visitors in exchange for good experiences they have in vegas. The economy here does go round and round, and I suspect powered by the money that isnt a zero sum game.
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For me, a non-gambler, Vegas offers awesome value for value. I went there for a work conference, stayed in an amazing room that cost less than a crap room in most other cities, had access to a lot of very good food priced lower than it would be in other cities, and lots of good shopping and entertainment. On average, maybe from the Vegas objectivist point of view, may I'm the moocher.... wow... guess I shouldn't go to Vegas any more... Except that I willingly paid the requested price for every good and service that I opted to participate in, so no, I wasn't mooching, I'm just not the target market for the larger business model.

San Diego has done so well with Comic Con that comic con is outgrowing San Diego. It will be interesting to see what happens to comic con if they ever decide to move away from San Diego.

Vegas is awesome, or at least it used to be. Vegas is the ultimate freedom. Where else can you go and waste your money on innocuous games or beautiful women. I have done both but I have also earned a nice sum from being on the house side for a couple of years. A forest would be nice but Vegas is the reclaimed desert. I remember the first visit in 1963, we stayed at the Flamingo and there was nothing past the hedge at the edge of the swimming pool other than sand. It is built on sin, sin and more sin plus greed. No other place is fitting for freedom. Red Rock Canyon is awesome by the way, Lake Las Vegas is great also.

What a bunch of mendacious BS comments. We are all high-minded philosophers who would never mix our high falutin' ideals with a sin city like Las Vegas. No sir reebop! We want to hold our conventions in a beautiful lodge with a forest view that no one will attend. Vegas is the attraction that brings in the undecided. The lure of big shows, gambling, neon wonders and volcanos that explode on cue couldn't possibly be the reason that it is a good place to convene. Gimme a break! (Besides, the price is right.)

I would point out to the valet that the economy is far from zero-sum, that the services offered in Vegas make everyone who goes there better off in some way, even if they wind up losing a little money while they're having fun. And not everyone has to approve of gambling for that to hold true.

If you consider the customers of gambling venues to be "suckers," you are simply prejudiced, and against part of capitalism at that. Any adult who gambles knows that, on average, he is going to lose money. It's not a secret. If you don't have enough fun doing it to make your losses worthwhile, then do something else.

Northwest.

Even Red Rock Canyon has nice hiking. But for real entertainment, you could try to infiltrate Area 51 at Groom Lake, about 70 (?) miles north north- east.