from the June issue of Reason magazine – The High Price of Security Theater The $4 trillion war on terror: Where did the money go? James Bovard Since 2001, the U.S. government has spent mind-boggling sums to purportedly keep the homeland safe. There was the $30 billion raise for the FBI that didn’t see 9/11 […]
Tag Archives | Boondoggle
FFF: The Great Sugar Robbery Continues
The Great Sugar Robbery Continues by James Bovard Seventeen years ago, The Future of Freedom Foundation published my piece “The Great Sugar Shaft.” That article hammered federal sugar policy as one of the most brazen interventionist failures in American history. Unfortunately, the political looting of sugar consumers and food producers continues unabated. Federal price supports […]
FFF: Supreme Demolition for the Raisin Racket
From the Future of Freedom Foundation – Supreme Demolition for the Raisin Racket by James Bovard The December 2013 Future of Freedom contained my article “A Supreme Rebuff for USDA’s Ruinous Raisin Regime.” The legal case surrounding that controversy kept percolating in the courts for another 18 months. The Obama administration won a big victory […]
2015 A Great Year for Ruckuses – Thanks for Comments!
I want to thank the good folks who commented here this year. It was a good year for making it hot for Washington rascals. Here’s a roundup of the logos of agencies I tagged this year in USA Today, Barron’s, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, F.F.F., and elsewhere. I wish you “good hunting” in the […]
MP3 of TSA Tribute on Bob Zadek Radio Show San Francisco
Here’s the MP3 of yesterday’s radio interview with Bob Zadek on San Francisco’s AM 910. We had fun giving a vigorous patdown to the TSA (the agency was not allowed to “opt-out” from the show). Bob’s producer Charlie Deist said he especially enjoyed the riff on how reactions to TSA are an ink blot test of people’s […]
USA TODAY: Budget Bill Leaves No Boondoggle Behind
USA TODAY, December 17, 2015 BUDGET BILL LEAVES NO BOONDOGGLE BEHIND by James Bovard Republican congressional leaders are like a football coach who believes the secret to winning is to punt early and often. House Speaker Paul Ryan and others are claiming victory over the 2,000-plus page appropriations bill, but this is a “no boondoggle left […]
FFF: Obama’s Cynicism Racketeering
From the Future of Freedom Foundation – Obama’s Cynicism Racketeering by James Bovard Barack Obama captured the presidency in part because of his appeals to “hope and change.” But after more than six years in power, he is now spending far more time denouncing cynicism. As usual, the worst example of cynicism is citizens who […]