To take just a slight break from contemporary political and economic events and issues, I discovered a “new” book last night which I would recommend to all freedom-loving and responsible people. Actually, it was published first in 1873, with a second edition the following year. The author was the now obscure James Fitzjames Stephen, and […]
-
A Nice Discovery
04 Apr 2014
-
Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States passed down a ruling on MCCUTCHEON ET AL. v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. Two of my very able colleagues at Bereans at the Gate (professors Haymond and Smith) posted commentary on the ruling yesterday. Both of these gentlemen are more qualified and able to comment on this ruling […]
-
As Dr. Haymond noted in a previous post, the Supreme Court handed down McCutcheon v. F.E.C. today, which, in spirit, is a companion case to Citizens United v. F.E.C. in 2010. Both cases deal with the conflict between campaign finance reforms and Free Speech. We have a long history of campaign reform, including limits on […]
-
The Supreme Court today released its opinion on a case limiting how many candidates could be supported by a wealthy individual. Prior to its ruling, campaign limits were such that Under the current limit, a donor can’t give more than $123,200 to candidates, parties and political action committees. Of that, just $48,600 can go directly […]
-
I’ve been a bit under the weather lately (sick for over a week now–which is unusual for me). Of course I don’t like to go to the doctor–like most of us–but I didn’t think I had a doctor, since I’d recently received a letter from my insurance company letting me know my doctor was leaving […]
-
Don’t tax me, Don’t tax thee, Tax the fellow behind the tree! Latest obfuscation on taxes by Krugman within
27 Mar 2014
Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman delights in stirring the pot, and he is not only a brilliant economist (legitimately so in the specialized area of international trade), but he is also very clever. He doesn’t out-and-out lie, but he gives tidbits of truth while deliberately ignoring other facts to lead a reader to his own biased […]
-
Hobby Lobby and Religious Freedom
25 Mar 2014
Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for two cases that involve the Affordable Care Act, contraceptives, and religious freedom. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods, combined by the Court, examine the extent to which the federal government’s mandates can infringe on the free exercise rights of religious business owners. According to early reports, the Court is, […]
-
Mr. Putin and economics. What next?
25 Mar 2014
Mr. Putin seems increasingly likely to get away with the effective annexation of Crimea, and many rightfully wonder what next? The rest of the Ukraine? The Baltic states? The U.S. has little appetite for military response, but can we more effectively counter the Russian bear? And should we? The first question is what should we […]
-
Fetal Remains Used as Energy Source
24 Mar 2014
According to The Telegraph, in some of Great Britain’s leading hospitals The bodies of thousands of aborted and miscarried babies were incinerated as clinical waste, with some even used to heat hospitals, an investigation has found. I am not sure commenting is necessary.
-
Crime and a New Kind of Punishment
17 Mar 2014
Perhaps my mind turns by nature toward the morbid, but I found a recent article in the Daily Mail (UK) to be utterly fascinating. Scientists and ethicists appear to be considering the possibility of using drugs and/or altered states of biological reality to redefine punishment. Dr. Rebecca Roache, who is at the center of this […]