Despite the claims of critics of Big Tech, the attacks on Facebook, Twitter, Google, and other technology companies are not about competition, innovation, or free speech. They are about power. The critics of Big Tech think that certain companies have too much power. But these critics are doing more than equating economic power with political…
Civil asset forfeiture is a process by which law enforcement agencies can seize private property that they suspect has been obtained by or used in the commission of a crime. The property owner must then fight to regain his property. Unlike criminal cases, in civil asset forfeiture, the burden of proof is on the property…
Renewable energy mandates require utilities to get a certain percentage of electricity to come from renewable sources, such as wind and solar. The details of the mandates vary, but they are all founded on the premise that consumers should be forced to reduce their use of fossil fuels. As of 2019, twenty-nine states and the…
Philosopher Ben Bayer rejects the common notion that refusing to wear a mask is inherently selfish. In fact, he argues, wearing a mask is often the selfish thing to do. The problem, he says, arises from a widely held misconception about the meaning of selfishness. But if selfishness also means the dedicated pursuit of one’s…
With the election of Joe Biden, many are expecting a dramatic change in the policies emanating from the White House. But the fact is, Biden will simply continue the trend that began with Franklin Roosevelt and has been embraced by every President since. Biden will expand the power of the federal government. Many pundits speak…
For months, conservatives have been increasing their calls to use the antitrust laws against Big Tech. These calls are filled with contradictions, such as the claim that Facebook, Twitter, and other tech companies are endangering free speech by blocking conservative content. Another contradiction is expressed by Will Chamberlain, publisher of Human Events. Chamberlain writes that…
For decades, the government has been preventing property owners from using their land as they choose. Under the guise of protecting “wetlands” and endangered species, government agencies have prevented development on parcels of land across the nation. But under the Trump administration, government agencies are wildlife preserves, both public and private, along the border to…
The economic devastation from the lockdown continues to create more victims. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia estimates that by the end of the year, 1.34 million renter households will owe a combined $7.2 billion in back rent, or an average of $5,400 per household. Because of the moratorium on evictions imposed by the Centers…
If you spend much time on Facebook, you have probably run across a number of people who claim that they have been in “Facebook jail.” These individuals have had their account suspended for a period of weeks because they posted material that Facebook considered offensive. While these individuals may have a valid complaint, to claim…
The persecution of Google for antitrust violations is an unabashed attack on success. Having risen to the top of the technology industry, the company is now a target for the envious and mediocre. A chief complaint against Google is that its algorithms and data accumulation give it an unfair competitive advantage. In other words, because…
A Houston couple has sued the City of Houston over its preservation ordinance. The case is due to be heard by the Texas Supreme Court on January 5. The couple’s suit claims that Houston’s preservation ordinance constitutes zoning. Houston’s charter requires a citywide referendum before zoning can be implemented, and no such referendum was held…
At The Objective Standard, Aaron Briley addresses the anti-American ideas underlying Black Lives Matter. Many seem to regard BLM as a humanitarian organization that fights on behalf of the downtrodden—as a nonviolent movement dedicated to protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens. However, this is not true. Founders and leaders of the organization advocate an ideology…