Liberty & Power: Group Blog
Entries by David T. Beito
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Historians Against the War, the Afghan War, and the Coming Great Leftist Crack-up
A few years ago, people used to write about the Great Libertarian Crack-up over issues of war and peace. Could we now be witnessing the first signs of a Great Leftist Crack-up for the same reason?
In a welcome shift away from its Iraq-centric focus, the steering committee of Historians Against the War has stated that "the US and NATO should immediately begin withdrawing their military and political assets from Afghanistan so that the Afghan people can have room to decide their own future. Continued US/NATO action in the country is a large part of the problem and cannot be the solution."
Because both Obama and McCain endorse a surge of U.S. troops into that country, HAW is now on a collision course with the next president. Does this also mean that conditions created by an Obama administration will bring a new spirit of cooperation between antiwar libertarians, leftists, and conservatives?
As many of you know, I write occasionally for the HAW Blog.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Two Tentative Cheers for Rightwing Talk Radio
Since 2001, I have found it almost impossible to listen for more than five minutes to the likes of Limbaugh, Beck, and Levin. Their zealous cheerleading for war, overflowing xenophobia, and constant shilling for the GOP does not take long to grate on the nerves. During the bailout crisis, however, rightwing talk radio has performed admirably. Without the pressure it exerted, the House would have never rejected the bailout on the first vote.
The contrast between rightwing talk radio and MSM outlets on the bailout issue is striking. Yesterday, I made the the mistake of listening to "All Things Considered" (formerly sponsored by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) and heard a litany of pro-bailout voices. For all its vices, talk radio has provided a needed counterweight to the MSM's attempt to manufacture a consensus on this issue.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Stop the Billionaire Bailout
This could be the defining vote of a generation. The battle has now shifted to the U.S. Senate. I just called both my senators urging them to oppose this measure. You should call too, if nothing else in order to let off some steam. U.S. Senate phone numbers can be found here.
Monday, September 29, 2008
"This is a Herbert Hoover Moment"
As I prepare an exam, I am watching Paul Ryan, a self-professed free market Republican from Wisconsin, speak in favor of the bailout. Proclaiming this is a "Herbert Hoover Moment," he urges Congress not to emulate Hoover's failure to bail out the private sector. Apparently, Ryan has never heard of Hoover's massive bailout scheme, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Did McCain Just Lose the Election?
If he had a chance, this probably blew it. McCain should have let Obama, Pelosi, and Frank own the Billionaire Bailout. By signing on, he has given them all the cover they need. Everything at his point probably rides on Palin.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Richard Milhous McCain Debates John Fitzgerald Obama
Last night, I kept expecting Obama to echo Kennedy's warning from 1960 in his debate with Nixon about the need to close the non-existent "missile gap." While he was more restrained than McCain on Iraq and Iran, his differences on other foreign policy issues were generally paper thin.
Like McCain, Obama endorsed the General Jack Ripperesque move of admitting Ukraine and Georgia to NATO (thus potentially obligating the U.S. to escalate to World War III in case of a border dispute with Russia) and a "surge" of more U.S. troops into Afghanistan. Obama's statements on U.S. military incursions into Pakistan made McCain look almost cool-headed by comparison (no small accomplishment).
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Tale of Two Presidents
In contrast to the pro-bailout speech we heard last night, Calvin Coolidge offers much good sense about the economy in this speech from 1924:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Short Selling in One Easy Lesson
Anti-New Deal Newsreel
Here is a rare respite for the standard pro-New Deal newsreels that usually can be found on youtube. It is a sympathetic depiction of Fred Perkins, a battery manufacturer from York, Pennsylvania who chose to go to jail rather than obey the mandates of the National Recovery Administration.
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Friday, September 19, 2008
Pro-Stalin Hollywood Film: "Mission to Moscow"
In this short clip from the notorious, pro-Stalin film from 1943, "Mission to Moscow," Walter Huston, playing the American ambassador, Joseph E. Davies, smears pre-war non-interventionists, defends the Soviet invasion of Finland, and depicts the Soviets as peace-loving.
Apparently, Davies was not a typical fellow traveler. According to Soviet archives, he purchased art at discount prices that had been confiscated from purge victims.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Who Said This About Fannie Fae/Freddie Mac?
’These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis....The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.’’
