Hornberger's Blog

Reform vs. Freedom

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 10, 2014

During its 25-year history, The Future of Freedom Foundation has always refrained from endorsing any reform of the welfare-warfare state. There are two reasons for this steadfast position. First, no matter what reform is adopted, it inevitably makes the situation worse than it was before. That’s because a welfare-warfare state, being a combination of socialism, regulation, and imperialism, is an ...

Measuring the Power of Ideas on Liberty

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 7, 2014

Ever since FFF was founded in 1989, some people have periodically asked me, “How does FFF measure its success?” My answer: There is no way to adequately measure the power of uncompromising ideas on liberty. What matters are the purity of the message itself and the importance of introducing it into the overall marketplace of ideas. I grew up in ...

Obama’s Failed Presidency

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 6, 2014

It was a foregone conclusion that President Obama wasn’t going to change his stripes when it comes to economic philosophy and policy. Like Republicans and other Democrats, Obama is a died-in-the wool socialist and interventionist. He believes in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, food stamps, public (i.e., government) schooling, farm subsidies, foreign aid, and other welfare-state programs. Like his ...

The Biggest Obstacle to Freedom

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 5, 2014

Expressing their obvious contempt for the overall situation in America, voters played their latest game of musical chairs by putting Republicans back in charge of Congress. It won’t make any difference at all. That’s because the Republicans who have been installed into power are as statist as the Democrats they are replacing. What really matters with respect to a free society ...

The IRS vs. the Free Society

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 4, 2014

My favorite quote of all time is by Johann Von Goethe: “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” The quote perfectly encapsulates the plight of the American people. Most Americans honestly believe they are a free people. This belief is inculcated into them from the time they enter the first grade until they graduate ...

Congressional Elections Are a Big Waste of Money

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 3, 2014

Like other congressional elections, millions of dollars have been spent on electoral campaigns in the run-up to the elections tomorrow. It’s one horrific waste of time, energy, and resources for the citizenry. Whoever wins a seat in Congress — Democrat or Republican — nothing fundamental will change. We all know that. That’s because both Democrats and Republicans believe in ...

Separate Economy and the State

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 31, 2014

For centuries, governments established, controlled, regulated, and subsidized religious activity. Then some people began asking a revolutionary question: Why not separate religious activity and the state in such a way that the state would be barred from involving itself in any religious activity whatsoever? The question shook the world. Having been born and raised under systems in which the government ...

A Lesson from 19th-Century Americans

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 30, 2014

Ever since I founded The Future of Freedom Foundation 25 years ago, people have periodically said to me things like: “Jacob, FFF’s uncompromising approach to libertarianism sounds good but it just isn’t practical. Ideals are fine but since they are impossible to achieve, it’s a waste of time to be advocating them. Better to spend your time advocating what ...

Partnering with Communists and Nazis

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 29, 2014

The depths of moral depravity into which the U.S. national-security establishment has plunged our nation were disclosed in the New York Times this week. In an excerpt from a book that was released yesterday titled “The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler’s Men,” author Eric Lichtblau revealed that the FBI and the ...

My Talk on Immigration at Northwood University

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 28, 2014

Last night I had the good fortune of sharing libertarian perspectives with students at Northwood University, one of the few colleges in the country where students receive a great education into free-market principles. My talk, which was delivered live on the Internet, was part of Northwood’s “Freedom Week,” which brought together both students and the general public to hear ...

Just Another Immigration Horror Story

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 27, 2014

Since I grew up on the Texas-Mexico border, I have long become accustomed to heartrending stories involving the U.S. government’s decades-long war against illegal immigrants, but for some reason a front-page story in yesterday’s New York Times hit me really hard. I don’t see how anyone could read the article and still endorse immigration controls. The story details the ...

WMD Blowback in Iraq

by Jacob G. Hornberger October 24, 2014

According to a New York Times article today, the Islamic State has employed WMDs against Iraqi police officers. The specific WMD used is chlorine gas. According to reports, ISIS forces set off an explosion that released the gas, causing injuries to 11 Iraqi police officers. Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council, observed: The use of chlorine as ...