Yes, people have been defrauded, and, yes, justice needs to be served. However, by pursuing people by using the vague and unjust RICO and "insider trading" laws, the politicians appeal not to our need for justice, but to the baser emotions of envy, resentment of wealthy people, and a gut-level desire to commit mayhem.
Socialists have always denigrated marriage, and have always devised alternative arrangements to "free" women from men (or, is it the other way around?). In the new movie, at the (first) marriage of Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera, one of their comrades attempts to explain why their marriage is to be celebrated. Even the choice of marriage is politicized.
America returned from Thanksgiving holiday oblivious that Washington is still whipped up into frenzy about the War on Terror, the prospects for another attack on the homeland, the creation of a new homeland-security department, and the impending war.
Most commentators have focussed, with merit, the Fed's official's alarmingly sanguine view that monetary inflation is a tool to combat evils and achieve all manner of economic good. But Ben Bernanke's most revealing remarks concern his subtle references to the Fed as just another branch of the federal government.
The Fed has changed the rules under which it can inject liquidity into the system, says Sean Corrigan in this wide-ranging interview. The Fed has made several overt statements of intent that, if necessary, it will buy anything—corporate securities, mortgages, physical assets—it will conduct a "money rain" if it has to.
David made an enemy of the State because he dared to legally push the boundaries and defy the police state. He did so during a crusade aimed at the prevention of further regime encroachment into the lives of others. David's story, as told by Karen De Coster, is one of principle and perseverance.
John Rawls's political theory remains a formidable competitor with that proposed by classical liberals and libertarians, writes Carmen Pavel. Because he has shaped the main conversation, true liberals need to take on his powerful legacy if only to better understand and strengthen the positions they are defending.
Weakening and destroying the will to health is a major occupation of the state, which makes its public service announcements, prodding us to take care of ourselves, something of a joke. James Ostrowski explains the relationship between health and the state.
Many pundits have attempted to diagnose why such a wave of scandals and record bankruptcies occurred when it did. Most suggestions fail to address underlying causes. The real lesson of Enron, argue Steinreich and Oglesby, is that significant corporate corruption will end when one-party rule of corporate America does. Until then, expect more Enrons.
Liberty is incompatible with taxation, writes Tibor Machan. This is despite the famous saying by Oliver Wendell Holmes that "Taxation is the price we pay for civilization." In fact, taxation is a most uncivilized way of obtaining funds, given that it boils down to nothing less than extortion.
