Daily Articles

Reform or Repeal?

by Jacob G. Hornberger July 1, 2005

The great methodological debate within the libertarian movement involves reform versus repeal. Libertarians are virtually unanimous in their opposition to such socialist welfare-state programs as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and public schooling, but the split occurs in how to confront programs such as these. Should libertarians call for their reform or their repeal? As long-time readers of Freedom Daily and ...

Deregulate the Drugstores

by Sheldon Richman July 1, 2005

In Illinois the governor has decreed that pharmacists fill all prescriptions brought in by customers. In Arizona the legislature passed a bill to allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for birth-control pills on grounds of conscience, even if their employers require it. (The governor vetoed it.) Here we see the moral bankruptcy of both Left and Right. Faced with ...

Bush’s Foreign-Aid Fraud

by James Bovard July 1, 2005

President Bush has doled out more than $70 billion in foreign aid and loan guarantees to foreign governments, countries, and international organizations. He committed billions in new aid in large part to get the endorsement of a rock star and to garner applause at a United Nations summit. Because a minuscule percent of the aid will be paid out from ...

“Liberal” Court Okays Eminent Domain Abuse

by George Leef July 1, 2005

On June 23, the Supreme Court delivered its much-anticipated decision in Kelo v. City of New London. The case squarely presented an important constitutional issue — whether it is permissible for units of government to use the power of eminent domain to ...

A Week in a (Sort of) Libertarian Country, Part 2

by Scott McPherson July 1, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 The Republic of Costa Rica has no army. The country, roughly the size of West Virginia and with a population of around 4 million people (including 50,000 North American expatriates), is proudly neutral. Its constitution dates to 1949, following a brief civil war and adoption of many democratic reforms. By Latin American standards, ...

The Courts and the New Deal, Part 2

by William L. Anderson July 1, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 The system of laws and courts in the United States today hardly resembles that system that came about in the wake of the founding of this republic. This sea change in the law is not due — as some might claim — to the complexities of ...

Economics for the Citizen, Part 5

by Walter E. Williams July 1, 2005

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 Someone might have made you a gift of this publication. Does that mean reading this article is free? The answer is a ...

Book Review: Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Fight

by George Leef July 1, 2005

Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Fight: Race, Class, and Power in the Rural South during the First World War by Jeanette Keith (University of North Carolina Press, 2004); 260 pages; $55.95 hardcover; $22.50 paperback. What little most Americans have heard about U.S. involvement in World War I is that U.S. ...

Who Cares about the Income Gap?

by Sheldon Richman June 29, 2005

I didn’t wake up this morning wondering whether I had shrunk the income gap between me and Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. I have never wondered about that. But that’s me. If I am to believe the New York Times and other major newspapers, lots of people are obsessed ...

Bush Is Right to Link 9/11 with Iraq

by Jacob G. Hornberger June 29, 2005

Even though the Iraqi people and their ruler, Saddam Hussein, had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, President Bush was correct in once again linking 9/11 to his invasion and occupation of Iraq in his speech to the nation last night. Why? Because the motivation behind the 9/11 attacks was ...

Trade Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

by Sheldon Richman June 27, 2005

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ... Representatives of the Imperial President have traveled to the far eastern region to “negotiate” strict limits on exports. Although the recent surge in shipments of badly needed inexpensive clothing from traders in the region has raised the ...

Muddle at the Supreme Court over Medical Marijuana

by Sheldon Richman June 20, 2005

When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against medical-marijuana users, many critics of the decision thought the six-justice majority failed to show compassion for severely ill people. But the Supreme Court doesn’t sit to dispense compassion. It’s supposed to ensure that Congress respects the Constitution and, by extension, individual ...