American Conservative, January 15, 2021 Collective Guilt and the New Witch Hunt Hatred is at an all-time high in Washington. Will Congress step in to become the arbiters of truth? by James Bovard “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” was the question used in congressional hearings in […]
Tag Archives | FBI
FBI’s Newest Prerogative Shooting Subway Passengers
American Institute for Economic Research, December 21, 2020 FBI’s Newest Prerogative: Shooting Subway Passengers by James Bovard Was the torrent of media editorials and exposes denouncing police violence earlier this year all a sham? Thirty-six years ago, Bernie Goetz pulled a pistol and shot four youths who were shaking him down on the New York […]
Elections Are Becoming Coffin Nails for Legitimacy
American Institute for Economic Research, November 11, 2020 Elections and Legitimacy James Bovard This year’s presidential election is the fourth since 2000 to be marred by either widespread allegations of voter fraud or of foreign interference. Politicians and pundits have long counted on elections to wave a magic wand of legitimacy over the reign of […]
Trust No One with the Presidency’s Powers (1988 & 2000)
Many Americans feel like they have a miserable choice of presidential candidates this year. But the same pattern goes back at least to the end of the Reagan era. For decades, presidents have had far more power than they can be trusted with. Here are election season pieces I wrote on this theme in 1988 […]
The Voting Rights Mirage
American Conservative, October 19, 2020 The Voting Rights Mirage by James Bovard The most dangerous political illusion is that votes limit politicians’ power. Americans have been endlessly hectored in recent months to cast their votes in the presidential election. But trusting ballots to leash either Donald Trump or Joe Biden would be the ultimate triumph […]
Two Types of Terror in Michigan
American Institute for Economic Research, October 9, 2020 Two Types of Terror in Michigan James Bovard #StopTrumpsTerror is one of the hottest trending topics on Twitter, with more than 90,000 tweets. Yesterday, the FBI announced the arrest of six people yesterday in a plot (perhaps government-hatched) to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and put her […]
Will the Pandemic Panic Card Win in 2020?
American Institute for Economic Research, October 1, 2020 Will the Pandemic Panic Card Win in 2020? James Bovard “People want to be safe,” Joe Biden repeatedly declared in Tuesday night’s debate. The 2020 presidential race could turn into a referendum on whether vastly increasing government power can provide “freedom from fear.” This has been a […]