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Question for Brady, Higgs, Hummel, et al. on AIG Bailout
Can any of you comment on the political/economic implications of the AIG bailout? Non-economists are invited to weigh in as well.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Adventures in Iraqi Democracy
The Iraqis just won't get with the program. I think it is safe to say that the McCain-Palin campaign, the Weekly Standard, and the National Review will pretend this never happened:
Iraqi legislators said Sunday that parliament had voted to lift the immunity of a Sunni Arab lawmaker who visited Israel.
Alusi at the funeral of his two sons who were killed in an assassination attempt in Baghdad in 2005.
The parliament has also banned Mithal al-Alusi from traveling outside Iraq or attending parliamentary sessions, they said.
Sunday's punishment was confirmed by Osama al-Nujeif, a Sunni Arab lawmaker, and Haider al-Ibadi, a Shi'ite lawmaker.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Palin as McCain's Warrior Princess
Call me a wishful thinker, but I had some small hopes for Palin. There was a lot to like including her down-to-earth manner, wit, small-government rhetoric, alleged links to Alaskan independence, defense of guns, and previous praise of Ron Paul.
Palin's comments yesterday on foreign policy, however, show her complete agreement with John McCain. The only difference is that she was relatively more candid than McCain in her hawkishness.
Horton/Kushner Debate on Terrorism at Texas A&M
As I predicted, this is well worth watching. Harvey Kushner makes all the standard pro-war Republican arguments and Scott Horton overwhelms him with evidence to the contrary. I doubt Kushner has ever experienced anything like this.
For the youtube, see here
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Horton Debates Terrorism Tonight, Live Streaming
Tonight at 6:30 p.m at Texas A and M, Scott Horton, the host of antiwar.com radio, will debate Dr. Harvey Kushner on the following question: “Is the United States pursuing the correct strategy against international terrorism?” It will be streamed live and can be viewed here. Horton has an encyclopedic knowledge of this topic and is an effective debator. Don't miss it.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Priceless! Gravel Appalls Pacifica Hosts by Defending Palin
My respect for Mike Gravel has skyrocketed. Whatever you think of Palin, this interview is absolutely priceless. The smug pro-Obama Pacifica hosts are simply left speechless. Gravel gets in a few good licks at the end attacking the Democrats as the party of imperialism.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Community Organizers and GOP Politicians: Enemies of the Taxpayer
In an editorial, the Chicago Sun-Times takes offense at Paln and Giuliani’s belittlement of Obama’s record as a community organizer:
Republicans insist that people should pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Communities should take care of their own and not depend on big government to do the job. And the folks who do make it should give back.
We agree wholeheartedly.
But on what is the job of community organizer premised, if not those very principles?.
After endorsing small government for the first time in its history, the Sun-Times, then lavishes praise on Obama for his altruistic record of "working with the poorest and most powerless people on the South Side of Chicago, doing his damndest to help them help themselves.”
Friday, September 5, 2008
Secret Service Harassment of Ron Paul Delegates
If this is even a small indication of how President McCain will handle dissent, we heading for some bleak times.
"Hurricane Paul" on The Colbert Report
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sarah Palin as McCain's Richard Schweiker
Apparently, some libertarians and former Ron Paul supporters are switching to McCain because of his choice of Palin. If McCain wins, they will regret their foolish decision.
While McCain made a clever move in picking Palin, he is still....well...John McCain. He shows no sign of abandoning his disdain for the Bill of Rights and, most importantly, his recklessness in foreign policy. By every indication, this decision has nothing to do with a change of heart on a single issue.
The best comparision would be to 1976 when Ronald Reagan picked Richard Schweiker, probably the most pro-big-government Republican in the Senate, as his veep. It was purely a political decision in his case; just like this one.
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Palin Pick
Truth in advertising. I despise nearly everything McCain stands for and hope he loses. Having said that, unless the media finds skeletons in her closet, the Palin pick is a very smart move. It reinforces his conservative base and helps him with women and independent voters. He might just win this?! A depressing thought.
Obama's choice of Biden, by contrast, was completely uninspired. Biden's record as the ultimate insider only serves to undermine Obama's "change" message. His best hope was to have reinforced this message by picking an independent Democrat or Republican, such as Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska or Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Why did Cops Stop Covering Their Guns?
The first photo is of the El Paso police from 1917 in front of their paddy wagon and the second is a modern SWAT Team.
