Free Republic

The story of this nation has been collectively written by the immigrant pen. Titled “The American Dream,” this wildly successful and popular tale is about to gain a new author. Yet instead of simply writing the next verse, this wave of immigrant authors seems intent on starting a new book. There is no longer satisfaction with building for the future; an entitlement culture has grown. This contemporary tale is to be authored by illegal immigrants, but the pen, paper, and publishing are paid for by the American taxpayer. Not offended yet? Soon. When reading this piece, remember that the term...

Latin America is taking a hard turn to the left. For those that thought the end of the Cold War meant a spreading of capitalist values and peace throughout the western hemisphere, it is now time to wake up. Crime is on the rise in Marxist Venezuela. President Chávez’s numerous speeches have encouraged the criminal element to carry out attacks on the Venezuelan upper-middle and upper classes. Chávez dreams of revolution, even sweet-talking leaders in Moscow and Beijing. The New York Times reported that “The Center of Economic Investigations, an economic consulting firm in Caracas, issued a study recently that...

The window for any real tax reform is closing fast. In a general public policy sense, the actions of leaders in a republic should reflect the sentiments of the electorate. Change is only possible when a majority of the country desires it. As such, it is only reasonable to expect leadership to push for the positive reform of a system that a majority of the electorate uses. As it stands now, the numbers show that a shrinking majority of Americans are actually paying taxes. The tax system is inching dangerously close to becoming fully funded by a minority of the...

The city of Houston is facing a Post-Katrina strain on public goods. The piece, entitled, Katrina's Latest Damage, shows the results of the charitable natures of Houston's people. Crime is up. Schools are overcrowded. Hospitals are jammed. Houston welcomed a flood of hurricane evacuees with open arms. But now the city is suffering from a case of 'compassion fatigue.Most people are unaware of this, but Houston, after sheltering them and taking care of over 150,000 evacuees, then decided to "usher evacuees into more-permanent housing, offering them generous vouchers that covered rent and utilities for a year." Their reward? Public services...

The body count continues to rise in fundamentalist Islam’s latest attack on a Western ideal: freedom of speech. Rioters have taken to the streets holding signs saying “Death to Freedom” and “Freedom go to Hell.” While the offending cartoons, depicting the prophet Muhammad, originated in Denmark, any other Western embassies or innocent bystanders in the way have been attacked at will. Those that argue that this is a fundamentalist hijacking of the religion are absolutely correct. Yet, when the hijacking argument expands to include the phrases “just a small percentage” and “not very representative,” this is where reality and rhetoric...

The body count continues to rise in fundamentalist Islam’s latest attack on a Western ideal: freedom of speech. Rioters have taken to the streets holding signs saying “Death to Freedom” and “Freedom go to Hell.” While the offending cartoons, depicting the prophet Muhammad, originated in Denmark, any other Western embassies or innocent bystanders in the way have been attacked at will. Those that argue that this is a fundamentalist hijacking of the religion are absolutely correct. Yet, when the hijacking argument expands to include the phrases “just a small percentage” and “not very representative,” this is where reality and rhetoric...

(From BenjaminHackett.com) In case you have been under an apolitical rock for the past year, here is a brief synopsis of the Democratic platform and the media focus for upcoming 2006 and 2008 election cycles: First, Bush is Richard Nixon. Second, Iraq is Vietnam. And last, austerely issueless politics have replaced the need for compelling policy initiatives. After all, no need for substance when scandal abounds. If readers are disturbed by truths found within pieces on Sheehan, Katrina, or Islamic fundamentalism, they might want to turn away and huddle with the rest of the commune for warmth. Today we are...