Daily Articles

Monetary Central Planning and the State, Part 39: Free Banking and the Benefits of Market Competition

by Richard M. Ebeling March 1, 2000

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 ...

Public Master

by Sheldon Richman March 1, 2000

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton apparently wants to represent New York state in the U.S. Senate. She says she wishes to serve the people of New York. Read that carefully. She wants to be their servant. Does anyone believe that? What I'm about to say does not apply just to Mrs. Clinton. ...

Government Equals Force

by James Bovard March 1, 2000

Occasionally throughout the 20th century, commentators have clearly recognized the coercive nature of government. British political scientist Harold Laski wrote in 1935: "At any critical moment in the history of a State the fact that its authority depends upon the power to coerce the opponents of the government, to break their wills, to compel them to submission, emerges as the ...

The Contagious Disease Acts

by Wendy McElroy March 1, 2000

The Contagious Disease Acts (1860s) in Britain occasioned "the western world's first feminine revolt of any stature." So wrote historian Michael Pearson in his book The Age of Consent: Victorian Prostitution and Its Enemies. The revolt was for sexual equality and against a double standard in the law. The 20-year crusade against the C.D. Acts was led by a ...

Count Me Out

by Sheldon Richman March 1, 2000

I got a letter from my friendly federal government the other day. It notified me that in about a week I will be mailed my U.S. Census 2000 form. Why they didn't just send the form instead of the notice, I can't fathom. But that's the least of it.

Lance Armstrong – Going Postal

by Max Schulz March 1, 2000

Lance Armstrong touched the hearts of people all over the world when he took his victory laps on the Champs Élysées after winning the famed Tour de France bicycle race last summer. Just three years ago, Lance was diagnosed with cancer. It looked as if he might not live. Incredibly, Lance ...

Book Review: Business Ethics

by Richard M. Ebeling March 1, 2000

Business Ethics by Norman Barry (West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, 2000); 191 pages; $14.95. It is rarely appreciated how much the market economy has contributed to the growth of civilization and rules of good behavior among the members of society. For example, Adam Smith pointed out more than 200 hundred years ago: "When commerce is introduced into any country, probity and ...

Ask Not

by Sheldon Richman February 2, 2000

John McCain tells people he is the one presidential hopeful "who can inspire young people to commit themselves to causes greater than their own self-interest." I will resist wondering whether the cause McCain has in mind is, well, McCain. No doubt this standard line of McCain's is regarded as mere boilerplate, a trademark slogan no ...

Lessons from Austria … and Germany

by Jacob G. Hornberger February 2, 2000

Austrian Joerg Haider and his Freedom Party are causing waves of anxiety throughout the European Union as well as the U.S. State Department. Government officials on both sides of the Atlantic are expressing dismay at Haider's political and economic views. The controversy provides valuable lessons for the American people. Officials are upset over Haider's position on ...

Terrorism, War, and Crises

by Jacob G. Hornberger February 1, 2000

The American people survived the threat of terrorist attacks during the millennial celebrations. But fear was definitely in the air. Seattle canceled its celebration after a man was arrested at the Canadian border with bomb-making materials. New York City sealed its manhole covers in Times Square and flooded the streets with cops. Throughout December, the television talk shows featured ...

Monetary Central Planning and the State, Part 38: Free Banking and the Coordination of Savings and Investment

by Richard M. Ebeling February 1, 2000

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 ...

ATM Tyranny

by Sheldon Richman February 1, 2000

Some years ago, when gas stations began replacing free air pumps with coin operated models, some motorists objected. "But air is free," one protested. To which a gas station owner replied, "Fine; blow the tire up yourself." I'm reminded of that story by the current flap over fees for ATMs. Here's a controversy tailored-made for demagogic political leaders looking for ...