As the first photo shows, it was once standard practice for police officers to wear long jackets to cover up their guns, apparently lest they offend civilians. The cop of the beat in just about any Hollywood movie in the 1930s dressed similarly. Apparently, this was a vestige of an anti-militarist tradition. Now, of course, the police seem to proudly brandish their guns in public at every opportunity.
Does anyone know any of research on when and why the shift from the old tradition of covering up guns? Who pushed the change and who, if anyone, opposed it?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
How the War in Georgia Started
For a break from the non-stop "Georgia as innocent victim" marathon at CNN and Fox, check out this story from the BBC:
The Bush administration appears to be trying to turn a failed military operation by Georgia into a successful diplomatic operation against Russia. It is doing so by presenting the Russian actions as aggression and playing down the Georgian attack into South Ossetia on 7 August, which triggered the Russian operation.
Yet the evidence from South Ossetia about that attack indicates that it was extensive and damaging.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford has reported: "Many Ossetians I met both in Tskhinvali and in the main refugee camp in Russia are furious about what has happened to their city.
"They are very clear who they blame: Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, who sent troops to re-take control of this breakaway region."
... Human Rights Watch concluded after an on-the-ground inspection: "Witness accounts and the timing of the damage would point to Georgian fire accounting for much of the damage described [in Tskhinvali]."
Friday, August 15, 2008
Barr Threatens to Sue Church for Not Inviting Him to Forum
I hope that this story was misreported. No Libertarian candidate deserving of the name would even consider forcing a church to do this. Unfortunately the evidence reported indicates that the story is accurate:
Barack Obama and John McCain are scheduled to make a joint appearance Saturday at Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif...
Russ Verney, campaign manager for the former Georgia congressman, has just sent out a mass e-mail saying Barr will seek a court order to require the church to invite him, too.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Steve Davies on African History
Steve Davies, a Liberty and Power member, holds forth on African History:
Hat Tip Tom G. Palmer.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Michael Phelps Said No to Ritalin
If Michael Phelps had stayed on Ritalin, would he be where he is today? Here’s a story Thomas Szasz would appreciate:
At age 9, Michael was put on Ritalin, a stimulant used to treat hyperactivity.
His mother thinks it helped a little. “He seemed to be able to focus longer,” she said. “He could get through homework without moving around so much.” She said he was still a middling student. “It might have raised some C’s to B’s,” she said. But if a homework assignment had to be at least four sentences, she said, “he’d just do four sentences.”
After two years, Michael asked to get off the meds. He had to go to the school nurse’s office to take a pill at lunch, she said, and felt stigmatized. “Out of the blue, he said to me: ‘I don’t want to do this anymore, Mom. My buddies don’t do it. I can do this on my own.’ ”
“I was always stern as a parent,” she said, “but from Day 1, I included my children as part of the decision process. So I listened.” After consulting with Dr. Wax, Michael stopped medication.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Police in Georgia's "Growing Democracy" Attacking Demonstrators in 2007 to Enforce Martial Law
In a weak moment, I made the mistake of turning on Fox News today. A jingoistic Fox reporter asked Ralph Peters, an equally jingoistic guest, about the Georgia crisis.
Peters called for massive sanctions against Russia. The obliging reporter egged him on by volunteering that Georgia had a "growing democracy." Perhaps she missed this revealing footage from 2007 showing police in that country beating up demonstrators to enforce martial law.
A Query on Two Secessions: Kosovo and South Ossetia
Can anybody explain why the U.S. opposed violent anti-secessionism by Serbia in Kosovo but (apparently) now apparently supports violent anti-secessionism by Georgia in South Ossetia?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Hurston and Paterson: Two Libertarians Against the Atomic Bomb
Novelists Zora Neale Hurston and Isabel Paterson had much in common including opposition to the New Deal and a shared belief individualism. Both also opposed the dropping of the atomic bomb.
In 1946, Hurston, who later supported the presidential campaign of Robert A. Taft, wrote that she was "amazed at the complacency of Negro press and public" towards Truman's foreign policy actions.
According to Hurston, Truman "is a monster. I can think of him as nothing else but the BUTCHER of ASIA. Of his grin of triumph on giving the order to drop the Atom bombs on Japan. Of his maintaining troops in China who are shooting the starving Chinese for stealing a handful of food....Is it that we are so devoted to a 'good Massa' that we feel that we ought not to even protest such crimes? Have we no men among us? If we cannot stop it, we can at least let it be known that we are not deceived. We can make any party who condones it, let alone orders it, tremble for election time."
