New York Post, April 4, 2024 Tears for Congress? DC throws a pity party, claiming members need a raise by James Bovard Congress’ public approval recently fell to a record-low 12%, but the real problem, according to The Washington Post, is members of the House of Representatives do not receive higher pay, more power and […]
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FDR’s Corrupt Concept of Freedom
RealClearHistory, January 6, 2023 FDR’s Corrupt Concept of Freedom The “Four Freedoms” Speech: FDR’s Worst Perversion of Freedom The “four freedoms” offered citizens no security from the state since it completely ignored the rights guaranteed in the original Bill of Rights that restricted government power. by James Bovard Franklin Roosevelt did more than any other […]
Ambrose Bierce’s Pro-Freedom Cynicism
Ambrose Bierce’s Pro-Freedom Cynicism by James Bovard The friends of freedom must recognize the verbal charades that sway people to surrender their rights and liberties. The political establishment and its media allies are continually abusing the English language to lull people into submission. From pupils being required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the […]
Obama and the Death of Idealism
French version Italian version Catalonian version American Conservative, December 3, 2020 Barack Obama and the Death of Idealism Obama’s deception and warmongering killed the “hope and change” he promised on the campaign trail. We shouldn’t be sad to see them go. by James Bovard Americans are sickened of an “idealism that is oblique, confusing, dishonest, […]
FDR’s Worst Perversion of Freedom
Mises Institute, January 17, 2019 FDR’s Worst Perversion of Freedom: The “Four Freedoms” Speech by James Bovard Franklin Roosevelt did more than any other modern president to corrupt Americans’ understanding of freedom. Last week was the 75th anniversary of his 1944 speech calling for a second Bill of Rights to guarantee economic freedom to Americans. […]
Trump And the Presidential Fearmongering Tradition
The media is railing about Trump for fearmongering ahead of the midterm elections. Like this never happened before? Like this is not the job description of modern politicians? Like Obama, George W. Bush, and Clinton did not fearmonger whenever they could profit by spooking Americans? Trump is continuing a tradition that was firmly established by […]
Fear-Mongering and Servitude (2011)
Freeman, June 2011 Fear-Mongering and Servitude by James Bovard In his 1776 essay, “Thoughts on Government,” John Adams observed, “Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve […]