Daily Articles

Why No Trials for Abu Zubaydah and Seven Other “High-Value Detainees” in Guantánamo?

by Andy Worthington May 18, 2012

Two weeks ago, when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other “high-value detainees” were arraigned at Guantánamo in preparation for their forthcoming trial by military commission, they brought to eight the number of “high-value detainees” tried, put forward for trials, or having agreed to a plea deal to avoid a trial and secure a reduced sentence. In total,

The War on Drugs: Cui Bono?

by Laurence M. Vance May 17, 2012

Cui bono, a maxim of Cassius quoted by Cicero meaning “who benefits?” or “to whose advantage?” is a useful principle when investigating political assassinations, conspiracy theories, mysterious deaths — and the war on drugs. The war on drugs, which actually began in the United States before World War I with the passage of a series of federal anti-narcotics laws, was ...

JPMorgan Lesson: End Government Bank Guarantees

by Sheldon Richman May 17, 2012

It’s widely believed that JPMorgan Chase’s recent $2 billion–plus loss proves we need the comprehensive banking regulation called for by the 2010 Dodd-Frank law. That belief is wrong. In thinking about the loss, remember that the future is always uncertain. It’s easy to look back on a bad decision — especially someone else’s bad decision — and claim the mistake was ...

Scott Horton Interviews Jacob Hornberger (Audio)

by Jacob G. Hornberger May 16, 2012

Scott Horton interviews Jacob Hornberger about his article, “It’s Again Time to Dismantle the Cold War Military Machine,” how Americans are kept in a perpetual state of fear so massive military budgets seem like a necessity; the Pentagon’s latest make-work project, fighting the War on Drugs in Honduras; how ending drug prohibition would decrease problems with gangs, violence, and public ...

When Will Obama Evolve on the Drug War?

by Sheldon Richman May 16, 2012

Much is made of how President Obama’s position on same-sex marriage has “evolved” to an endorsement of legalization. One hopes his position on the atrocity called the “war on drugs” is evolving. It’s not really a war on drugs. It’s a war on people, most of whom have committed no violence or other aggression against person or property. Those who ...

Federal Labor Law and Mob Tyranny

by James Bovard May 16, 2012

Since Barack Obama took office, the National Labor Relations Board has become a hotbed of controversy. Republicans charge that the NLRB is brazenly favoring unions and thwarting corporations on one bogus pretext after another. Unfortunately, those controversies are simply the latest chapter in a long history of federal subversion of freedom of contract. Prior to the 1930s, courts and legislatures ...

Obama’s Campaign Sop to Women

by Wendy McElroy May 14, 2012

Barack Obama is buying votes. The Paycheck Fairness Act (PFA) is a blatant sop thrown to a voting block on which his next presidency may depend: women, specifically, liberal women. Obama also hopes it will weaken Mitt Romney, who is trying to woo women himself and, yet, cannot endorse the PFA without alienating conservatives. The PFA ...

Soldier of Empire

by Scott McPherson May 12, 2012

Soldier, soldier, how you soar Aloft in that elevated status Reserved to those who trade In war and oppression. Soldier, soldier, do not fear; You’ll never hear an unkindness — Insulated from the truth Of murder and rapine. Soldier, soldier, may you take This blue-blood daughter’s hand? Honored would her father be To hear tales of empire. Soldier, soldier, how is it that Across the spectrum of politeness We speak of hope and ...

Government-Created Racism

by Wendy McElroy May 10, 2012

A destructive belief seems poised to unfold within the public-school system in the form of new policies. The Department of Education (ED) is threatening to conduct “disparate impact” inquiries on schools that have a higher punishment, expulsion, or suspension rate for black children than for whites or Asians. A racial quota system may soon be imposed on ...

Chaos at Guantánamo as the 9/11 Trial Begins

by Andy Worthington May 9, 2012

On Saturday, the eyes of the world were on Guantánamo, as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men accused of planning and facilitating the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 — Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi, and Walid bin Attash — appeared in a courtroom for the first time since December 2008. All were ...

Does the First Amendment Protect the Freedom of Association?

by Laurence M. Vance May 9, 2012

The Augusta National Golf Club — where the Masters golf tournament has been played since 1933 — is in the news again, and not because Tiger Woods failed to earn a fifth green jacket. The exclusive club has come under fire again because of its male-only membership policy. And although the club has traditionally extended membership to the ...

Britain’s “Fat and Fags” Health Policy

by Wendy McElroy May 8, 2012

A terrible term has entered the healthcare debate now raging in Britain: “lifestyle rationing.” Given the predictability with which social trends cross the Atlantic, and given a looming Obamacare, Americans would be wise to eavesdrop closely on this conversation. “Lifestyle rationing” refers to denying medical care to those who make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and becoming obese. At ...