Explore Freedom

Freedom Is the Best Insurance against Terrorism

by Sheldon Richman August 1, 1996

In the wake of the possible bombing of TWA flight 800 and the bombing at the Olympics, President Clinton is doing what politicians always do at times like these: he's grabbing for power. If that has a feeling of deja vu to it, it should. Shortly after the blast at the federal ... [click for more]

Zoning: The New Tyranny [long]

by James Bovard August 1, 1996

Modern zoning laws presume that no citizen has a right to control his own land and that every citizen has a right to control his neighbor's land. Zoning laws have become far more invasive and restrictive in recent years. If you want to use your own land, increasingly you have to ... [click for more]

Zoning: The New Tyranny

by James Bovard August 1, 1996

Modern zoning laws presume that no citizen has a right to control his own land and that every citizen has a right to control his neighbor's land. Zoning laws have become far more invasive and restrictive in recent years. If you want to use your own land, increasingly you have to beg, bribe, and grovel to the nearest government ... [click for more]

Kill a Boy, Get a Medal

by James Bovard June 1, 1996

On March 1, 1996, the U.S. Marshals Service gave its highest award for valor to five U.S. marshals involved in the 1992 Ruby Ridge, Idaho, shoot-out, including the marshal who shot a 14-year-old boy in the back and killed him, and another marshal who started a firefight by shooting the boy's dog without provocation. The valor award announcement symbolizes ... [click for more]

Source of Rights

by Frank Chodorov June 1, 1996

The axiom of what is often called "individualism" is that every person has certain inalienable rights. For example, "individualism" holds that property as such obviously has no rights; there is only the inherent right of a person to his honestly acquired property. . . . The axiom of socialism ... [click for more]

Escape from Responsibility

by Sheldon Richman May 1, 1996

The welfare state teaches the implicit lesson that you are not responsible for yourself. You will be taken care of. The "safety net" will catch you if you fall. And because of that, you may be required to do certain things and prohibited from doing other things — all in the name of taking care of you and others. We ... [click for more]

Subverting Freedom through Benevolence

by James Bovard May 1, 1996

President Bill Clinton declared on July 26, 1994: "The Americans with Disabilities Act is a national monument to freedom. Contained within its broad pillars of independence, inclusion, and empowerment is the core ideal of equality that has defined this country since its beginnings." In reality, the ADA has become a symbol of the confused, paternalistic, interventionist concept of modern freedom ... [click for more]

Did the Supreme Court Flush the Fourth?

by James Bovard February 1, 1996

Two hundred and six years after the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the big issue for the U.S. Supreme Court is toilets. Specifically, has the invention of flush toilets nullified American's traditional right of privacy in their homes and enabled police to smash down their doors on the slightest pretext? Truly, these are glorious times in which we live. ... [click for more]

The White Rose: A Lesson in Dissent

by Jacob G. Hornberger January 1, 1996

The date was February 22, 1943. Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie, along with their best friend, Christoph Probst, were scheduled to be executed by Nazi officials that afternoon. The prison guards were so impressed with the calm and bravery of the prisoners in the face of impending death that ... [click for more]

Vigilant Distrust, Part 2

by John C. Sparks January 1, 1996

Part 1 | Part 2 As years passed, it was customary for communities in the new land of America to set up local governments. Since the attraction of political power is a highly contagious disease anywhere, there were numerous instances of the political misuse of power. It is an axiom that politicians are always with us-and ready, willing, and ... [click for more]

The White Rose

by Hans and Sophia Scholl January 1, 1996

Nothing is so unworthy of a civilized nation as allowing itself to be "governed" without opposition by an irresponsible clique that has yielded to base instinct. It is certain that today every honest German is ashamed of his government. Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one ... [click for more]

Trial by Jury

by Jacob G. Hornberger December 1, 1995

After a nine-month trial, the jury found O.J. Simpson not guilty of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. There was anger and outrage among most white Americans. The evidence clearly seemed to point to the defendant's guilt. The feeling was that a jury composed largely of black Americans acquitted Simpson simply due to his race. Amidst all ... [click for more]