Paul Jacob

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Honored After the Breach

By Paul Jacob (Dec 31, 2006)

The outgoing Congress — including the lame-duck Republicans of the House — didn’t do a whole lot for the nation. Our representatives didn’t limit government. They didn’t halt... more

Long live Dorothy English

By Paul Jacob (Dec 24, 2006)

Stealing is wrong. Stealing from a 95-year old widow is despicably wrong. But somehow, when the stealing is done by the very folks pledged to serve and protect — by one’s own... more

Paging all parents

By Paul Jacob (Dec 17, 2006)

Our liberties have not been safe in Washington for quite some time. Perhaps it shouldn’t surprise us that neither are our children. By dollars and body counts, the... more

The price of beauty

By Paul Jacob (Dec 10, 2006)

John F. Kennedy once declared, “I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty.” Whatever JFK was talking about — perhaps Marilyn Monroe? — it... more

Revolutionary No. 19

By Paul Jacob (Dec 03, 2006)

Nearly everybody loves a “Top Whatever” list, “whatever” being a number, like ten, and a ranked subject, like “Greatest Statesmen” or “Most Annoying Politicians.” This... more

Meet the old boss

By Paul Jacob (Nov 26, 2006)

Americans voted for change. So, why does the incoming Congress kick up enough déjà vu to set Denzel Washington spinning all over again? We’ve seen these guys before — both... more

Honoring freedom and Friedman

By Paul Jacob (Nov 19, 2006)

A few days ago, Milton Friedman’s 95th year of life — a long and productive life — was . . . cut short. The 1976 winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics died, leaving the... more

The prophet of 11/7

By Paul Jacob (Nov 12, 2006)

Few election results were less surprising than last Tuesday’s. It’s not as if there was no reason for a general backlash against Republican Party dominance in Washington,... more

The sleaziest ballot measure in America

By Paul Jacob (Nov 05, 2006)

Are voters stupid? The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the city’s League of Women Voters apparently think so. Both groups are pushing Proposition R on L.A.’s ballot next... more

And body armor for all

By Paul Jacob (Oct 29, 2006)

Do you believe political ads? Do you? Then, you might think our congressmen are driven by a malevolent desire to deny life-saving body armor to our sons and daughters... more

We’re number . . . who cares?

By Paul Jacob (Oct 22, 2006)

A tremor of hysteria can be detected in the headline: “Is the U.S. Losing Its Competitive Edge?” In the article, Peter Coy, Economics Editor for Business Week, elaborates how... more

I must not be a congressman

By Paul Jacob (Oct 15, 2006)

There’s no money in my freezer. I just checked. Not $90,000. Not a penny. Just some ground beef, frozen pizza, and ice cream. I must not be a congressman. Congressman... more

Trust the voters — stop Florida’s Amendment 3

By Paul Jacob (Oct 08, 2006)

Majority rule. Within constitutional limits for the protection of individual freedom, it’s the American way. But in Florida, legislators and powerful special interests... more

The ups and downs of today’s space tourist industry

By Paul Jacob (Oct 01, 2006)

When isn't a 20-million-dollar-paying client "always right"? When the seller is the government. Anousheh Ansari is on the ground again, and yet I'm afraid I'm still... more

CARB killed a car — what will the new law do?

By Paul Jacob (Sep 24, 2006)

On the last day of August, California's legislature and governor made a new law. Instead, they should have gone to the movies. In particular, they should have gone to see... more

Gallows humor for the new school year?

