Today

May 19, Oscar Wilde

Sharing

On May 19, 1897, Oscar Wilde was released from Reading Prison. His “Ballad of Reading Gaol” would later become a classic, and his only great work following his imprisonment.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Lie, Cheat AND Steal
SharingSometimes lying just isn’t enough. But dishonest politicians have additional …
Should Non-Citizens Vote?
Sharing“A lot of people would like to say this is …
Badgering as Democracy in Action
SharingThe citizen initiative depends on a few habits and institutions. Free speech …
Really Protecting Our Rights
SharingIncentives matter. Which is why Ohioans have much to celebratethis …
Keeping Up with the Arabs
SharingIt’s open season on Middle East dictators — but I’m a little jealous. …

Measures for Measures
November 23, 2024
This year was an interesting one for initiatives.Read More »
Denial Is a River in Argentina?
November 22, 2024
Paul Jacob on one country’s retreat from self-imposed poverty.Read More »
Watch Out!
November 21, 2024
Paul Jacob on strange edits in the Lone Star State.Read More »
The Hill as Hallucinogen
November 19, 2024
Paul Jacob on a false news story, gone but not …Read More »
Elon & Vivek to Cut Government?
November 18, 2024
Paul Jacob on who could help whom do what is …Read More »

Intentionally Confounding Incumbents
SharingThe three issues on the ballot in Memphis this November …
Dollars and Change
SharingBig spending by candidates doesn’t always win elections. For instance, …
Competition in Michigan
SharingMichigan’s career politicians are pushing to more than double maximum …
Incumbent Upon Heaven
SharingMany who pledged to limit their terms in Congress have …
New Yorkers Won’t Take It Any More
SharingMayor Michael Bloomberg thought it would be easy to unravel …

E‑Panic
SharingOne of the better arguments for government relies upon sobriety: …
What Kind of Ice Cream Cone?
SharingWhen I wrote about the Donald’s change of troop positions abroad …
Inclusivity Not Included
SharingThe 3rd annual Woman’s March strolled by over the weekend — a tiny …
9 Dangers of “Democratic Socialism”
SharingFirst… some definitions: Socialism advocates the public ownership and control of business and …
Packing
Sharing“Are you proposing taking away their guns?” “I am,” replied former …

On November 23, 1644, British poet John Milton published Areopagitica, a pamphlet decrying censorship.

Revolutions of ages do not oft recover the loss of a rejected truth, for the want of which whole nations fare the worse.
John Milton, Areopagitica; A speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England (1644).

The name “Areopagitica” references a speech by Isocrates, the “Areopagitikós” that itself referenced a hill in Athens, Greece, the Areopagus, which had been the site of an important tribunal that the Greek orator had hoped to restore. It may also refer to the defense that St. Paul made before the Areopagus against charges of promulgating alien gods and outré teachings (see Acts 17:18 – 34).

What Kind of a Socialist is Bernie?
He’s never met a government monopoly he didn’t love, or a free …
“Regulation” should not be confused with “rule of law”
A “rule of law” is based on general principles, and …
FREE!
Don’t worry comrades! Click here for a high resolution version of the …
A Proud Progressive…
…bravely fighting income inequality one target at a time! Click the …
Sartre: Equal Liberty
“I cannot make liberty my aim unless I make that of …