Should a New Constitutional Convention Be Called to Fix the Constitution?
Written by Charles Scaliger
There is now a growing movement in favor of convening a new constitutional convention to correct a host of alleged deficiencies in the document. A constitutional convention is clearly both legal and constitutional. But is it wise?
Should Government Make Disrespecting the Flag or National Anthem Illegal?
Written by Charles Scaliger
The recent rush to kneel or otherwise refuse to show deference for the National Anthem among professional football players is deeply offensive to many patriotic Americans. But should such conduct be illegal?
In the wake of the awful mass shooting in Las Vegas, anti-gun interests across the nation claim the federal government should do everything it can to outlaw the private ownership of weapons deemed a threat to public safety. Are they correct?
Americans everywhere expect their government to do something about the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. But what exactly should its role be?
Is Gold an Outmoded Currency?
Written by Charles Scaliger
In a world of paper money, ATM machines, debit cards, and cryptocurrencies, it is difficult to imagine a time when all money was based on a precious metal, either gold or silver. But only a few generations ago, all paper money was fully backed by gold or silver — meaning that paper notes could be redeemed on demand for gold or silver — and both gold and silver coins were in daily circulation.
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Just as price controls lead to scarcities of goods, so wage controls lead to scarcity of labor, or in other words, unemployment.
Enemies of the free market claim that “too much” capitalism lead inevitably to the monopolistic concentration of wealth in the hands of a few oligarch. Are they correct? Throughout the 19th century, many wealthy “robber barons” did indeed establish monopolies in their respective markets — but always by procuring favors from politicians.
Because charitable giving is so universally acclaimed, it is natural to inquire whether the most powerful of man-made institutions, governments, should engage in it.
We now have presidents waging war at their pleasure, exactly like the monarchs of the British Empire. But this was not the intent of the founders.
A proper and principled military policy would reserve the might of our armed forces for defense of our own territory, including embassies abroad — but not nebulously defined “American interests.” It would seek neither to police the world nor to impose our civic values by force.
With all the storm and stress over President Trump’s temporary ban on citizens of several countries wishing to enter the United States, we may well wonder whether a country professing to be a land of the free has any moral justification for enforcing border controls. It is sometimes argued that international borders are artificial and unjustifiable limitations on one of the most fundamental of human rights, the right to freedom of movement. But are they?