Daily Articles

The Food-Stamp Juggernaut

by Laurence M. Vance July 30, 2013

The number of Americans receiving food stamps is at an all-time high — and still climbing. One in seven Americans is now on food stamps. Although the food-stamp program has been officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since 2008, because recipients received $1, $5, and $10 paper coupons (stamps) redeemable for food for so many years, the ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Federal Reserve

by Future of Freedom Foundation July 29, 2013

Jacob Hornberger and Sheldon Richman discuss the Federal Reserve and monetary policy. The Libertarian Angle airs weekly.

TGIF: James Madison: Father of the Implied-Powers Doctrine

by Sheldon Richman July 26, 2013

James Madison famously wrote in Federalist 45: “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined.” Strict constructionists are fond of this quote, and often cite it in defense of their view that the Constitution established a government of strictly limited powers. But did it? One way to approach ...

The Economics Lesson Obama Needs to Learn

by Sheldon Richman July 25, 2013

President Obama is again turning his attention to the elusive economic recovery. His “pivot” will be for naught, however, as long as he continues to ignore two important points: first, government is a major squanderer of scarce resources, and second, its regulations are impediments to saving and investment. We live in a world of scarcity. At any given time our ...

The Libertarian Angle: Libertarians vs. Conservatives and Liberals

by Future of Freedom Foundation July 22, 2013

Jacob Hornberger and Sheldon Richman discuss the differences between libertarians, conservatives, and liberals. The Libertarian Angle airs weekly.

FFF Webinar: Articles of Confederation to the Constitution (audio)

by Sheldon Richman July 22, 2013

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013 FFF vice president and editor Sheldon Richman hosted a free, interactive online webinar entitled “From Articles of Confederation to Constitution." The webinar was an interactive experience with Sheldon and was limited to 24 participants. Download the audio here. Subscribe to the FFF podcast RSS feed.

TGIF: What an Honest Conversation about Race Would Look Like

by Sheldon Richman July 19, 2013

Ever since George Zimmerman’s fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin hit the national headlines last year, calls for an “honest conversation about race” have been heard throughout America. (Up until then, apparently, we’ve had only conversations about having a conversation about race.) However, one need not believe that the Zimmerman shooting and verdict were about race — I watched the ...

The Schizophrenic in Guantánamo Whose Lawyers Are Seeking to Have Him Sent Home

by Andy Worthington July 19, 2013

The prison at Guantánamo is such an extraordinarily lawless and unjust place that 86 prisoners who have been cleared for release by an interagency task force (established by President Obama when he took office in 2009) are still being held there. Many other prisoners who have been recommended for trials languish, year after year, with no hope of ...

The Calling: Public and Private Risk

by Steven Horwitz July 18, 2013

There’s nothing like a good Facebook debate to provide fodder for explaining core ideas in political economy. I recently expressed concern about the risks of a proposal in Oregon to allow students to pay for their education at state schools by having their postgraduation wages garnished by 3 percent for 24 years. In response, a friend asked ...

Zimmerman Case Is No Grounds for Gun Control

by Sheldon Richman July 16, 2013

From the beginning, people who would ban all private guns if they could have used the George Zimmerman case to push their agenda. They push on two fronts: First, they argue that Zimmerman’s 2012 fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, who had no gun, demonstrates that guns are an unmitigated evil. Second, the antigun lobby is ...

The Libertarian Angle: The George Zimmerman Trial

by Future of Freedom Foundation July 15, 2013

Jacob Hornberger and Sheldon Richman discuss the George Zimmerman trial. The Libertarian Angle airs weekly.

Ending Medicare

by Laurence M. Vance July 12, 2013

Medicare is government-funded health care for Americans aged 65 and over and/or those who are permanently disabled. Like Social Security, it is funded by payroll tax deductions from both employers and employees, but only partially. Unlike Social Security, which has its roots in Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, Medicare began in 1966 as part of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. Initial enrollment ...