Politics

The Political and Economic Mystiques of State Power

by Richard M. Ebeling September 25, 2017

One of the great political mysteries has been the success of governments in ruling over societies with little opposition and resistance from the vast majority of the population, even when those governments have been brutal tyrannies and openly dictatorial in their control. This has been true, no less, under democratic regimes, as well, under which levels of taxation have been ...

Global Corruption and the Role of Government

by Richard M. Ebeling July 24, 2017

The corruption of government officials seems to be as old as recorded history. For example, the ancient Roman senate passed laws against such political corruption in the first century, B.C. They defined a corrupt act as “whenever money is taken and a publicly-conferred duty is violated.” Local magistrates in the Roman Empire were permitted to legally receive cash gifts of ...

Politicians are in “Crisis,” Not the Ordinary American

by Richard M. Ebeling May 23, 2017

Reading or listening to the mass media, it would be easy to assume that America is gripped in a major national crisis due to the words and deeds of Donald Trump in the White House. Democrats stonewall Congressional legislation and dream of impeaching Trump out of the presidency. The Republicans are in panic mode that they will lose their ...

The Irrelevancy of Trump’s Cabinet Picks

by Laurence M. Vance May 1, 2017

President Trump has nominated the members of his cabinet and they have gone through the Senate confirmation process. Democrats, predictably, have been critical of many of his appointments. Conservatives, and some libertarians, have praised some of Trump’s appointments for things that they have done and statements they have made that seem to be at odds with the mission of ...

Trump Will Not Make America Great Again

by Jacob G. Hornberger April 1, 2017

President Donald Trump’s signature campaign slogan in the 2016 presidential race was “Make America Great Again.” The mantra touched the chords of millions of Americans and helped get him elected president. At the risk of raining on Trump’s parade, however, it just isn’t going to happen. Trump is not going to make America great again, because his conservative philosophy ...

The Libertarian Angle: Trump’s Cabinet Picks, Part 3

by Future of Freedom Foundation December 21, 2016

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling talk about the choices that president-elect Donald Trump has been making for his cabinet. Go to the podcast.

The Libertarian Angle: The Trump Revolution

by Future of Freedom Foundation November 10, 2016

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling talk about the surprising results of the recent U.S. presidential election. Go to the podcast.

Carrying on Obama’s Legacy

by Ken Sturzenacker October 18, 2016

Barack Obama seems to think that if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency next month, she will carry on his legacy. What is Obama’s legacy? Let's start with the numbers that impact most people younger than age 65: those associated with ObamaCare, more formally known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Remember, "If you like your doctor, you'll be able to keep your doctor" and 'you'll ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Second Presidential Debate

by Future of Freedom Foundation October 12, 2016

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling talk about the second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Go to the podcast.

The Libertarian Angle: Millennial Support for Gary Johnson

by Future of Freedom Foundation October 5, 2016

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss how younger voters are supporting Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson. Go to the podcast.

The Libertarian Angle: Presidential Debate Follies

by Future of Freedom Foundation September 28, 2016

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss the recent presidential debates. Go to the podcast.

The Election Has Been Hacked

by John W. Whitehead September 1, 2016

The FBI is worried: foreign hackers have broken into two state election databases. The Department of Homeland Security is worried: the nation’s voting system needs greater protection against cyberattacks. I, on the other hand, am not overly worried: after all, the voting booths have already been hacked by a political elite comprised of Republicans and Democrats who ...