Carla Kaplan, ed., Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters (New York: Doubleday, 2002), 546.
At about the same time, Paterson cited the atomic bomb as an example of Truman's use of science “to fry Japanese babies in atomic radiation.” Their deaths did not even have practical value to Paterson, who had predicted an almost immediate surrender of the Japanese upon the landing of a U.S. invasion force. The only bright spot for her was that Truman compromised his demand of unconditional surrender by letting the Japanese to keep the emperor.
Stephen Cox, The Woman and the Dynamo: Isabel Paterson and the Idea of America (New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers, 2004).
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Paris Hilton Responds to McCain (Yes, Really)
McCain's Role in the Anti-Iraq Anthrax Hysteria in 2001
The federal government now admits that it has no evidence that Iraq took part in the anthrax attacks shortly after 9-11. For this reason, it is worth remembering that only days after the attacks, John McCain, was already singling out Iraq as a likely suspect and using this to justify war. Apparently, he was relying on inside information (who provided it?) when he made this claim.
In making these statements, of course, McCain played a key role in creating the climate of fear that led many Americans to support the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Solzhenitsyn and the "absurd project to impose democracy all over the world."
In the last twenty years of his life, Alexander Solzhenitsyn increasingly challenged both American foreign policy and American conceptions of democracy. Sometimes he missed the mark but just as often he was right. No wonder his former conservative allies had largely abandoned him by the 1990s.
In 2005, for example, he declared that:
It [democracy] must not be forced [upon people] like a cap. Democracy can only grow upwards, like a plant. Democracy must begin at the local level, within the local self-government. Only then can it develop further."
.....Solzhenitsyn slammed the US policy, saying that over ten years ago, the US "launched an absurd project to impose democracy all over the world." "The US has a strange idea of democracy - they first interfered with the Bosnian situation, bombed Yugoslavia, then Afghanistan, and then Iraq." "Who is next, perhaps, Iran?" the writer wonders. "The US must understand that democracy cannot be introduced by force, by the army," he said.
What Not to Do When You Get Arrested
Marc Wiggins shared this story of police incompetence and abuse. This one has a depressing twist. Why hasn't this story gotten more publicity?
BUSTED! NOW WHAT DO I DO? A deadly lesson in what NOT to do.
TALLAHASSEE,FL 8/02/08
In 2007 Rachel Morningstar Hoffman was stopped by the Tallahassee Police Department for speeding. She couldn't have known that being in a hurry would result in her death.
During the stop an ounce of Marijuana was discovered in her car. This led to her participation in Leon County's Drug Court. This program is administrated by the State Attorney's Office led by Willie Meggs. The terms of this program are,basically,Pay the fine, stay clean for the duration,fulfill all requirements of the court(community service,etc.). Well, things were going well with the diversion program(thanks to The Wizzinator) right up to April 15,2008. TPD Investigator Ryan Pender(B#780) recieved information that she was selling large amounts of Cannabis. This, and other info, resulted in Ofc. Pender seeking a search warrant. While Ofc. Pender was enroute to write the application for the warrant, Rachel was observed exiting her building and attempting to enter her vehicle. she was detained by Ofc.Pate, miranda'd and confessed to having 1/4lb of cannabis,2 "Ecstasy" pills and 4 valium pills in her residence.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Ron Paul Speaks Out Against "Jingoistic" Resolution On China
This guy keeps marching to the beat of his own drummer. Here is some more sensible foreign policy advice from Dr. No.
Hat tip Scott Horton.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
History and Movies: A Useful Site
Finally, someone has created a good source for historically-minded movie buffs. Reel Faces evaluates the accuracy of movie depictions of historical events and personalities.
The list is still rather thin but it now includes entries on such movies as "Charlie Wilson's War," "Titanic," "Hollywoodland," and "Seabiscuit." The entry on "Titanic" was rather good and debunks some of the same myths exposed in Stephen Cox's book, The Titanic Story.
Hat tip Randy Barnett.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Obama's National Service Plan
Investors Daily has an editorial asserting that Obama’s “voluntary” national service plan a compulsory plan in disguise. ...Obama says that as president he will “set a goal for all American middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of service a year, and for all college students to perform 100 hours of service a year.” What he doesn’t say is that he’ll make such voluntarism compulsory by attaching strings to federal education dollars. The schools will make the kids volunteer. It’s called plausible deniability.
