Minimum-Wage Law as Political Racketeering by James Bovard July 1, 1996 President Clinton and many congressmen are hankering to raise the federal minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15 an hour. The minimum wage epitomizes government pseudo-paternalism, and Clinton's proposal should receive harsh condemnations from anyone who has looked at the history of minimum-wage policies. Early in the century, after a ...
What’s So Great about Democracy? by Sheldon Richman July 1, 1996 In this election season, it might be good to ask, What's so great about democracy? There is almost a religious fervor in some people when they talk about the democratic process. I don't get it. I do see an advantage in voting over violence in the selection of officeholders. When succession is determined violently, innocent people get caught in the crossfire. ...
Good Intentions are Not Enough by Sheldon Richman June 1, 1996 In his new book The Choice , Bob Woodward reports on a meeting among President Clinton, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, and several self-help gurus. During the meeting, Clinton was asked to list his best qualities. "I have a good heart," replied the president. "I really do." We don't know whether Hillary Rodham ...
Fending Off Government by Sheldon Richman June 1, 1996 President Clinton's State of the Union address had two basic messages: 1) the era of big government is over, and 2) we can't go back to the time when "people fended for themselves." He doesn't really mean the era of big government is over. He's up for reelection. His wife (I assume this is not merely guilt by conjugal association) ...
If Liberty Mattered — Once More, a Presidential Candidate’s Press Conference, Part 4 by Richard M. Ebeling May 1, 1996 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 Mother Jones: Mr. Candidate, in your opening statement, you made what surely must be one of the most irresponsible proposals ever heard from a candidate in this or any other ...
If Liberty Mattered — Once More, a Presidential Candidate’s Press Conference, Part 3 by Richard M. Ebeling April 1, 1996 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 Business Week: Mr. Candidate, with such outlandish ideas as abolishing the Federal Reserve System, can you really expect any support from members of the business community? Every country in the ...
If Liberty Mattered — Once More, a Presidential Candidate’s Press Conference, Part 2 by Richard M. Ebeling March 1, 1996 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 The Nation: Mr. Candidate, if you intend, if elected, to abolish all of the progressive social legislation of the last seven decades, surely you are condemning millions of Americans to ...
If Liberty Mattered — Once More, a Presidential Candidate’s Press Conference, Part 1 by Richard M. Ebeling February 1, 1996 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 Once again, the race for the White House has begun, and once more, the candidates are offering themselves to the American public. Once again, the public and the press are ...
Washington Gibberish by Sheldon Richman January 1, 1996 If English is ever declared the official language of the United States, the biggest upheaval will be in Washington, D.C. That's because they don't speak English in Washington. They speak gibberish. You may not realize that, because gibberish has the same-sounding words and grammatical structure as English. When you hear gibberish, you think you're hearing English. But you're not. ...
Loving Your Country and Hating Your Government by Jacob G. Hornberger October 1, 1995 Several months ago, President Clinton condemned Americans who exposed and criticized wrongdoing by the U.S. government. The president said: "There's nothing patriotic about hating your government or pretending you can hate your government but love your country." Let us examine the implications of the president's claim. In the 1930s and throughout World War II, ...
Tiger in the Land by Robert LeFevre October 1, 1995 There is an apparent wide and shocking misconception in our land. It is this. That patriotism consists in loving our government and in willingly and joyously doing what the president and his administration want us to do. It is this misconception, so cunningly advanced by unscrupulous men in power, which has paved the way for despotic advances in all ...
Patriotism Has Changed by John L. Egolf Jr. October 1, 1995 Observing the festivities and media coverage of the July 4 celebrations, I wondered if Americans know what is being celebrated. The ideas and ideals that are expressed in the Declaration of Independence are far from most Americans' minds. Further, the idea of patriotism in 1776 was much different than present-day conceptions. The national government and various state governments are horrible ...