Tag Archives | Congress

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USA TODAY: TSA Must End Sexual Abuse of Female Travelers

USA TODAY, October 15, 2018 Believe women: Apply Congress’ Christine Blasey Ford test to TSA’s female victims by James Bovard Do members of Congress care about any sexual assault that does not permit them to politically grandstand? Hold TSA agents responsible for assaults. In the uproar over Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations against Supreme Court nominee […]

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Did my New York Times Oped Inspire Latest Terrorist Plot?

Paul Rosenfeld of Tappan, New York was just arrested for building a 200 pound bomb that he planned to detonate on Election Day on the National Mall. According to news reports, he planned the explosion (and suicide) to bring attention to “sortition” –  a system which randomly selects politicians from the citizenry. U.S attorney Geoffrey […]

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Gun Owners Should Fear the Deep State

America’s First Freedom, NRA Should Gun Owners Fear The Deep State? by James Bovard – Friday, August 10, 2018   President Donald Trump and his opponents have loudly wrangled in recent months about whether a “deep state” is out to get the president. The term “deep state” commonly refers to the officials who secretly wield […]

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FFF: Your Tax Dollars Bankroll Afghan Child Molesters

Future of Freedom Foundation Your Tax Dollars Bankroll Afghan Child-Molesters by James Bovard Donald Trump was hailed by the media last August when he announced he was sending more U.S. troops to fight in Afghanistan. A Washington Post editorial praised his “principled realism” and saluted “a rare but welcome story of self-correction” (since Trump had […]

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The Hill: Washington secrecy is creating a know-nothing democracy

The Hill, May 9, 2017 Washington secrecy is creating a know-nothing democracy by James Bovard Washington may be more secretive nowadays than at any time in recent decades. Federal policymakers have become accustomed to rationing what they release while citizens are assured that official secrecy makes them more secure. But American democracy cannot survive perpetual […]

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Happy 350th Birthday, Jonathan Swift!

Today is the 350th anniversary of the greatest English satirist, Jonathan Swift.   Folks who only know Gulliver’s Travel have missed a goldmine of glorious prose and devastating wit.  If you haven’t read “A Modest Proposal” since school days,  trust me – it is even better when not read under duress. His “Argument Against Abolishing Christianity” is […]

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Political Accounting Makes Paternalism a Mirage

The following essay is excerpted from Freedom in Chains (1999) and was also published in The Freeman in September 1999.  I tweaked a few sentences but have otherwise not corrected glaring flaws. * Many federal agents have zero curiosity about the impact of their actions on private citizens. Collateral damage voids no pensions. Political Accounting  […]

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