Before we single out Obama, however, it might be worth finding out if McCain is any better on this issue.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
McCain: "Wall Street is the Villain" in the Financial Crisis
Thus far, McCain has blamed "obscene profits." "greed" and now Wall Street for the sagging economy. He has yet to blame the federal government (including Fed credit expansion, implied subsides to Fannie Fae/Freddie Mac, the Community Re-Investment Act, etc.) for anything.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Barr on Olbermann
Barr performed ably in this interview and kept on message, emphasizing Bush's threat to civil liberties. This is more evidence, however, that Olbermann, will only let a libertarian appear on his show if it will help Obama and weaken McCain. The contrast between Olbermann's respectful treatment of Barr and his near total embargo of Ron Paul over more than a year is all too obvious.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Maliki Supports Obama's Iraq Withdrawal Plan
Is Maliki serious about this or has he decided that McCain is a goner in November? In either case, this will cause immense discomfort for McCain and his allies.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Barr Supports a Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae Bail-out
I was just starting to warm up to the guy....now this:
I think right now, doing nothing would not be advisable. As much as a Libertarian, we don't like to see — and I don't like to see — the government get further involved with yet another sector of the economy.
I think, because the government has caused this problem, similar to the savings and loan problem that the government caused a generation ago, it has to do something.
The question is, can it do enough by providing some temporary security, some temporary backup?
Farewell to Offshore Tax Havens
Are we to be spared nothing? The leaders of our two party monopoly have decided to wage war on some of the last remaining refuges of financial freedom and privacy.
According to this morning's story in USA Today, Republican Norm Coleman, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Investigations, applauded "proposed legislation to strengthen reporting of foreign accounts held by Americans and penalize tax haven banks that impede U.S. tax enforcement."I would hope that this report [of the Committee] would be a call to action," said Coleman.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The McCain/Obama Echo Chamber (Part 2)
Both Obama and McCain almost simultaneously endorsed an expanded military. Now, both candidates have echoed each other again (see here and here) in calling for a surge of U.S. troops into the worsening Afghan quagmire.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Obama's Janus-Faced Plans for Iraq and Afghanistan
Obama lays out his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan in an op-ed for The New York Times. It reveals on full display a proposed foreign policy of confusion and contradiction.
With the notable exception of calling for a "residual force" to fight Al Qaeda and train troops, Obama sensibly argues that the best policy is to wean the Iraqis from dependence on the United States and create "a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country."
Not recognizing the contradiction, however, Obama proposes the exact opposite solution for Afghanistan. Instead of letting the Afghans take "responsiblity for the security of their country," he wants to make them even more dependent on American welfare:
As president, I would pursue a new strategy, and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effort in Afghanistan. We need more troops, more helicopters, better intelligence-gathering and more nonmilitary assistance to accomplish the mission there.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Scott Ritter to be Interviewed on Antiwar.com
On Friday, former U.N. arms inspector Scott Ritter will be a guest on Scott Horton's radio show. He will discuss U.S. relations with Iran, Israel, and much more. As I have mentioned, Horton is one of the best interviewers in the business. Listen once and you will probably be hooked.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Gordon Prather on Iran's Nuclear Program
Here is a youtube of Scott Horton's interview of Gordon Prather on Iran's nuclear program (or lack thereof):
Friday, July 4, 2008
Liberty and Power Ranked as a Top Liberal Arts Professor Blog
Get out the champagne. We now officially belong to the academic elite of blogs. Online University Reviews has selected Liberty and Power as one of top 100 Liberal Arts Professors blogs.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Welcome Ralph Raico!
Liberty and Power is honored to welcome Ralph Raico as a member. Raico is professor emeritus at Buffalo State College and a legendary figure in the history of libertarianism.
Ralph is a fine scholar, dynamic speaker, and long-time friend. Among his many accomplishments, Raico (a former student of Ludwig Von Mises) translated Mises’ book Liberalism into English and served as editor of the New Individualist Review.
During the 1960s, the Review, which had both Milton Friedman and F.A. Hayek on its board of advisors, published the likes of Murray Rothbard, Mises, and Russell Kirk.
