Author Archive | Jim

Secrecy and the Divine Right to Deceive

Secrecy and the Divine Right to Deceive by James Bovard Secrecy and lying are two sides of the same political coin. The Supreme Court declared in 1936, “An informed public is the most potent of all restraints upon misgovernment.” Thus, conniving politicians have no choice but to drop an Iron Curtain around Washington. Politicians guarantee […]

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Bartering Across East Bloc Borders (Wall St. Journal, 1987)

Wall Street Journal Europe, January 25, 1987. Bartering Across East Bloc Borders by James Bovard Socialism makes bad neighbors. This past summer, a Czech border guard stopped a Polish family leaving Czechloslovakia and ordered a Polish kid to take off his new Czech shoes “because taking children’s shoes out of the country is prohibited.” The […]

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Shadows of a Fourth German Reich? [1992]

Reports of the pending arrival of the Fourth German Reich are greatly exaggerated. Yet, Germany does face a growing crisis caused more by the incompetence of German politicians than by the xenophobia of German citizens

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Protectionism Is More Idiotic Than It Looks

Protectionism Is More Idiotic Than It Looks by James Bovard Donald Trump’s re-election assures that protectionism will become even more fashionable inside the Beltway. Trump recently declared that tariff is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary,” and the exaltation of trade barriers has become the latest political mania. Washington hustlers are loudly promising to […]

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The Greatest Tariff Speech in Congressional History

The Greatest Tariff Speech in Congressional History by James Bovard, November 19, 2024 Donald Trump is bringing his idolatry of high tariffs back to the White House. Trump proclaims that “tariffs are the greatest!” and that “tariff” is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” Vast numbers of his Republican supporters will echo any dubious […]

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Why Trump Routed the D.C. Establishment, Again

Why Trump Routed the D.C. Establishment, Again 11/07/2024 • Mises Wire • James Bovard After the media complained nonstop for months about Donald Trump offering a dark message on the presidential campaign trail, a New York Times headline bewailed his election victory on Wednesday morning: “America Hires a Strongman.” So anyone who cast a ballot […]

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