POLITICS

A Predictable Consequence of Trump’s Pragmatism

Despite Trump’s claims to the contrary, it was easy to predict that his arbitrary tariffs would increase prices.

Americans Should Stop Being Surprised by Terrorism

Americans Should Stop Being Surprised by Terrorism

Criminals and killers are not morally or psychologically strong. They only act when they see evidence that their intended victims are weak. As with purse-snatchers and serial killers, so too with Islamic fundamentalists who kill American diplomats. For years,...

Affordable Care Act Will Backfire

Affordable Care Act Will Backfire

Now that the Supreme Court has given its narrow blessing to the Affordable Care Act, the big question is whether it will deliver the benefits that its proponents promise. Unfortunately, as it is now constructed, the plan will backfire causing fewer healthy people to...

Why America is More Vulnerable Than Ever

A strong country militarily and defense-wise presupposes a strong country economically. Simply put: There is no way to fund a system of defense without a strong, vibrant private economy. A strong and vibrant economy presupposes rational economic policies. Rational...

The 2012 Democratic National Convention

The 2012 Democratic National Convention

Barack Obama, America’s 44th president, loped into the arena last night applauding himself. When he stepped up to the podium, his eyes looked tired and his eyelids were heavy. He said next to nothing, really, which is what he stands for. It’s what his presidency...

Anti-Romneyites for Romney

Advocates of individual rights sometimes debate whether it's better to vote for the Republican, or to abstain altogether (or vote for a third-party candidate with zero possibility of victory.) I like the way Ayn Rand put it back in 1972, the last time (other than...

Bleeding Heart Capitalism

You’ve heard it millions of times, and you heard it throughout the Democratic National Convention: There are the “haves” and the “have nots.” Those who have are duty-bound to give to those who do not have, based on the supposedly moral imperative of redistribution....

America’s Fascist Economy

Politicians and intellectuals are always talking about how businesses “should” act, for the supposed sake of the greater good. The notion that businesses operate and make decisions only with the consent of the government is known as fascism. There are already many...

Clinton’s Anti-Climax

I don’t know how the ex-president Bill Clinton will be remembered, though I suspect his main legacy may be how he embodies the narcissism of our times. Tonight’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, in which he nominated a lousy American president whom he...

Michelle Obama’s Envy Tirade

Today, the Democratic Party opened its convention in Charlotte, North Carolina by appealing to those who hate capitalism, Jews and the rich. It started with news of a refusal to acknowledge Israel’s capital in the party platform and ended with a scathing speech which...

Obama Cares

I recently saw a pro-Obama bumper sticker. It reads: "Obama Cares." Oh, really? Cares about ... what? Based on his actions, Obama cares about: 1) Raising income taxes on those who make more than $250,000 a year. Never mind that people's right to private property does...

Does Stephen Hawking Owe His Life to the British NHS?

Does Stephen Hawking Owe His Life to the British NHS?

A reader in Great Britain defends national health care as follows: “The free market [under Obamacare] will still exist. We have private healthcare here as well as the National Health Service … The National Health Service does have its flaws but we probably wouldn't...

Romney, Son of Romney

Romney, Son of Romney

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech last night at the Republican National Convention was an apt preview of his prospective presidency, which at this point – and I say this barring any major developments such as an Obama smear or Romney...

Should We License Voters?

In every state of the union, individuals are required to obtain a driver’s license in order to legally operate a motor vehicle. Further, specialized licenses are also required to operate specific types of vehicles, such as large trucks and motorcycles. To obtain such...

Granny and the Anti-Capitalist Cliff

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, caricatured in political ads last year and again this month as pushing Granny off the cliff of Medicare, is now the running mate of the maker of RomneyCare, who is running against the maker of ObamaCare. With the consequent renewed debate over...

Occupational Licensing Destroys Jobs

Let us say that you are one of the millions of unemployed Americans. Unable to find a job, you decide to start your own business. Perhaps you’ve always done your own home repairs and decide to offer a handyman service. You start installing ceiling fans, replacing...

Socialism and the Meaning of Investment by Government

Government makes ‘investments’ in us that we can’t refuse. Many, including me, have identified the socialist premises in President Obama’s remarks on July 13 in Roanoke, VA. But are Obama’s actual policies as socialist as his socialist rhetoric? The answer is yes, but...

The Separation of Medicine and State

The Separation of Medicine and State

The federal government in general, and the Food and Drug Administration in particular, increasingly inject themselves into direct control of every medical practice. The FDA is aggressively moving past its lock on the approval of every medication and all medical...

Zoning and Tyranny

In 2007, I served as a consultant to a group of citizens opposed to an attempt to bring zoning to Hobbs, New Mexico. During that time, I wrote a series of articles that were published in the local newspaper. This is one of those articles. In a referendum, zoning was...

Unlimited Government vs. Capitalism

In her essay, “The Anatomy of Compromise,” Ayn Rand wrote: “When opposite basic principles are clearly and openly defined, it works to the advantage of the rational side; when they are not clearly defined, but are hidden or evaded, it works to the advantage of the...

The Nature of Zoning

In 2007, I served as a consultant to a group of citizens opposed to an attempt to bring zoning to Hobbs, New Mexico. During that time, I wrote a series of articles that were published in the local newspaper. This is one of those articles. In a referendum, zoning was...

The Tired, The Poor, and The Huddled Masses

The Tired, The Poor, and The Huddled Masses

Since 1886, the Statue of Liberty has stood in New York Harbor as a beacon to individuals from around the world seeking the freedom to live their lives as they choose. On the pedestal of the statue is a plaque with the sonnet “The New Colossus”: Not like the brazen...

Rent Control Hypocrites

Those who benefit from government coercion seldom like it when the gun is turned around and pointed at them. They have no hesitation to demand that government use compulsion for their benefit, but complain when compulsion is directed at them. As an example,...

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