Explore Freedom

The Growing Farce of Fair Housing

by James Bovard July 1, 1998

In his masterpiece The Totalitarian Temptation, French socialist Jean-Franois Revel wrote, "There is a growing trend in the West to discount freedom as compared to justice." This trend is clear from the type of moral arrogance that congressmen and bureaucrats show in suppressing freedom in ... [click for more]

Coerced Morality

by Jacob G. Hornberger July 1, 1998

To relieve the suffering in the drought-stricken counties of Texas, Congress passed an appropriations bill, but it was vetoed by the president. In his veto message, the president stated: "I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and ... [click for more]

No Third Way

by Sheldon Richman June 1, 1998

In his State of the Union address last winter, President Clinton declared that under his enlightened leadership, the United States had found the much sought-after "third way" between laissez-faire capitalism and socialism. The remark was little noticed, but it was astounding nonetheless. One might have thought that the quest for the elusive third way had been dropped with the ... [click for more]

The Antitrust Absurdity

by Sheldon Richman June 1, 1998

The Federal Trade Commission has aimed its antitrust cannon at Intel Corp., maker of the microprocessor used in 90 percent of personal computers. The FTC charges Intel with refusing to provide information about its chips to certain computer makers with which it has legal disputes. At first, it ... [click for more]

The So-Called Right to Strike

by George Leef June 1, 1998

In several of the highly publicized strikes in recent years, including the strikes against Caterpillar and the Detroit newspapers, company management continued operations during the strike by hiring permanent replacement workers. Permanent replacements are hired not just for the duration of the strike but to continue on after the strike ... [click for more]

One Entrepreneur Is Worth a Million Consumer Advocates

by Sheldon Richman June 1, 1998

When someone finds fault with absolutely everything you do, you might begin to wonder who's really got the problem. The same is true with an economic system. Predictably, the tired old school of carps led by Ralph Nader is condemning the mergers that have been announced recently, including CitiCorp ... [click for more]

To Create Order, Remove the Planner

by Sheldon Richman May 1, 1998

Which came first, the chicken of economics or the egg of economic action? Did the discipline of economics precede the object of its interest? The obvious answer is no. To say yes would be like saying that astronomy preceded the planets and stars or that before Newton, apples didn't fall from trees. Yet, there are people who speak as though ... [click for more]

Needed: The Separation of Cable and State

by James Bovard May 1, 1998

There is growing political manipulation of the information that the average American is allowed to receive. Americans long ridiculed the Soviet-bloc media for presenting absurdly self-serving images of their government. Yet, in this country, thanks to government controls over cable television, most American cable subscribers are forced to bankroll multiple television stations that ... [click for more]

Punishing Success

by Sheldon Richman May 1, 1998

Let's cut to the chase: It's Microsoft's property. The company should be free to offer it on any terms it wishes. If people don't want to buy Microsoft products, they don't have to. As long as no law keeps other people from offering competing products, no one need ... [click for more]

Hair Today, Fairness Tomorrow

by Sheldon Richman March 1, 1998

It is a mystery to me why egalitarians have failed to decry the unequal and unfair distribution of one of the most important assets in all of society. It is all the more perplexing because the unfairness of the distribution is plain for all to see. Walk down any street, and there it is. Toleration of this egregious violation ... [click for more]

What They Don’t Know

by Sheldon Richman March 1, 1998

Vice President Al Gore says that if the tax on cigarettes is raised $1.10 a pack in the next five years, teenage smoking will drop 42 percent on average nationwide. Not 41 or 43 percent. Forty-two percent. Further, he says that 991,000 deaths from smoking would be avoided. ... [click for more]

Recall the Government Meat Inspectors

by Sheldon Richman January 1, 1998

The record recall of hamburger meat from the Hudson Foods plant in Nebraska last year should prompt us to ask whether the government should be certifying the safety of America's food supply. Let's face it, food is too important to be left to government. For many people, that may come as a shock. Doesn't the E. coli-contaminated beef show that ... [click for more]