Liberty
The president is not supposed to make law
Under the Constitution, the president’s role is to faithfully enforce the laws, but not to make them. Sadly, the separation of powers has often been ignored by chief executives who…
Burton W. Folsom Jr.
American historian
Liberty
Burt Folsom compares this mid-term with that of 1938
Hillsdale College history professor Burt Folsom compares the 2014 defeat suffered by the Democrats with a very similar experience in 1938. Many strong parallels between the two mid-term maulings. Obama…
Liberty
Who was the last president to have a great second term?
Historian Burt Folsom makes a good case here that we haven’t had a great second term since Calvin Coolidge. Most historians put Coolidge in the “mediocre” category because he didn’t…
Liberty
Burt Folsom explains why the Ex-Im Bank should go
One of the most interesting political battles in years is the furor over the Ex-Im Bank, which does not break along party lines. The opposition to reauthorizing this subsidy-granting federal…
Liberty
Few young Americans know much about history and the new standards won’t help
Hillsdale history professor Burt Folsom discusses the recently College Board history standards and finds them badly wanting in this piece. Notably, they tend to glorify government intervention such as LBJ’s numerous…
Liberty
America’s history of corporate welfare
Kevin Williamson promotes for National Review Online readers a new book detailing America’s troubled history with corporate welfare. Government “investments” have had a poor showing of late. President Barack Obama,…
Liberty
Using tax money to buy votes
In this American Spectator article, history professor Burt Folsom and his wife Anita compare the recent scheme of Massachusetts senate candidate Elizabeth Warren with the vote buying practiced by FDR.…
Liberty
The life and death of American cities
Hillsdale College professor Burt Folsom provides this brief analysis of how high taxes killed Detroit and how low taxes have led to prosperity in San Fransisco, Boston and New York.…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Steve Jobs = real jobs
Burt Folsom notes the job creation of entrepreneurs in history in this post that highlights Nick Schulz’ tribute to Steve Jobs. Kudos to Nick Schulz of the American Enterprise Institute…
Liberty
Do we really have to repeat the failures of the New Deal?
Hillsdale College professor Burt Folsom notes on his blog here that even one of the most ardent New Dealers recognized the failure of the New Deal in 1939. Too bad…
Liberty
Sowell’s Christmas reading suggestions
Those of you who enjoy reading Thomas Sowell‘s writing might be interested to learn what he’s reading. He shares some details in his latest column at Human Events. Among the…
Liberty
When will Obama start using a cigarette holder?
Hillsdale history professor Burt Folsom compares Obama in 2010 to FDR in 1938 here. After showing that their election campaigns and policies for the first two years were very…