By Paul Jacob (Sep 17, 2006)

America's public schools aren't all that funny. Yet there's something Kafkaesque about their very nature — and Kafka, I'm told, is supposed to be funny. Consider: our vast... more

The devil, you say

By Paul Jacob (Sep 10, 2006)

Full disclosure is all the rage in Congress these days. Congress makes increasing demands on the presidency for full disclosure on all sorts of matters . . . most especially... more

The issue that won't go away

By Paul Jacob (Sep 03, 2006)

Really, I'm not obsessed. Sure, I talk about it some. Okay, a lot. I'm a big fan. But the thing is, the doggone subject just won't go away. Just the other day I was minding... more

Revolution No. 9

By Paul Jacob (Aug 27, 2006)

What's the difference between science and politics? Normally, I'd say science tends to add to the wealth of the world, while politics detracts. On Thursday, a quasi-quorum... more

The great wage gap

By Paul Jacob (Aug 20, 2006)

Let us now praise the underpaid, selfless civil servant. Wait — does such a person exist in federal employ? Excuse me while I chortle. Oh sure, union officials, civics... more

Thank goodness the rich are still free to speak

By Paul Jacob (Aug 13, 2006)

The media reported earth-shattering results this week at the polls in Connecticut and around the country — the colossal defeats of congressional incumbents of both parties.... more

The arrogance that makes America great

By Paul Jacob (Aug 05, 2006)

Football coach Nick Saban is too busy to have dinner with the President of the United States. Is this a great country or what? Saban is the head coach of the National... more

The Democrats' Robin Hood

By Paul Jacob (Jul 31, 2006)

Many Democrat politicians talk a good game about democracy. They bill themselves as the defenders of the little guy. They have all the soundbites on empowerment down pat.... more

Google eyed

By Paul Jacob (Jul 23, 2006)

I don't mind puzzlement. I don't have to have the answer for everything. Here's one: Google. Not only do I not know how Google's technology works, I have only the faintest... more

The pan-partisan "debt, debt, and more debt" plan

By Paul Jacob (Jul 16, 2006)

In a small county in a far corner of this great land of ours, a local politician is doing something not unheard of. He's running as an Independent. In classic American style,... more

Floaters in the China C's

By Paul Jacob (Jul 09, 2006)

By the time you reach 80, even strangers begin to notice your birthdays. It's natural. The older you get, the more your life resembles a contest — almost a sport — with Grim... more

Odd man in

By Paul Jacob (Jul 02, 2006)

Vermont is the only state in the union to boast a U.S. representative who openly calls himself a socialist. That sure says something odd about Vermont. But what's really... more

Welcome to the 'hood

By Paul Jacob (Jun 25, 2006)

When the felonious Duke — that is, Duke Cunningham, former U.S. Rep from California's 50th District — left office last December, we had every reason to hope for something... more

Freedom's next move

By Paul Jacob (Jun 18, 2006)

The evidence is in: The Republican Party has completely failed to reduce federal spending. It hasn't even controlled growth. It has done the opposite. It has sent spending... more

Penny-wise, pound-for-pound foolish?

By Paul Jacob (Jun 11, 2006)

The other day I discovered a tax token amongst my stuff. It was worth, in its day, a quarter of a cent, and was minted during the Depression. That's when so many sales taxes... more

Useful knowledge, unused

By Paul Jacob (Jun 04, 2006)

Not all knowledge is created equal. Some facts, some theories, are more important than others. And in America, there are few things more important to know than the... more

Politics without money

By Paul Jacob (May 28, 2006)

If everybody says it, it must be true, right? Money in politics is bad. Capital-B, Capital-A, Capital-D, BAD! The judgment can be stated above the level of a high-school... more

A definition of racism, itself racist

By Paul Jacob (May 21, 2006)

If you are against something, you should know what it is, right? So why do today's professional anti-racists have trouble identifying the basic concept of racism, and why do... more

Uncompromising and unprincipled

By Paul Jacob (May 14, 2006)

Congress has become uncompromising. Legislators no longer know how to deal with each other. No give and take remains. If this is so, then why does the majority party find it... more

Hooray for high oil prices?