The McCain/Obama Echo Chamber
In the last two days, both Obama (here) and McCain (here) have called for a bigger military. Here is what Obama said:
But we need to ease the burden on our troops, while meeting the challenges of the 21st century. That’s why I will call on a new generation of Americans to join our military, and complete the effort to increase our ground forces by 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The FBI Chief Laments Heller
Robert Mueller, the director of the FBI, is upset about the Heller decision. No doubt flanked by armed FBI agents, he declared that “weapons harm people, and more often than not they harm the people carrying them.”
It is understandable that Mueller would think this. It was his agency, after all, that gave us the legendary Lon Horiuchi, a graduate of the Barney Fife School of Marksmanship.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Book Recommendations Needed for U.S. History Course (1917-1945)
I will be teaching an upper division undergraduate history course. Does anyone have book suggestions (including novels)?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Americans Oppose Government Redistribution of Wealth
Perhaps the masses aren't such fools after all. When asked for the solution to economic problems, 84 percent of Americans oppose the redistribution of wealth. Hopefully, Obama, who seems very sensitive to shifting political winds on gun control and other issues, will take note.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Masses are Asses: 49 Percent Want to Regulate the Internet
Back when I was politically active in antiwar groups in Minnesota, one of the people I came into contact with was a Steve Radow, a self-described "independent." Though very much on the political left, Steve always reminded us that "The masses are asses." I thought of Steve when I read this:
Nearly half of Americans (49%) believe that the federal government should regulate the Internet the same way it does radio and television, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national survey.
Thirty-five percent (35%) disagree, and 16% are undecided.
Americans also believe overwhelmingly -- 73% yes to 13% no -- that it should be a crime to harass someone on the Internet.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Obama Versus the Fourth Amendment
Obama disappoints again, this time by expending his newly won political capital in favor of a Republican "compromise" bill to expand federal wiretap power. The self-described advocate of “change” and a new break from the "old politics" uses the following weasel language to explain his position:
Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. . . .
After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act. . . It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.
It is not all that I So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives -– and the liberty –- of the American people.
Friday, June 13, 2008
McCain Bursting a Blood Vessel Over "Obscene Profits"
I had expected McCain to adopt more free market friendly rhetoric in the months before the election to reassure the skitish conservative base. This isn't happening and that's a good thing. The real McCain keeps coming to the surface:
"I believe there needs to be a thorough and complete investigation of speculators to find out whether speculation has been going on and, if so, how much it has affected the price of a barrel of oil."....
Mr. McCain said in response to an audience member's complaint about investors driving up the price of fuel and other commodities. "There's a lot of things out there that need a lot more transparency and, consequently, oversight."
"I am very angry, frankly, at the oil companies not only because of the obscene profits they've made but at their failure to invest in alternate energy to help us eliminate our dependence on foreign oil," the senator said. "They're making huge profits and that happens, but not to say, 'We're in this so we can over time eliminate America's dependence on foreign oil,' I think is an abrogation of their responsibilities as citizens."
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Mark Steyn Kangaroo Court
It looks like British Columbia may well convict Mark Steyn under its Orwellian hate speech laws for an excerpt of his book, America Alone, that appeared in Maclean's. Steyn ranks high as one of my least favorite political writers but this trial is a travesty. The people of Canada should be ashamed for allowing the charges to have been brought in the first place.
Next time, my Canadian friends boast of that country's "advanced policies," I'll remind them of this.
I am not too impressed by Steyn's list of character witnesses, however. He exults that "President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Governor Mitt Romney, Senator Joe Lieberman, Senator Jon Kyl, and (at last count) six European prime ministers have either recommended the book or called me in to discuss its themes."
Monday, June 9, 2008
Conformity Continues in Frostbite Falls
Despite extremely rare, and totally unexplainable, spurts of rebellion, such as the election Jesse Ventura, the ideological default in my home state of Minnesota is the grinding conformity of nanny statism. Most folks there still believe that government actually works, that is if the right people are running things, and is "our collective voice."
A recent illustration is this story about a new Minneapolis law prohibiting vehicles from idling more than three minutes except in traffic. No doubt while wagging her finger, City Council member Sandy Colvin Roy lectured that cars no longer need a more than a minute to warm up. Does this include the people in them too?
When it comes down to it, my bet is that Roy reflects the dominant view in the state. Most Minnesotans would readily risk pneumonia for themselves rather than be branded as selfish troublemakers. Those who stoically endure frostbite, after all, are more likely to become good citizens, as any Minnesotan will tell you.
