When Government Acts, “Unintended Consequences” Follow

In 1850, French economist Frédéric Bastiat published an essay that is misunderstood, or more often, unread, titled, “That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen.” Bastiat brilliantly introduced the idea of opportunity cost and, through the parable of the broken window, illustrated the destructive effects of unintended consequences. Unfortunately, because of misplaced belief … Read more »

Visiting Certain Websites Can Land You on the No-Fly List

This may not surprise you, but visiting certain websites may land you on the no-fly list. No, that doesn’t mean you were put on trial. That doesn’t mean that a warrant was issued, and surveillance was conducted on you. Just by virtue of you visiting certain websites, you may permanently be banned from flying ever … Read more »

12 U.S. Intelligence Officials Tell Obama It Wasn’t Assad

Secretary of State John Kerry departs for a Sept. 6 trip to Europe where he plans to meet with officials to discuss the Syrian crisis and other issues. (State Department photo)

By Ray McGovern, a 27-year CIA veteran, who chaired National Intelligence Estimates and personally delivered intelligence briefings to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, their Vice Presidents, Secretaries of State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many other senior government officials Editor Note: Despite the Obama administration’s supposedly “high confidence” regarding Syrian government guilt … Read more »

Point-By-Point Rebuttal of U.S. Case for War In Syria

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., sits before the committee he has served on for 28 years and led for the past four as he seeks confirmation as U.S. secretary of state, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Kerry, who is likely to face friendly questioning on a smooth path to approval, is President Barack Obama's choice to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton who is stepping down after four years as America's top diplomat. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The American War Brief Is Extremely Weak The White House released a 4-page document setting forth its case for use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government. But as shown below, the case is extremely weak (government’s claim in quotes, followed by rebuttal evidence). “A preliminary U.S. government assessment determined that 1,429 people were killed in … Read more »

Are You Breathing? You’re Probably A Terrorist

So, the FBI recently released 25 pamphlets for business owners, in hopes that those businesses might turn in their customers for being “terrorists.” Here are a couple of behaviors that might get you snitched on: Beauty salons and drug stores are told to watch out for customers who don’t drive themselves but are dropped off … Read more »

The Sequester And Chicken Little

Would you like an economic lesson in government spending cuts? Try this exercise. Sit down and plan a trip to Disney World for you and your family. Make a budget of $20,000 to take this trip (never mind that you don’t have that much money to spare, just follow along with me). And then, forget … Read more »

Christopher Dorner and the 6th Amendment

Christopher Dorner has become a hot-button topic as of late. And I feel strongly enough about the topic to emerge from my hiatus on writing. Forgive my absence, I’ve had little free time as of late. I must admit, I feel a bit like Walter in the movie The Big Lebowski when he wonders aloud … Read more »

The True Terrorists

Terrorism. ter·ror·ism /ˈterəˌrizəm/, Noun, The use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. Now that we’ve defined the term “terrorism,” let’s determine who the terrorists are. Could they be a bunch of bearded men in turbans shouting “Allahu Akbar”? Sure. But could they also be your local police force? This story comes … Read more »

Rethinking Pearl Harbor

The following is the foreword to, and complete text of, the Vance Publications reprint of John T. Flynn’s The Truth About Pearl Harbor and The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor, both available together for the first time here as John T. Flynn on Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which … Read more »

We’re Already Over the “Fiscal Cliff”

Newsflash, folks. We’re already over the so-called “Fiscal Cliff”. As of today it’s been 1,311 days since the Senate has passed a budget. Let’s take a quick refresher course on Government 101. The House originates the budget bills. Once they pass the House, they go on to the Senate. Once passed there, it goes to … Read more »

Goodbye 4th Amendment

How we hardly knew you… This according to Scott Shackford on Reason.com: In 2011, Democratic Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy introduced the Electronic Communications Privacy Act Amendments Act, which would require authorities and law enforcement to get a search warrant to access private electronic communications. The bill is now finally up for possible vote next week. … Read more »

They Have What It Takes, To Take What You Have

What has for years been a quasi-joke about the government actually appears to be completely true. They really do have what it takes, to take what you have. Of course, everybody wants to believe that the government really cares. They are only looking out for you and your best interests. There are many of us … Read more »