Tibor Machan

Related Links

Libertarian Links

Recent Columns by Tibor Machan

The Orange Grove: Why did North Korea release the two journalists?

The entire episode may not be what it seems on the surface

By TIBOR R. MACHAN

I have questions about the release of two of Al Gore's employees by the North Koreans and about the three persons still in custody in Iran. First, what were these ladies doing so near to North Korea that they could be captured? Was this... Full story

The Orange Grove: Paying for your health care right

Backing Obamacare requires rejecting private property rights

TIBOR R. MACHAN

Anyone who grasps the political big picture must have figured out that President Barack Obama and his team of so called liberal – but really, social – democrats are collectivists of the first order. For them society is a large beehive or... Full story

Firefighter case pivotal for Sotomayor

Judge’s support for invalidating a promotional exam that only white candidates passed raises questions about her fairness.

By TIBOR MACHAN

During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about whether Judge Sonia Sotomayor should be nominated to the U. S. Supreme Court, a nomination which if approved by the committee's majority would then go to the full Senate for a vote (that the Judge... Full story

Declarations of independence: Positive vs. negative rights

People have the right to be individuals and associate with whom they choose, but not to the coerced support of others

TIBOR R. MACHAN

After so many years of Americans aspiring to live up to the principles of the Declaration of Independence, with much success, critics of America have changed their tune. It used to be that this country failed to be true to those principles but as... Full story

Orange Grove: Difference between legislation, law

True laws are designed to protect our rights, not order us about.

Classical liberals and libertarians, especially those who admire the works of the famous legal theorists and economist F.A. Hayek, are fond of pointing out that a free society requires the rule of law. Others, critical of this p olitical... Full story

Classical case for limited government

Plato’s ‘Republic,’ properly interpreted, stresses individual reason.

By TIBOR R. MACHAN

It began with Socrates and his pupil Plato, who, in that world-famous dialogue, "Republic," set out to discuss human excellence. In the process, Socrates used an analogy, the perfect or ideal society. It was easier to study than the individual human... Full story

Acknowledging bias isn't acting biased

Reaction to Sotomayor's gender/ethnicity comments is overwrought.

By TIBOR R. MACHAN

Just after President Barack Obama nominated her to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, statements came to light that seemed to call into question Judge Sonia Sotomayor's loyalty to judicial impartiality. As reported all over the... Full story

Pragmatism is a capricious guide

President Obama’s lack of principle makes political u-turns easy

President Obama has made it clear on several occasions that he is no ideologue but a pragmatist; therefore, it could be useful to consider what these terms mean. What makes someone an ideologue or a pragmatist? Ideologues approach problem-solving... Full story

The Obama couple: American royalty

As a European emigrant, I'm puzzled why Americans gush so much over royalty.

By TIBOR R. MACHAN

With my regular exercise going full force, mostly so as to manage my pretty awful sciatica, I get to watch the news for about an hour each day while on my treadmill. During the half our or 45 minutes, I pick and choose from a variety of news... Full story

Putting our troubles in perspective

Returning to the land I fled in 1953 makes the current economic woes seem less terrible.

By TIBOR R. MACHAN

Budapest, Hungary As one who tasted both a bit of Nazism and communism, today's economic fiasco strikes me as relatively mild as human disasters go. For starters, many in America remember the Great Depression and the Second World War, both of which... Full story