We Told You So (The Minimum Wage Increase)
Many of us warned that Bush's decision to sign the minimum wage increase would destroy job opportunities for youth. According to a story from the Examiner:
This year, it's harder than ever for teens to find a summer job. Researchers at Northeastern University described summer 2007 as "the worst in post-World War II history" for teen summer employment, and those same researchers say that 2008 is poised to be "even worse."
According to their data, only about one-third of Americans 16 to 19 years old will have a job this summer, and vulnerable low-income and minority teens are going to fare even worse.
The percentage of teens classified as "unemployed"—those who are actively seeking a job but can't get one—is more than three times higher than the national unemployment rate, according to the most recent Department of Labor statistics.
One of the prime reasons for this drastic employment drought is the mandated wage hikes that policymakers have forced down the throats of local businesses. Economic research has shown time and again that increasing the minimum wage destroys jobs for low-skilled workers while doing little to address poverty.
Hat tip Nick Gillespie
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Refuting "Truther" Nonsense
Libertarians rightfully question the trustworthiness of the Bush administration.
Unfortunately, a few have carried this skepticism to the ridiculous extreme of accepting harebrained theories that 9/11 was an "inside job" and, even more unbelievably, that our bungling federal bureaucrats would be capable of pulling off this imagined vast conspiracy.
Few are better at refuting Truther hogwash than Scott Horton. Here, he systematically demolishes their claims.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Barr Calls for Pulling U.S. Troops Out of South Korea
If Bob Barr keeps this up, maybe I'll put a "Barr for President" bumper sticker on my car after all.
He is no Ron Paul (nor do I expect him to be) but his latest news release on South Korea shows considerable progress and deserves praise. Hopefully, Barr's scheduled news conference on Iran for June 10 will continue this trend:
After more than 50 years of American support, “South Korea is well able to defend itself,” notes Barr. The South has an economy that is estimated to be 40 times as large as that of North Korea; South Korea has twice the North’s population and a vast technological edge....
We must completely revamp U.S. foreign policy, returning to the noninterventionist strategy of the nation’s Founders. The interests of the American people, rather than of wealthy allies, should become the new lodestar of U.S. policy.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Daniel Klein on Tyler Cowen's "Heresies"
Daniel Klein critiques (scroll down) some of Tyler Cowen's libertarian "heresies" as expressed by Cowen's talk before the Institute for Humane Studies.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Subway Apologizes
It looks like I can start buying my ham subway sandwich on whole wheat again. After Subway took a lot of flack for its decision (as reported by Liberty and Power) to exclude homeschoolers from an essay contest, it has promised to make amends:
Our intention was to provide an opportunity for traditional schools, many of which we know have trouble affording athletic equipment, to win equipment. Our intent was certainly not to exclude homeschooled children from the opportunity to win prizes and benefit from better access to fitness equipment.
To address the inadvertent limitation of our current contest and provide an opportunity for even more kids to improve their fitness, we will soon create an additional contest in which homeschooled students will be encouraged to participate. When the kids win, everyone wins!
Kudos to Subway.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Obama's Main Weakness is Not the War
This election is Obama's to lose. If he does, it will not be primarily because of his race, his stand on the war, or even the Wright fiasco but because of his cultural elitism. Leftist historian Sean Wilentz explores Obama's possibly fatal flaw as a candidate.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
No Homeschoolers Need Apply (Subway)
Subway is sponsoring a writing contest for children. The first prize is five thoousand dollars of athletic equipment for the child's school and the winning essay will appear in Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine.
Here are the rules:"Contest is open only to legal US residents, over the age of 18 with children in either elementary, private or parochial schools that serve grades PreK-6. No home schools will be accepted."
The folks at Subway, of course, have every right to set their own contest rules but why did they make this particular exclusion? Was it suggested by someone at Scholastic Parent and Chld Magazine?
Trailer of "War, Inc."
Here is a trailer for the film satire, War, Inc. which was discussed by Keith Halderman:
Friday, May 23, 2008
Justin Logan Answers Randy Barnett on Foreign Policy
In Cato Policy Report, Justin Logan responds to Randy Barnett and other critics of foreign policy non-interventionism. This is well worth reading. Logan has some revealing older quotations from Barnett on the issues of war and self-defense.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Free Speech Shredded by Brits: Teenager Prosecuted for Calling Scientology a Cult
Mark Brady has noted the anti-liberty trend in Britain. He could have added this to the list.
A teenager in London received a summons under the Public Order Act. His alleged crime was to call the Church of Scientology a "cult."
