Economics for the Citizen, Part 7 by Walter E. Williams September 1, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 There’s a reggae song that advises, “If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty ...
Book Review: Reclaiming the American Revolution by George Leef September 1, 2005 Reclaiming the American Revolution: The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions and Their Legacy by William J. Watkins Jr. (Independent Institute, 2004); 236 pages; $39.95. How do you devise a system of limited government that actually works? It is easy enough to put words ...
Machiavelli and U.S. Politics Part 6: Public Choice and Spending by Lawrence M. Ludlow August 31, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 Public choice theory Machiavelli would take great comfort in the public choice theory as outlined by economists James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock. Public-choice theory tells us that politicians cannot legislate or spend taxpayer dollars wisely. Why? Because ...
In Iraq Zero Plus Zero Is More than Zero by Sheldon Richman August 29, 2005 Lately, it sounds as if Americans need to continue dying in Iraq because otherwise the previous deaths will be meaningless. George W. Bush says, “These brave men and women gave their lives for a cause that is just and necessary for the security of our country, and now we ...
Pat Robertson Describes U.S. Foreign Policy by Jacob G. Hornberger August 26, 2005 Conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson has stirred up a firestorm with his call for “taking out” Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. What’s all the fuss about? All that Robertson has done is state publicly what has long been an important part of U.S. foreign policy — assassination of foreign rulers who behave independently of Washington. John Perkins described how ...
The NRA Gets It Wrong by Sheldon Richman August 24, 2005 The concept of individual rights really isn’t complicated, but even some of its defenders get it wrong. Take, for example, the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA, of course, concentrates exclusively on the individual’s right to keep and bear arms, but that is no excuse for failing to ...
The Pentagon Dishonors VMI’s New Market Heroes by Jacob G. Hornberger August 24, 2005 I don’t know how the Pentagon comes up with names for its military operations, but I do know that its recent name for a certain military operation in Iraq — “Operation New Market” — dishonors the memory of the 257 brave young cadets from the Virginia Military Institute who ...
Evolution or Intelligent Design? None of the Government’s Business by Sheldon Richman August 22, 2005 You’d think that with all he has to do — including fighting the global struggle against violent extremism, or whatever they’re calling it this week — President Bush would be too busy to make the really big decisions: such as what ought to be taught in science class. But ...
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 ...
The Answer to Cindy Sheehan’s Question by Jacob G. Hornberger August 19, 2005 Cindy Sheehan has asked President Bush an important question: Exactly what “noble cause” did her son Casey die for in Iraq? It’s a question that some Ohio parents whose children were recently killed in Iraq are also asking. It’s a question that every American should be asking.