Explore Freedom

The Constitution versus the Executive-Branch Departments

by Laurence M. Vance June 12, 2012

The U.S. federal government contains a myriad of agencies, bureaus, corporations, commissions, administrations, authorities, and boards organized under 15 cabinet-level, executive-branch departments headed by a secretary (or, in the case of the Justice Department, an attorney general). Although Republicans created the latest, most bloated, and most hated department (Homeland Security), they sometimes talk about eliminating or consolidating various other ... [click for more]

The Wisconsin Union Fight Reconsidered

by Sheldon Richman June 8, 2012

The failed gubernatorial recall effort in Wisconsin has generated a degree of political hostility that is extraordinary even by today’s standards. Many people interpret Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts to limit collective bargaining by government-employee unions as a general attack on workers and their right to organize. That may be the case, but it’s not the only interpretation available. According to ... [click for more]

“Pragmatism over Ideology”: Obama’s Failure to Close Guantánamo, and His Love of Drones

by Andy Worthington June 8, 2012

On May 29, a major article in the New York Times painted a grim portrait of how Barack Obama has taken over from George W. Bush as the “commander in chief” of a “war on terror” that seems to have no end, and that not only appears to be counterproductive but also, at heart, illegal. Understandably, critics have ... [click for more]

Do Republicans Oppose the Redistribution of Wealth?

by Laurence M. Vance June 5, 2012

The Law of the Sea Treaty, formally known as the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (and informally known as LOST), was adopted in 1982 to establish a comprehensive set of rules governing the oceans and replace two previous UN conventions on the Law of the Sea. It came into force in November 1994, a ... [click for more]

Obama Steps into It on the Family Farm

by Wendy McElroy June 4, 2012

The upcoming presidential election may well have saved the American family farm — at least, temporarily. The votes in several agricultural swing states are up for grabs, and so the Obama administration has declared a strategic cease-fire in its assault upon small agriculture. A family farm is commonly defined as “a farm owned and operated by a family, ... [click for more]

U.S. Should Steer Clear of Syria

by Sheldon Richman June 1, 2012

We should be grateful that the Obama administration seems disinclined to intervene militarily in Syria. But let’s note that the administration has not kept hands off. In a variety of ways, it is already aiding the rebels. Moreover, White House spokesman Jay Carney says that all options — even military intervention — are on the table. Americans should ... [click for more]

The Myths of NATO

by Tim Kelly May 30, 2012

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was cast into the national spotlight last week when the 63-year-old alliance held its 25th summit in Chicago. While the thousands of anti-NATO protesters and the government’s heavy-handed security measures attracted most of the media’s attention, important questions regarding the Cold War–era organization went largely ignored. According to Cold War orthodoxy, the United States ... [click for more]

Ban the Public Library

by Laurence M. Vance May 30, 2012

Not everyone has the time or the inclination to read all the books on the New York Times bestseller list. But even those who have both may not be able to — if they’re trying to find their favorite title at their local public library. Fifty Shades of Grey, the first installment of an erotic, sado-masochistic trilogy by British author ... [click for more]

Imperialists in the Refrigerator

by Wendy McElroy May 29, 2012

Various American regulatory agencies have criminalized the sale and the distribution of raw milk, allegedly as a means of protecting the welfare of consumers. The government claims unpasteurized milk is dangerous because it has not been treated to eliminate pathogens such as E. coli. Raw-milk enthusiasts counter by pointing to its health benefits and the fact that it ... [click for more]

U.S. Judge Rules against Military Detention of U.S. Terror Suspects — But What About the Foreigners in Guantánamo?

by Andy Worthington May 25, 2012

Last week in New York, U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest took a stand against a contentious provision inserted into the current National Defense Authorization Act (PDF). She ruled (PDF) that it was unconstitutional for lawmakers to demand that, in future, those accused of involvement with terrorism — including U.S. citizens and residents — be subjected ... [click for more]

Romney and Bain Capital

by Sheldon Richman May 25, 2012

Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is essentially playing one card in his quest for Barack Obama’s job: his business experience taught him how economies work. But Romney’s own pitch raises doubts about this. The Obama campaign charges Romney with destroying jobs when he ran Bain Capital, undercutting Romney’s claim he was a job creator. Obama argues that Bain created only ... [click for more]

The Evil of the National-Security State, Part 2

by Jacob G. Hornberger May 24, 2012

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 (to be posted) | Part 12 One of the most demonstrable examples of the turn that America ... [click for more]