Hat tip Jacob Sullum.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
McCain Versus McCain
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Eminent Domain Abuse in Birmingham? (Evergreen Baptist Church)
In this recent testimony before the Alabama State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Rev. John E. Smith gives his version of what happened after eminent domain was used to take the one hundred year old Evergreen Baptist Church. In exchange, the state gave the congregation land to build a new church.
When construction was underway, however, the city sent a bill of $80,000 charging the church for a new water main. As a result, Smith says that the church is being pushed into bankruptcy and the members are falling away.
The testimony of Smith's wife Gail (about half way into the youtube) is particularly passionate.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
War as the Health of the Civilian State
Ninety years ago, Randolph Bourne aptly characterized war as “the health of the state.” Robert Higgs not only agrees but also challenges those on the right as well as the left who assume an automatic trade-off between guns and butter.
In a online roundtable for Reason Magazine on the coming recession, Higgs writes:: Hardly anyone was surprised that real military spending (measured in accordance with the government’s own narrow definition) increased by almost 60 percent between 2000 and 2007, compared to real GDP growth of 18 percent during that time. Note, however, that the government’s real nondefense outlays increased concurrently by more than 24 percent—an increase one-third greater than that of GDP. When people let down their guard in “supporting the troops,” they permit the government to make greater headway in its ceaseless quest to enlarge spending in a wide range of areas, many of them strictly civilian in nature.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
London's New Tory Antiwar Mayor
Eric Garris has the full story.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Herbert Spencer on Patriotism
Few individuals in history have received more negative treatment than Herbert Spencer. Some U.S. survey texts give the impression that this alleged “Social Darwinist” (a term Spencer never used) was an apologist for imperialism and violence by the strong against the weak.
Spencer’s own writings tell a different story of a flawed but sincere classical liberal advocate of peace, free exchange, and social cooperation. Spencer was second to none in his critique of imperialism and militarism. In his essay on patriotism, Spencer had this to say about the Afghan War of his time:
Some years ago I gave my expression to my own feeling – anti-patriotic feeling, it will doubtless be called – in a somewhat startling way. It was at the time of the second Afghan war, when, in pursuance of what were thought to be “our interests,” we were invading Afghanistan. News had come that some of our troops were in danger. At the Athenæum Club a well-known military man – then a captain but now a general – drew my attention to a telegram containing this news, and read it to me in a manner implying the belief that I should share his anxiety. I astounded him by replying – “When men hire themselves out to shoot other men to order, asking nothing about the justice of their cause, I don’t care if they are shot themselves.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Congratulations to Yon Goicochechea
The Cato institute has awarded the 2008 Milton Friedman prize for Advancing Liberty to Yon Goicoechea.
Goicoechea was the key organizer of Venzuela's pro-democracy student movement. This movement has several victories to its credit including a successful campaign against President Hugo Chávez efforts to establish dictatorial power. The movement had first mobilized in response to a government order to shut down the country's oldest private television station.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
My Eminent Domain and Civil Rights Op-Ed in Kansas City Star
My op-ed piece, co-authored with Ilya Somin, has appeared in the Kansas City Star. We wrote the article in part to promote Tuesday's public forum at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham on the civil rights implications of eminent domain:
Few policies have done more to destroy community and opportunity for minorities than eminent domain. Some 3 to 4 million Americans, most of them ethnic minorities, have been forcibly displaced from their homes as a result of urban renewal takings since World War II
The fact is that eminent-domain abuse is a crucial constitutional rights issue. On Tuesday, the Alabama Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a public forum at Birmingham’s historic Sixteenth Street Baptist church to address ongoing property seizures in the state. The church was not only a center of early civil rights action, but also, tragically, where four schoolgirls lost their lives in a bombing in 1963.
Read the rest here
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Eminent Domain Public Meeting in Alabama
The State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a public forum on the civil rights implications of eminent domain. It will be at the famous 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Among those who will appear are minority property owners who will allege eminent domain abuse, government officials, and legal experts.
The meeting will be begin at 9:00 a.m. on April 29 and there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to speak after 4:15. I'll be chairing the meeting.
For more information, contact me at davidbeito@hotmail.com
Friday, April 18, 2008
Antiwar Leftists and Libertarians at the Hawblog
I have joined the new blog of Historians Against the War. This blog is a rare opportunity to increase dialogue and de