Thoughts, essays, and writings on Liberty. Written by the heirs of Patrick Henry.

Life, Liberty, Property

Life, Liberty, Property

April 10, 2008

Right To Contract vs. “Human Rights”

Eugene Volokh writes about a case in New Mexico that demonstrates the extent to which the right to decide who you do business with has been eroded in the name of so-called anti-discrimination laws:

Elaine Huguenin co-owns Elane Photography with her husband. The bulk of Elane’s work is done by Elaine, though she subcontracts some of […]

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 4:58 am || Permalink || Comments (20) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, Individual Rights, Intellectual Property Rights
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March 26, 2008

The Threat To Limited Government In 2008

The Cato Institute’s William Niskanen points out that limited government is unlikely to fare well regardless of who’s elected in November:
An administration and Congress of either party is likely to approve a federal program of universal health insurance. Such a program was endorsed by most of the presidential candidates in both parties, was implemented by […]

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 10:29 am || Permalink || Comments (3) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, Election '08, Politics
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January 17, 2008

Can The Government Force You To Reveal A Password ?

That’s the interesting legal question posed by a case out of Vermont:
The federal government is asking a U.S. District Court in Vermont to order a man to type a password that would unlock files on his computer, despite his claim that doing so would constitute self-incrimination.
The case, believed to be the first of its kind […]

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 4:20 am || Permalink || Comments (14) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, Individual Rights, Privacy, The Bill Of Rights
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December 3, 2007

The Nanny State Invades The School Cafeteria

Today’s New York Times reports that the Senate is about to consider a proposal to ban candy, soda, and fatty foods from the nation’s school cafeterias:
Federal lawmakers are considering the broadest effort ever to limit what children eat: a national ban on selling candy, sugary soda and salty, fatty food in school snack bars, vending […]

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 2:31 pm || Permalink || Comments (11) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, Federalism, The Nanny State
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September 1, 2007

Another Strike Against Mike Huckabee

He supports a Federal law banning smoking in public places.
Governor, do me a favor, please read this document, especially this part, then read this Amendment, and this one.
Now, tell me, where exactly does the Congress of the United States get the authority to regulate smoking in public places ?

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 7:27 am || Permalink || Comments (13) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, Federalism, Separation Of Powers
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April 18, 2007

The Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision And Federal Power

Today, the Supreme Court upheld a nationwide ban on the controversial abortion procedure that has come to be called “partial birth” abortion:
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on a controversial abortion procedure Wednesday, handing abortion opponents the long-awaited victory they expected from a more conservative bench.
The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth […]

Posted By: Doug Mataconis @ 11:37 am || Permalink || Comments (4) || TrackBack URI || Categories: Commerce Clause, Constitution, General
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