Hugh Downs' Views On Libertarianism

Click on Hugh Downs' picture to link to an interview he gave about Libertarianism.

True Charity

"The original concept of charity as an expression of love, now appears to have been largely replaced by a concept of government-guaranteed security.... [But] how can charity — the love of a person for his fellow men — ever be connected with force and compulsion in any form? Are not these two concepts — the voluntary law of love of person for person, and the compulsory law of force of person against person — irreconcilable in all respects?"

— Rev. Russell J. Clinchy, “Charity: Biblical and Political” in Essays on Liberty [1952]

Quote provided by the Future of Freedom Foundation www.fff.org

Checks And Balances

King George Doesn't Need Three Branches of Government

"Members of Congress have been known to vote for legislation they haven't read. But is it possible Congress authorized warrantless wiretaps without realizing it? That's what President Bush implies when he defends the National Security Agency's warrantless eavesdropping on Americans' phone calls and e-mail messages by citing the Authorization for Use of Military Force that Congress approved three days after the September 11 terrorist attacks. More fundamentally, Bush seems to believe the Constitution gives him the power to authorize this surveillance, no matter what Congress or the courts might have to say about it. Even people who have complete confidence in this president's good faith and good judgment should worry about his sweeping assertion of executive power, which has implications for his successors. In areas such as military tribunals, detention of 'enemy combatants,' and administrative subpoenas, Bush has shown an alarming tendency to cut the legislative and judicial branches out of decisions about how to prosecute a war on terrorism that will continue long after he leaves office. This combination of unilateralism with a perpetual state of emergency is a recipe for tyranny." - Reason's Jacob Sullum isn't buying President Bush's reasons for allowing the National Security Agency to spy on telephone calls and read e-mails of U.S. citizens.
http://www.reason.com/sullum/122105.shtml

Don't They Have Bigger Fish To Fry?

"College football is not just an exhilarating sport, but a billion-dollar business that Congress cannot ignore."

Congressman Joe Barton (R)

A House Energy & Commerce subcommittee announced Friday it will conduct a hearing regarding the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The BCS is the controversial formula used to determine which NCAA Division 1 football teams will play for the national championship.

The congressional regulators have their puny little fingers in everything! I guess I missed the part of the Constitution that gives congress the authority to decide who's #1 in college football.

Why should I worry, congress multi-tasks very well. They are waging a War on Terror (CIA), a War on Drugs (DEA), a War on Poverty (HUD), a War on Hurricane Damage (FEMA), a War on Prosperity (IRS), a War on Nature (FDA), you get the picture.......

Congress and their alphabet agencies have everthing under control.

Does that help you sleep at night?