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 […]
American Atrocity: Remembering the Shenandoah Burning by James Bovard, September 30, 2024 George Orwell wrote in 1945 that “the nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.” This week is the 160th anniversary of one of the worst […]
Biden’s Blather and American Democracy Gone Awry by James Bovard, July 23, 2024 Since late 2020, President Joe Biden has invoked “the will of the people” dozens of times to sanctify his power, including arbitrary decrees that were illegal or unconstitutional. Biden’s invocations did not prevent his re-election campaign from being terminated behind closed doors […]
American Conservative, July 9, 2020 19th Century Radical Chic: How Transcendentalists’ Swooned Over John Brown Thoreau and Emerson’s effort to canonize the abolitionist fanatic helped spark the Civil War. by Jim Bovard Many Americans have been aghast at violent mobs toppling statues and the widespread looting and destructive rampages that followed the killing of George […]
Trump said a number of things tonight that mortified me – and I vehemently disagree with him on a lot of issues. But I also vigorously oppose the media’s campaign to coronate Hillary and to portray her as Joan of Arc. Below – my running commentary on tonight’s debate – – Were those outraged by […]
from the Future of Freedom Foundation’s monthly magazine, July 2014 – – (The first part of this analysis was published by FFF here). For a far more detailed examination of the role of tariffs and the Civil War, see Michael Griffith’s excellent analysis here. The full text of the February 1861 New York Times editorial […]
Washington Times, October 1, 2014 Lessons for today from the Shenandoah’s Civil War flames When civilian atrocities are forgotten, war and its injustices become more likely By James Bovard This is the 150th anniversary of one of the Civil War’s most destructive and controversial campaigns. After Confederate armies had used the Shenandoah Valley to launch […]
