American Conservative Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s Friendly Police Fantasy Better relations will only come when we repeal the legions of laws empowering cops to unjustifiably accost peaceful citizens. By James Bovard • July 5, 2019 In last week’s Democratic presidential candidate debate, South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg said he is “determined to bring about a […]
Tag Archives | asset forfeiture
George H.W. Bush’s Forgotten Debacles and Demagoguery
George H.W. Bush’s Forgotten Debacles and Demagoguery by James Bovard After former President George H.W. Bush died late last year, he was widely hailed as a great leader and patriot. At the National Cathedral funeral service, biographer Jon Meachan declared that Bush was a “twentieth-century Founding Father.” The minister of Bush’s church in Houston compared […]
My July 4, 1996 Hell-Raising Libertarian Convention Speech
On July 4 twenty-two years ago, I riled up folks at the Libertarian National Convention. I talked about the EEOC’s war on Hooters, House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s pig paranoia, zoning idiocy, and other boondoggles. Commenting on a recent idiotic asset forfeiture decision, I noted, “The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court did not explain the equivalency of piracy […]
The Hill: Another State of Democracy Report Ignores Cause of Plummeting Trust
The Hill, June 29, 2018 Another ‘state of democracy’ report ignores real cause of plummeting trust by James Bovard The 937th report on the crisis of democracy in the Trump era was released Tuesday. Half of Americans polled believe that the U.S. is in “real danger of becoming a nondemocratic, authoritarian country” and two-thirds believe democracy is […]
My FFF Video on Asset Forfeiture & the War on Drugs
Since I posted on whiskey yesterday, equal time obliges me to post on marijuana today. The Future of Freedom Foundation is making a series of videos on the follies of the drug war. Jacob Hornberger interviewed me a few weeks ago and we had a good time swatting the feds. Here’s a direct link to […]
USA TODAY: Obama’s Anti-Corruption Fraud Around the World
USA TODAY Obama’s global anti-corruption cops should call Internal Affairs by James Bovard Our Democratic president continues to fund global corruption just like the Republican before him. It looks like Hillary Clinton will too. The Obama administration wants Americans to believe that it is fiercely anti-corruption. “I’ve been shocked by the degree to which I […]
2001: Asset Forfeiture Outrages – Bush’s Reform Opportunity
The Justice Department has resumed racketeering with the “equitable sharing” racket – helping local and state police agencies plunder innocent citizens who are stripped of their property. The Washington Post condemns the revival with an editorial aptly headlined: “The Feds Get Back in the Stealing Business.” For over 20 years, reformers have exposed horrendous abuses; several […]