By Paul Jacob (May 07, 2006)

The way politicians talk, it's as if we all agree on oil. And we're all stupid. They talk as if we all demand low prices, for starters. You may want lower prices and I may... more

Maybe, or maybe not

By Paul Jacob (Apr 30, 2006)

A man's life hangs in the balance. Whose judgment do you trust, twelve duly appointed jurors or one lone blogger? Normally, I'd say "the jury," but in the case of... more

Bernie Siegan's idea of freedom

By Paul Jacob (Apr 23, 2006)

On March 27th, a pioneering thinker died at the age of 82. Somehow I missed the news when it was new. His obituary didn't appear on front pages, or on extended segments on... more

The greatest single hypocrisy

By Paul Jacob (Apr 16, 2006)

It's easy to find a $49.99 meal in our nation's capital. That may soon change. The reason for the current price? Demand, of course. There's a lot of politicians in... more

The usual suspect?

By Paul Jacob (Apr 09, 2006)

The Writers Guild of America this week offered to the world a list of the "101 Greatest Screenplays," naming Casablanca the best script ever written. Great movie.... more

Who's afraid of the FEC?

By Paul Jacob (Apr 02, 2006)

You can now blog to your heart's content on the Internet. The Federal Election Commission says so. Yippee! In a unanimous ruling, the FEC "gave" Internet bloggers... more

Hillary Clinton, no longer buying baking supplies at Wal-Mart

By Paul Jacob (Mar 26, 2006)

Hillary Clinton would be an icon of the Democratic Party, except that an icon stands for something by resembling that something. That's its literal meaning. What does Hillary... more

When taxation is obviously theft

By Paul Jacob (Mar 19, 2006)

It is not exactly unheard of for governments to levy and collect taxes for one purpose, and then use the funds for another. It's a despicable abuse of power, but many... more

Sell! Sell! Sell?

By Paul Jacob (Mar 12, 2006)

Here's how you draw the map of today's political divide: Take a common-sense idea. If it shocks those in charge, but not you, you know where to draw the line. Say you are in... more

Stop over-spending

By Paul Jacob (Mar 05, 2006)

For decades Democrats squandered our tax dollars like a bunch of drunken sailors. Now that Republicans control government nationally as well as in many states, they too have... more

The political racket

By Paul Jacob (Feb 26, 2006)

For a price, the mob offers protection. So do many politicians. The latest example comes from Colorado's Senate District 21, where Senator Deanna Hanna (D-Lakewood) appears... more

How about a punch in the nose?

By Paul Jacob (Feb 19, 2006)

William Donald Schaefer has been a politician for the last 51 years — a member of the Baltimore city council, mayor for 16 years, governor of Maryland for eight years... more

The imps of the impoverished

By Paul Jacob (Feb 12, 2006)

Ah, the good old days! When the word "poverty" really meant something! In the Middle Ages, thousands of city dwellers might starve to death during a drought.... more

The great halftime threat

By Paul Jacob (Feb 05, 2006)

Something must be done — and now, on Super Bowl Sunday, before it's too late. The threat is not Al Qaeda. Not illegal aliens, bug-eyed aliens, or even global warming.... more

It's the power, stupid

By Paul Jacob (Jan 29, 2006)

Congress is a mess — and so is the federal government it controls. But this is nothing new. The realization that Congress is a cesspool of corruption may have been... more

Marion Barry takes another crack

By Paul Jacob (Jan 22, 2006)

Marion Barry's audience has come to expect a little extra from the man, like when he proudly proclaimed that crime was down in DC . . . "except for the murders."... more

Chutzpah 1, Citizens 0

By Paul Jacob (Jan 15, 2006)

With all the whining and carping about the balance of power between this branch of government and that, why is there nary a peep about the most fundamental of constitutional... more

Put this in your pipe and (don't) smoke it

By Paul Jacob (Jan 08, 2006)

The "smoking debate" exhausts me. Anti-smoking activists may oppose smoking on health grounds, but their attempts to stamp out smoking are making our political... more

Another award-winning year

By Paul Jacob (Jan 01, 2006)

Okay, so it's 2006. Is this really news? Did we think that 2007 might somehow slip in first? For most, it's "another day, another holiday"; for columnists, it's an... more