Articles

If the victorious Republicans follow through on their campaign promises—for example, many promised to work toward repealing or defunding ObamaCare—election day will have been a net win for advocates of individual rights, despite the passage of some rights-violating ballot measures.

With the mid-term elections upon us, President Obama and other Democrats are trying to take credit for lower gasoline prices and other economic benefits flowing from the record volumes of oil being produced by U.S. oil companies. But Obama and his Democrat cohorts don’t produce oil; they throttle those who produce oil.

In an effort to pry open the iPhone and any future encrypted devices, FBI Director James Comey has appealed to Congress to amend the law to require all encrypted servers and devices to include a back door. And, as one report puts it, regardless of what Congress does, Comey “is unlikely to drop the pressure."

The Gold Standard Institute will host presentations on the moral foundation of capitalism and the need for a gold-based monetary system. The November 1 event in Manhattan, “The Gold Standard: Both Good and Necessary,” will feature economist Keith Weiner, who will speak on “The Urgency of the Gold Standard”; and philosopher Andrew Bernstein, who will present “The Moral Basis of Capitalism.”

Bruce Rickard, a good friend of mine and charter subscriber to TOS, recently succumbed to brain cancer, after a 28-month-long battle against the disease. One of Bruce’s distinguishing characteristics was his radiant benevolence. Bruce fought this terribly aggressive brain tumor with grace and courage, and was an example to everyone around him.

Petroleum is a fundamental fuel of our industrial economy. Gasoline prices are falling largely because many good people and businesses in the oil industry are and have for decades been developing technologies that increase production and decrease costs, which, in turn, render lower prices at the pump and elsewhere.

One religion today regularly motivates large numbers of its followers to murder, behead, rape, and enslave people across the globe. That religion is Islam. Not Christianity. Not Judaism. Not Buddhism. Islam. Only Islam. Everyone paying attention knows this. Yet some choose to whitewash the religion.

America's refusal to eliminate the Iranian regime shows that many Americans care more about not being called names than they do about defending themselves and their loved ones.

Paul Krugman calls on government to initiate force against Amazon. In essence, Krugman wants to treat Amazon as “public” property to be controlled by government rather than as a business whose owners have a moral right to operate it as they see fit and for their own benefit.

Historically, Apple has used its devices' “back door” to comply with government information requests. For the iPhone 6, Apple changed its tack: If agencies such as the NSA or FBI want to access information on an iPhone 6, they must either get the password from the owner or break the encryption themselves.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has already driven almost every U.S. seller of small, high-powered magnets out of businesses, including, most infamously, Buckyballs. Now a single company, Zen Magnets, continues to sell them—but, unless it wins its legal battle, the government will force him to stop selling magnets in April.

Marking the second important court ruling within a week defending freedom of speech in Colorado, the Tenth Circuit court ruled yesterday that Citizens United need not comply with Colorado’s campaign reporting and disclosure laws in releasing and distributing a documentary—Rocky Mountain Heist—criticizing Democrat politicians and activists.

Victoria Osteen claims, "When we obey God . . . we’re doing it for ourselves. . . . God wants you to be happy." But, as other Christians have pointed out, the Bible exhorts the faithful, "Present our bodies as a living sacrifice.” The rational alternative is to reject religion and embrace a morality for living and loving life on earth.

Harris recognizes that, although many Muslims around the world do not fully embrace the tenets of their faith, and although many Muslims oppose Islamic State and other violent organizations, many of these same Muslims nevertheless hold bad, religiously motivated ideas, and many support (if not actively participate in) violence against infidels, blasphemers, gays, adulterers, and so on.

Marking a significant victory for free speech, U.S. district court judge John Kane has ruled that the Coalition for Secular Government need not comply with Colorado’s byzantine registration and reporting requirements in order to finance and distribute an issue paper that argues against a statewide ballot measure.