If you thought maybe the federal government would try to rein in the spending after running a recorded budget deficit of $3.13 trillion in fiscal 2020, you were sorely disappointed. Donald Trump and Company have not kicked his spending habit. (more…)
Read moreThe Biggest Most Powerful Government in the History of the World?
You’ll often hear Tenth Amendment Center founder and executive director Michael Boldin or me say we are facing the “biggest, most powerful government in the history of the world.” Is this just hyperbole? (more…)
Read moreTrump’s Unconstitutional War in Somalia
Through the first seven months in 2020, the U.S. military under Pres. Donald Trump conducted 43 airstrikes in Somalia. That compares to 42 U.S. airstrikes in that country from 2007 to 2017. In other words, in just seven months, the Trump administration bombed Somalia more than Pres. G.W. Bush and Pres. Barack Obama combined. (more…)
Read moreHow the Supreme Court and the Incorporation Doctrine Helped Kill Breonna Taylor
There has been plenty of debate surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. But seldom mentioned is the role Supreme Court precedent and the incorporation doctrine played in setting the legal stage for events to unfold ending with the death of a young woman. (more…)
Read more133 Words or Less: Power Corrupts
President Nixon appointed Arthur F. Burns Fed chairman. He was supposed to be one of the "good guys" -- an advocate for free markets, sound money and the gold standard. But Nixon badgered and bullied him into lowering interest rates and signing off on economic "reforms" that included severing the dollar from its last connection..
Read moreThe Incorporation Doctrine Broke the Constitutional System
I think centralizing power is always a net loss for liberty. So did the founding generation. This is why the framers of the Constitution emphatically rejected a proposal to give the federal government veto-power over state laws. It’s also why the first Congress rejected applying some provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states...
Read moreHamilton vs. Jefferson on the Constitutionality of a National Bank
The First Bank of the United States was charted for a period of 20 years by Congress on Feb. 25, 1791. Alexander Hamilton championed the bank, but it wasn’t without its detractors. One of the most vocal opponents of the bank was Thomas Jefferson who argued that it was unconstitutional. (more…)
Read moreThe Misplaced American Obsession With Presidents
“I am terrified of the outcome in November.” “The fate of the nation hangs in the balance.” “This is the last chance to save America.” (more…)
Read moreHow the Federal Reserve Wrecks the Economy Over and Over Again
When people talk about the economy, they generally focus on government policies such as taxation and regulation. For instance, Republicans credit Pres. Trump’s tax cuts for the seemingly booming economy and surging stock markets. Meanwhile, Democrats blame “deregulation” for the 2008 financial crisis. While government policies do have an impact on the direction of the..
Read moreThe Constitution Isn’t Meant to Protect Your Liberty
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about the Constitution is that it was written to “protect our liberty.” It wasn’t. At least not in a direct sense. (more…)
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