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“Every new regulation concerning commerce or revenue; or in any manner affecting the value of the different species of property, presents a new harvest to those who watch the change and can trace its consequences; a harvest reared not by themselves but by the toils and cares of the great body of their fellow citizens. This is a state of things in which it may be said with some truth that laws are made for the few not for the many.” – James Madison
Linda Chavez | Banning the Veil
The French government this week decided to fine Muslim women who wear a full-face veil in public — and France is only the latest in a series of European countries seeking to ban the religious garb. Is this an infringement of religious liberty intended to discriminate against Muslims? Or is the measure necessary to protect the security of others? The answers are a lot more complicated than you might think.
Dick Morris | Financial Regulation Bill is Socialism
President Obama has taken the United States one more giant step toward socialism by ramming through the Senate his financial regulation bill.
The bill authorizes the secretary of the treasury — a political appointee — to seize any financial company (bank or non-bank) simply because, in his opinion, it is too big to fail and in danger of insolvency. This power can be used for political retribution, pressure for campaign funding or any other abuse that bureaucratic whim or partisan politics can conceive. It is a power Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez would love to have!
Mona Charen | Getting Lectured on Human Rights by Mexico
The Obama administration is deeply embarrassed by the legislators of Arizona. Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner, in discussions with representatives from China (China!), cited the Arizona law as evidence of human rights failures in the U.S. Doubling down, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley agreed that the law could pose a “fundamental challenge to human rights around the world.”
At a joint press conference with Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderon, who recently described the Arizona law as “violating the human rights of all people,” President Obama delivered a message to “the American people and to the Mexican people” that his administration was taking a hard look at the “troubling” law. Calderon has issued a travel advisory to Mexicans, warning them to avoid Arizona lest they be, well, what exactly? Grabbed, hooded, hustled into a dark cell and never heard from again? Um, no. Asked a few questions? Maybe.