Politics

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 5: War Crimes and Atrocities

by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 22, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 For Machiavelli, there is no deed too ruthless for rulers on the fast track to dictatorship. A prince who wishes to remain in power must not blink at opportunities for cruelty when they can advance his position. ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 4: War

by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 19, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 On the subject of war, Machiavelli offers simple advice (chapter 14): Thus a prince should have no other object, nor any other thought, nor take anything else as his art but that of war and its orders ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 3: Lies and Appearances

by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 19, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 In words that are echoed in the mendacity of today’s political class, Machiavelli enthusiastically endorsed lying. In chapter 18 he summed up his reasons: How praiseworthy it is for a prince to keep his faith, and to ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 2: Ethics and Creating the Facts

by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 17, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 Once we understand Machiavelli’s dismal view of humanity, it is easier to understand the ethical universe in which he operates. Machiavelli opens his discussion of princely virtues by immediately discarding them. His explanation is that virtues lack ...

Virginia Politicians and Highway Pork

by Jacob G. Hornberger August 17, 2005

For a good example of the moral perversity of the budget-busting, pork-barrel highway bill, consider what recently happened in Bristol, Virginia. While on his annual statewide listening tour across the state, Republican Sen. George Allen proudly told Bristol voters that their local officials were going to receive even more money from Congress than they had ...

Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 1: Pattern and Perception

by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 15, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 During a much-quoted radio broadcast in October 1939, Winston Churchill commented on the surprise Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland — an invasion that closely followed the German attack from the west, which triggered World War II. In ...

An Elective Despotism

by Sheldon Richman February 21, 2005

Before American politicians lecture others on the virtues of representative government, perhaps some self-examination would be in order. The United States unquestionably has the trappings of representative government. Americans vote for officeholders on a regular basis, and these officeholders, in theory, vote on issues with their constituents’ interests in mind. From the outside it ...

Democratic Relativism

by Sheldon Richman December 1, 2004

It occurred to me recently that the American political system is even worse than I thought. Before the abstract discussion, lets look at some particulars. When First Lady Hillary Clinton held secret meetings in order to formulate the Clinton administrations plan for medical services, the Republicans exploded with rage. Secret government! they shouted. Nefarious elitism! Conservatives overflowed with venom. Republicans ...

Im Free Because I Voted, Right?

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 1, 2004

In the wake of his reelection, President Bush has announced that he remains committed to bringing democracy to the Middle East, which includes the indefinite military occupation of Iraq. In the presidents mind indeed, in the minds of most public officials in America democracy is freedom. So, given that I voted in the recent election, ...

How Conservative Is George W. Bush?

by Anthony Gregory October 13, 2004

Given that so many conservatives have come out in favor of George W. Bush, who supposedly isnt as bad as John Kerry, an important question arises: Exactly how conservative is George W. Bush? Bush has expanded the welfare state and increased discretionary spending at a faster rate than any president since ...

A Modest Proposal – Let’s Allow Negative Voting

by George Leef October 1, 2004

Election years are filled to overflowing with political pitches beseeching voters to cast ballots for a particular candidate. And many people do, although often with scant enthusiasm. Choosing between the lesser of two evils is a commonly heard complaint among voters. During election campaigns, one also is apt to receive political ...

The Election Isn’t about Vietnam

by Sheldon Richman September 24, 2004

What a topsy-turvy election! One candidate chose to fight in Vietnam. One candidate avoided it. So which candidate is supported by opponents of the Vietnam war? As I said, topsy-turvy. We hear lots of people say that the election should be about terrorism, Iraq, Medicare, Social Security, the budget not about a war that ended 30 years ago and what ...