Hornberger's Blog

The United States Lost the Cold War

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 18, 2014

As the world celebrates the 25th anniversary of fall of the Berlin Wall, Americans remain more convinced than ever that the United States won the Cold War. The Cold War brought us a national-security state, which consists of an enormous military establishment, a vast military-industrial complex, an empire of foreign and domestic military bases, ever-growing military budgets, and the ever-increasing ...

Max Boot’s Newest Plan for Iraq

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 17, 2014

Max Boot, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, is an interventionist. In fact, he’s your classic interventionist. He believes that the U.S. government should intervene in conflicts around the world, at least where “national security” is at stake. Boot has a plan for Iraq. The plan was set forth in Sunday’s Washington Post in an op-ed by Boot ...

American Christians Erect an Idol

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 14, 2014

North Korean authorities recently released an American citizen who had been accused of proselytizing for Christianity in North Korea, where such conduct is a criminal offense. Why would the communist authorities in North Korea care if people are practicing Christianity? Because government officials are afraid that Christians might give foremost allegiance to God rather than to the government, especially in ...

More U.S. Deaths in Korea?

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 13, 2014

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson set forth one of the founding principles of our nation: It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.—George Washington Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none.—Thomas Jefferson That guiding principle went out the window with the advent of the U.S. national-security ...

A Lesson in Interventionism in Iraq

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 12, 2014

The great Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises pointed out that one government intervention inevitably produces a crisis, which then causes government officials to enact a new intervention to address the crisis. The new intervention, however, produces a new crisis, which then necessitates a new intervention. With each new intervention, the government’s power continues to grow. While Mises was referring to ...

Let’s Rid America of Veterans

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 11, 2014

The reason there is a large contingent of veterans in the United States is twofold: (1) because of the many foreign wars waged by the U.S. government in this century and the last and (2) the radical restructuring of America’s governmental system into a national-security state, one that consists of an enormous permanent standing army, a vast empire of ...

Reform vs. Freedom

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 10, 2014

During its 25-year history, The Future of Freedom Foundation has always refrained from endorsing any reform of the welfare-warfare state. There are two reasons for this steadfast position. First, no matter what reform is adopted, it inevitably makes the situation worse than it was before. That’s because a welfare-warfare state, being a combination of socialism, regulation, and imperialism, is an ...

Measuring the Power of Ideas on Liberty

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 7, 2014

Ever since FFF was founded in 1989, some people have periodically asked me, “How does FFF measure its success?” My answer: There is no way to adequately measure the power of uncompromising ideas on liberty. What matters are the purity of the message itself and the importance of introducing it into the overall marketplace of ideas. I grew up in ...

Obama’s Failed Presidency

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 6, 2014

It was a foregone conclusion that President Obama wasn’t going to change his stripes when it comes to economic philosophy and policy. Like Republicans and other Democrats, Obama is a died-in-the wool socialist and interventionist. He believes in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, welfare, food stamps, public (i.e., government) schooling, farm subsidies, foreign aid, and other welfare-state programs. Like his ...

The Biggest Obstacle to Freedom

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 5, 2014

Expressing their obvious contempt for the overall situation in America, voters played their latest game of musical chairs by putting Republicans back in charge of Congress. It won’t make any difference at all. That’s because the Republicans who have been installed into power are as statist as the Democrats they are replacing. What really matters with respect to a free society ...

The IRS vs. the Free Society

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 4, 2014

My favorite quote of all time is by Johann Von Goethe: “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” The quote perfectly encapsulates the plight of the American people. Most Americans honestly believe they are a free people. This belief is inculcated into them from the time they enter the first grade until they graduate ...

Congressional Elections Are a Big Waste of Money

by Jacob G. Hornberger November 3, 2014

Like other congressional elections, millions of dollars have been spent on electoral campaigns in the run-up to the elections tomorrow. It’s one horrific waste of time, energy, and resources for the citizenry. Whoever wins a seat in Congress — Democrat or Republican — nothing fundamental will change. We all know that. That’s because both Democrats and Republicans believe in ...