Hornberger's Blog

The Bridge Over the River Nile

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 14, 2012

U.S. officials undoubtedly don’t know what to do about Egyptian President Morsi’s implicit challenge of Egypt’s military dictatorship with his sacking of high military officials in Egypt. For decades, the U.S. government has funded Egypt’s military dictatorship to the tune of billions of dollars in cash and armaments. The Pentagon and its counterparts in the Egyptian military have worked ...

Refortifying Egypt’s Military Dictatorship

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 13, 2012

Even while U.S. officials decry the brutal dictatorships in Syria and Iran, the U.S. government is fortifying the military dictatorship in Egypt. A recent attack in the Sinai Peninsula that killed six Egyptian soldiers is the latest excuse that U.S. officials are trotting out to use U.S. taxpayer money to refortify one of the most brutal dictatorships in the ...

The “We’re at War with the Muslims” Crowd

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 10, 2012

Have you noticed that the “we’re at war with the Muslims” crowd has been noticeably silent in the wake of the murders at the Sikh temple in Wisconsin and the arson of the Islamic mosque in Missouri? Well, they’re smart to keep their mouths shut. Hopefully, this segment of American society is increasingly being marginalized, and rightfully so. Ever since ...

Three Malignant Overlays

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 9, 2012

In 1890, Americans lived in a society without income taxation, the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, public (i.e., government) schooling, farm subsidies, foreign aid to dictatorships, minimum-wage laws, price controls, paper money, the Federal Reserve, Departments of Education, Labor, Commerce, Energy, and Homeland Security, occupational licensure, immigration controls, huge standing army, military-industrial complex, foreign military bases, CIA, kidnapping, rendition, ...

The Fifth Amendment Protects Everyone, Not Just Citizens

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 8, 2012

When defenders of civil liberties condemn President Obama’s assassination program, some of them place a greater emphasis on the constitutional right of American citizens to be protected from assassination as compared to foreigners. However, as much as they might wish that the Constitution limits its protection to citizens, such is simply not the case. In protecting people from being ...

More Gun Control Nonsense after Wisconsin

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 7, 2012

Let’s review the arguments of the gun-control crowd in the wake of the shooting at the Sikh temple in Milwaukee. Wisconsin is a concealed-carry state — that is, one in which people with state-issued permits are allowed to carry guns that are concealed. Some concealed-carry states make an exception for churches. In those states, people with concealed carry permits are not ...

Submissiveness and Conformity in America’s Business Leaders

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 6, 2012

Russian billionaire Aleksandr Lebedev is selling all his Russian assets and moving his money elsewhere. The reason? According to the New York Times, Lebedev, who has supported the opposition to President Putin’s increasingly authoritarian rule, stated that police and regulatory inspections had become overly intense. “The special services steamrolled my businesses into the pavement,” he said. “I give up.” It’s ...

Hypocrisy Central

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 3, 2012

One of the things about liberals that really fascinates me is their hypocrisy, especially when it comes to one of their favorite attacks on libertarians for opposing the welfare state. Whenever libertarians call for the abolition of the moral and economic abomination known as the welfare state, liberals have their standard knee-jerk attack: “You hate the poor! Libertarians hate ...

The Chick-Fil-A Controversy

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 2, 2012

The Chick-Fil-A controversy provides a good example of how differently statists and libertarians view the concept of freedom. By the term “statists,” I’m referring, of course, to both conservatives and liberals. The controversy arises out of statements opposing gay marriage made by Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy. The statements have caused public officials in various cities to consider denying Chick-Fil-A permits ...

Socialism for Texas Farmers

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 1, 2012

Texas farmers are suffering severe drought conditions. Thus, it should come as no surprise that Congress has decided to help them out with U.S. taxpayer dollars to the tune of around $600 million. It should also come as no surprise that Republicans are as energized about sending this welfare as Democrats are. It’s just another reflection of the socialist, ...

Social Security Nonsense

by Jacob G. Hornberger July 31, 2012

If you want to see a good example of liberal or progressive thinking on fiscal policy, read this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled “Social Security Is Not Headed for Disaster” by Barbara R. Bergmann, who serves as professor emerita at American University and the University of Maryland. The thrust of Bergmann’s article is that Social Security is ...

A Philosophical Divide between Obama and Romney?

by Jacob G. Hornberger July 30, 2012

Earlier this month, the New York Times published a hilarious article. It was entitled, “Philosophic Clash Over Government’s Role Highlights Parties’ Divide” by Peter Baker. The article revolves around President Obama’s suggestion that people don’t really start their own businesses all by themselves. He pointed out that they actually have received the benefit of many other factors, for ...