Free Republic

Why in the world was a practically unknown candy chosen for the movie E.T. instead of M&M’s? What were they thinking? If you were like me, when you first saw E.T. at the movies, and Elliot laid a trail of Reese’s Pieces for E.T. instead of M&M’s chocolate candies, you found it odd. Sure, Reese’s pieces were pretty but Elliot was MUCH more likely to have a bag of M&M’s! Reese’s pieces were practically a brand-new product at the time. It seemed like some kind of obvious product placement. And, in the novelized version of the movie, E.T. did indeed...

The American republic died at Appomattox in 1865, replaced by a national government that has gradually evolved into an empire in a permanent state of war. Most of us don't pay much attention to such stuff as history and perspective. Certainly the news media don't. Nevertheless, there are consequences of living in a war state, both to our own individual freedom and to our pocketbooks. This past week, President Bush made a big deal about signing a military authorization bill with a $30 billion increase. Here we are, 12 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and without a...

Americans who value the Constitution should stand with Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., and oppose George Bush's attempted power grab in conjunction with establishing a Department of Homeland Security. The Bushies are trying to frame the debate as either protecting bureaucracy or providing security for Americans. In fact, the debate is about preventing an authoritarian president from sacrificing the Constitution in the name of providing security. Let me remind you that those who prefer security to freedom will lose both. Bush wants to be able to disregard labor contracts and civil-service rules, as well as move money within the department as...