Cronyism and Corporatism

As an official Public Policy Hooligan, James Bovard is well-known for some of his zingers. Here are some he wrote in 2025.

Donald Trump’s war against Venezuela is truly a racket, as it looks to be little more than an attempt to loot the nation of Venezuela’s natural resources in the name of “liberation.”

The new “Donroe Doctrine” that is used to justify the US invasion of Venezuela is in line with how the state seizes power and then finds ways to justify actions that are unjustifiable.

Donald Trump’s war against Venezuela is truly a racket, as it looks to be little more than an attempt to loot the nation of Venezuela’s natural resources in the name of “liberation.”

Trump justifies his war on Venezuela by saying that “they” stole “our” oil. Unpacking this claim gives us insight into Trump’s version of crony capitalism.

As government continues to engage in reckless actions from inflation to starting wars, people develop shorter time horizons, creating social vacuums. Increased gambling and other irresponsible behaviors then fill the void.

As government continues to engage in reckless actions from inflation to starting wars, people develop shorter time horizons, creating social vacuums. Increased gambling and other irresponsible behaviors then fill the void.

Most academic historians claim that big businesses in the US were economy-choking monopolies at the end of the 19th century, and that government was needed to enforce competition. In reality, the government and businesses joined forces to promote monopolies.

Like his predecessor, President Trump unsuccessfully tries to convince Americans that their economic pain isn’t real, but Americans know the difference.

Two days before Christmas, 1913, the infamous “creature from Jekyll Island,” the Federal Reserve System, was birthed into our body politic. It has been devouring the economy ever since.