The seemingly unprecedented mean-spiritedness of politics these days drives some people to think that ideology is the problem. To distinguish themselves from those whom they blame for the toxic atmosphere, some pundits declare themselves "above ideology," even...
Justice
KPFA Saturday Evening News Segment: Extrajudicial Execution Using Lethal Drones
by Laurie Calhoun | Mar 28, 2022 | Blog, Foreign Policy, Justice
Laurie Calhoun answers David Rosenberg's questions about drone killing and whether President Biden is likely to curtail the practice. The drone discussion spans minutes 10:15 to 13:20 of the Saturday Evening program on March 26, 2022. (Recorded on March 25, 2022)....
TGIF: Our Age of Character Assassination
by Sheldon Richman | Mar 25, 2022 | Featured Articles, Justice, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
I am not one for romanticizing the past because in every alleged golden age you find grumblers looking longingly to some earlier alleged golden age. Nevertheless, our own time has earned its share of criticism. For example, we live in a time when, for many, character...
TGIF: Congress Again Rewards Israel’s Misdeeds
by Sheldon Richman | Mar 18, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
To judge by what Congress is up to these days, one would think that it wants to reward Israel for its relentless confiscation of Palestinian land and continued ethnic cleansing. Congress -- which is not only interested in "the Benjamins," that is, Israel Lobby...
The Rotten Case for Sanctions
by Sheldon Richman | Mar 17, 2022 | Economics, Justice, Libertarianism
Now's a good time to read (or reread) Gary Chartier's 2019 article "The Case for Sanctions Fails at Every Turn."
Only People Threatened by Russia May Bear Arms
by Sheldon Richman | Mar 11, 2022 | Blog, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics
Pundits and politicians who routinely deny that Americans have the natural right to keep and bear arms nevertheless are thrilled by the scenes of Ukrainian civilians bearing arms in order to resist the Russian invaders. I guess only people threatened by Russians have...
TGIF: Russia in Ukraine: Cui Bono?
by Sheldon Richman | Mar 11, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Justice, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
I don't know if the U.S. foreign-policy elite wanted Russia to invade Ukraine -- an argument could be made for the affirmative -- but I'd hate to think it did. Yet given its long record of global mischief (a polite word for its machinations), we certainly cannot rule...
TGIF: On Privilege
by Sheldon Richman | Feb 25, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
One of the most abused words in English is privilege. Observe how indiscriminately this word is spoken and written. For example, in some quarters, all straight white men -- without exception -- are said to be privileged, which seems absurd. Practically all we hear...