To fathom our government’s contemptible treatment of a handful of unbowed journalists, you must see the roots of that treatment in the moral ideal Christianity bequeathed the West. In the face of the intimidation and murder of European authors, film makers and...
POLITICS
Bogus Rights
Do people have a right to medical treatment whether or not they can pay? What about a right to food or decent housing? Would a U.S. Supreme Court justice hold that these are rights just like those enumerated in our Bill of Rights? In order to have any hope of...
Point of No Return
Looking back at the history of tragic times often reveals that many — or most — of the people of those times were often preoccupied with things that look trivial, or even pathetic, in view of the catastrophe looming over them. Will later generations...
Letters to the Editor: Do Not Apologize for Cartoons of Mohammad
Do Not Apologize for Cartoons of Mohammad Dear Editor: European newspapers must refuse to apologize for running cartoons of Mohammad. But instead of applauding those papers that have stood their ground defending free speech, the U.S. government has shamefully endorsed...
Why “Diplomacy” with Iran Had to Fail
European diplomats, who courted Iran in an attempt to halt its suspected nuclear weapons program, regret that “diplomacy” did not dissuade Iran from its plans. But this failure was foreseeable. Europe’s diplomatic effort was touted as a reasonable...
Why Are CEOs Paid So Much?
As millions of Americans watch the Seattle Seahawks take on the Pittsburgh Steelers, every minute of the game will be scrutinized, with slow-motion replays and a torrent of statistics. But, amid the cheers and groans, don’t expect to hear complaints from fans...
Corporate Courage
We all remember last year’s despicable U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 Kelo v. City of New London, Conn., decision that held as constitutional that the rightful property of one American can be taken and transferred to another American so long as some public purpose is...
The Injustice of Saddam’s Trial
The American-endorsed trial of Saddam Hussein is touted as an opportunity to render justice and lay the groundwork for an Iraqi transition from the arbitrary courts of a dictatorship to a proper legal system. But the trial will accomplish neither goal. A trial that...
To Fight Corruption, Limit Government
If one is serious about fighting corruption, the first and most important thing that must be fought is all discretionary power on the part of the government and its officials.
The False Hope of Democracy
It has been the sincerely felt desire of President George W. Bush that “democracy” take root in the Middle East. The hope is that once the method of choosing their leaders/oppressors changes that liberty and freedom will somehow, inexorably and...
A Military of the Mind: Military Has a Place At Universities
According to college opinion writer Henry M. Bowles, III (“Military has no place at universities,” January 24, 2006) the military should not seek to fill its ranks with men and women of intelligence and ability because “less intelligent people are...
The Impractical, Immoral, Forward Strategy of Freedom
The Forward Strategy of Freedom is impractical and immoral. It is destroying American lives for the sake of strangers while making us more vulnerable to attack. Of course America is safe when other nations are free–free nations do not attack one...
In Government We Trust
What lessons should we have learned from last summer’s deadly and destructive hurricanes? The primary lesson is that we shouldn’t have much faith in a federal bureaucracy like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). They amply demonstrated their...
Political Corruption: Misuse of Government Power
The Jack Abramoff scandal has put political corruption front and center in Washington but this particular scandal, or even this particular kind of scandal, barely scratches the surface of corruption in government. It is not that all members of Congress, or even most...
BOOKS: The Destitution of Pre-Capitalist Europe
What were the cause(s) of the high death rate in the first half of the century – and of its diminishment in the second half?
Where Science Ends and Faith Begins
Advocates of “intelligent design” are gearing up their fight to teach the controversial theory now that U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III has ruled that the religious-based explanation for the formation of the universe and human evolution may not be...
Free Hand to the Mob
I both laughed and cried when I heard the United Nations was going to decide what to do about Iran [“Israel praises Europe’s plan to refer Iran to UN”, Jerusalem Post, January 13)]. I’m sure the neo-Nazi Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would just laugh....
The Economics of Collectivized Medical Care
The rise in health care costs is exactly what one should expect from the government’s long-standing policy of collectivizing the cost of medical care.
The Virginia Military Institute and Abortion
The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a curious institution–it is both a military academy and a state-supported college. Its history draws back to before the US Civil War (future confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson served as a...
Attacking Lobbyists: The Real Problem is Government’s Ability to Grant “Favors”
Millions going to the campaign coffers of Washington politicians lies in the awesome growth of government control over business, property, employment and other areas of our lives.
Maryland Wallops Wal-Mart
If you own stock in Wal-Mart Stores, be afraid — be very afraid. Yes, it wasn’t all that long ago that I was recommending buying shares of the giant retailer. But things have changed. Right after I recommended Wal-Mart last October it rallied by as much as...
The Myth of “Price Gouging”
Many consumers are angry about alleged price gouging at the pump, and politicians are listening. States with anti-“price gouging” laws are investigating and prosecuting complaints, while Washington is discussing a federal anti-“price gouging”...
Senate Condemnation Hearings
The Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito told us more about the Senators than it did about Judge Alito. First, there were those long-winded preambles to “questions” for the judge. Then there were the Mickey Mouse maneuvers and insinuations,...
Democracy and the Right to Vote
From claims that we’ve won the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq simply because locals there can now vote, to recent “Get Out the Vote” campaigns, our leaders — democrats and republicans alike — consistently imply that the most fundamental...
Poverty Worship
During the American Bicentennial, my family hosted a cadre of Polish sailors as part of Buffalo, New York’s contribution to “Operation Sail.” While they were here, the Poles wanted to see an Indian reservation. Being close to several, my family...
“God’s Land”
Some of the most interesting aspects of the war against terrorism are found not in coverage about the war in Iraq, but from coverage of talk in the United States. Consider this recent news report: Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Thursday that Israeli...
The “Rights” of Dictators
“We [the Iranians] have a right to have nuclear technology. We are a nation with an ancient civilization and rich culture. I think it’s really hypocritical of Mr. Bush to criticize Iran for having nuclear technology while Pakistan, India and Israel have...
Tax Cuts: A $70 Billion ‘Giveaway’ to the Rich?
Republican and Democratic big government advocates whine about President Bush’s proposed tax cuts, particularly cuts in the capital gains tax. They say it’s a $70 billion giveaway to the rich. Listening to demagoguery about the rich, I’ve sometimes...
Education: Then and Now
Recent news that school children in Charlotte, North Carolina, had the highest test scores among children in big cities across the country had a special impact on me. Back in the late 1930s, I went to school in Charlotte and, while I don’t know what the test...
Curing Poverty or Using Poverty
“China is lifting a million people a month out of poverty.” It is just one statement in an interesting new book titled “The Undercover Economist” by Tim Harford. But it has huge implications. I haven’t checked out the statistics but they...
Green Lies and “Open Spaces”
Not often do Rush Limbaugh and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman agree on anything but recently both of them pointed out the same pattern in the prices of housing — and both were correct. The pattern is this: Despite hysteria over high home prices, in most...
The Poverty Hype
Despite claims that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, poverty is nowhere near the problem it was yesteryear — at least for those who want to work. Talk about the poor getting poorer tugs at the hearts of decent people and squares nicely with the...
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