The basic and crucial political issue of our age is: capitalism versus socialism, or freedom versus statism. For decades, this issue has been silenced, suppressed, evaded, and hidden under the foggy, undefined rubber-terms of “conservatism” and “liberalism” which had lost their original meaning and could be stretched to mean all things to all men. – AYN RAND
It is amazing how many people who are "pro-choice" when it comes to abortion are against choice when it comes to education. Indeed, that is the official position of the Democratic Party. Despite Al Gore's rhetoric at the Democrats' convention in July about being...
For the past week, our politicians have been busy constructing the foundations of censorship in America. And worse: They have been doing so unanimously. Censorship is being promoted across the political and cultural spectrum, from Al Gore and Joe Lieberman to John...
What we have in the United States today, in health care and other fields as well, is government largely running the show while we all pretend that it’s capitalism causing the problems.
What an exciting election season. Just think of the campaign issues everyone's talking about. Al Gore gave his wife a long smooch at the Democratic convention; will this endear him to suburban women? George W. got in trouble when he called a reporter an unpleasant...
Our genes are stretches of DNA that we got from mom and dad. They have been with us since our beginning. Genes built our bodies. They exist in each and every one of our cells. It seems reasonable that our genes shouldn't be anybody else's property. Yet, many...
The West Nile virus came to my neck of the woods last week, when four dead crows turned up in southern Maryland and Washington, D.C. Am I scared? Yes, the possible presence of infected mosquitoes in my lakeside neighborhood is worrisome. But even more disturbing is...
If individual rights (or lack thereof) are the fundamental issue in politics, then one should judge political candidates for President based upon their stated adherence to (or lack of adherence to) the preservation and expansion of individual rights -- that is, to be...
Whose money is it?In a muddled political contest, where there is no basic disagreement on prescription drugs, education, or even foreign policy, the biggest issue might be: Which candidate, if any, thinks you have a right to your own money?Al Gore's answer is clear:...
Al Gore claims he is trying to fight for "those who need a champion, those who need to be lifted up so they are never left behind." Exactly who is Al Gore championing, and in what name? Is he championing the ideas of independence and self-responsibility? The idea of...
One of the perennial complaints made of investment analysts is "why didn't you warn me about this before the crash?" While difficult, it is sometimes possible to identify the makings of a country's downfall beforehand, while the news about it is still positive. One...
In a decision generally hailed as a victory for Microsoft, the Supreme Court rejected the government's plea to hear a direct appeal of the government's Antitrust case against Microsoft. In April, Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ruled that Microsoft had violated...
When demands for rent control were made to the city council of the small, middle-class community of Foster City, California, the members of the city council responded in a way that is very unusual. They relied on facts. The facts they relied on were that cities with...
Al Gore promises cheap or free prescription drugs for everybody. Wow! What a deal! I'm going to vote for Gore. How nice of him! Where has he been all these years? Wait a minute. There must be a reason why some drugs are so expensive. Could it be that drug companies...
Too often the first presidential debate looked like an Al Gore monologue, with footnotes by George W. Bush, while moderator Jim Lehrer looked on like an innocent bystander.Perhaps Lehrer was too much of a gentleman to say, "Shut up, already, so the other guy can get a...
It seems Bill Clinton is trying to fool us again, this time into believing we owe him our prosperity. In the Democratic convention, he proudly claimed responsibility for the last eight years of unprecedented progress and prosperity in America. The false but widespread...
In San Diego, they've turned the public schools into full-service baby sitters at a cost of more than $15 million per year. The program is called "6 to 6." Every elementary and middle school student is eligible for sun-up to sundown care. Well, why not? The kids...
A comment I heard from a radio disc jockey sums up exactly what's wrong with our country today. "Whatever you think of President Clinton, he sure is a charmer," he said on the air. "Can I vote for him a third time?" The disc jockey is right. It's sad, but true. A...
I always enjoy watching the Olympic games. I enjoy the stories of the athletes' determination, the hard work and mental focus they devote to reaching their goals. But this year, that enjoyment has been marred by a disturbing note. During the first week of coverage...
Among some government officials and certain members of the financial press, the idea of debt forgiveness is in vogue. Many specious arguments have been made by an assortment of different groups who believe debt forgiveness is the financial panacea that will begin an...
Here I stand at the first great climax of my life. I, Dicon of Athens, wait in this grand stadium beside the river Alpheus.I am the proud progeny of my city's dedication to the perfection of mind and body, and gathered around me are athletes from all the Greek world,...
Al Gore promised to provide prescription drugs "coverage for all" American senior citizens if elected president. Democrats applauded, and Republicans timidly committed to a plan that makes "coverage … available for all seniors." What would follow if such a commitment...
Every two years the IMF publishes its "World Economic Outlook". (I'll call it, aptly, WOE) The most recent advanced copy was released last week on the internet. [link], and I suggest that all global investors take a look at it. I disagree with most of the IMF's...
One crucial element of Clinton's legacy is his desire to be remembered as the American President finally responsible for ensuring peace in the Middle East. To that end, he has pressured the Israelis and showered favors on a life-long, Palestinian terrorist in an...
The year was 1970, and I was part of a scorned breed, scorned at least on Wall Street. People who did what I did -- recommending stocks based on historical price patterns -- were literally laughed at by many of the Street's citizens. I couldn't accept this. I talked...
The 2000 Olympics opened last Friday (15.Sept.00) in a "splendidly diverse and inclusive" (New York Times, editorial, 17.Sept.00) portrayal of Australia. The symbol of the aboriginal athlete Cathy Freeman carrying the Olympic flame in its final stage "shined a...
It was painful to watch. Our bright 9-year-old son was rapidly losing his love of learning. Dissatisfied with his private school, the best we could find, I decided to postpone my second career as a writer and home-school him--a choice many Americans are forced to make...
High oil prices and rising fuel taxes have lit an explosion of fury across the European continent, resulting in protests and blockades of depots and refineries. Following the recent oil price rise, the Europeans have finally realized what a massive burden fuel taxes...
Salsman said that the Republicans’ only real option to win is to adopt a consistent, principled message that resonates with voters: less government and more freedom.
Professional wrestling is the soap opera farce of sports. From the official bouts to the backroom posturing, all disputes and relationships are staged and meaningless. One can say almost the same for the United Nations, and particularly its recent Millennial Meeting,...
There's a certain economic platitude that outrages me every time I hear it repeated by the financial press and political economists. Put simply, it's the familiar comment that economic growth causes inflation. It has many variations, including "high employment causes...
In the department of economy, an act, a habit, an institution, a law, gives birth not only to an effect, but to a series of effects. Of these effects, the first only is immediate; it manifests itself simultaneously with its cause -- it is seen. The others unfold in...
This month marks the 65th "birthday" of the Social Security Act. Most people retire at 65, after accumulating wealth through decades of hard work and saving.It's high time that America "retires" Social Security itself -- cease its operation. Its administrators deserve...
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