Alan Simpson violated a taboo last week when he likened Social Security to "a milk cow with 310 million tits." But contrary to the dictionary-deprived critics who accused him of sexist vulgarity, the former Wyoming senator's transgression had nothing to do with his use of a perfectly acceptable synonym for teat. Simpson's real sin was "belittling a bedrock program," as the AARP put it—i.e., showing insufficient reverence for a sacred cow.

No one would make the effort to acquire anything that would immediately be stolen. The right to acquire is primary, for possession serves acquisition. Government protects the possessions of the rich in order to guarantee the right of the non-rich to acquire what they need for their convenience and happiness.

Espionage-themed fiction stories about a federal agent Jack Bauer tell us about the problems solved by federal services. The 24 TV series starring Kiefer Sutherland is very popular. Eight seasons of the series consist of 192 episodes, each having an original story. The main character in the series is Jack Bauer, the only one appearing in all seasons.

GM's IPO: Finally Taxpayers Get a Break -

General Motors has announced it will take its stock public as a move toward repaying its bailout package. About time, writes Daniel Ikenson: "A GM initial public offering is the right move, and cannot happen soon enough.

I am sure that there is a lot of hobbit in every of us. Of course, I don’t mean the unforgettable specific appearance but the nature and the world outlook. Such feature of the main characters of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (Picture 1) cannot but reach the readers and makes them sympathize with these damn attractive creatures.

Politicians and pundits often use the word “fair” to describe policies they favor. But what does “fair” really mean?

How the Death Tax Kills Small Businesses, Communities and Civil Society - The death tax: What does it kill? Who does it affect? It affects hundreds of thousands of small-business owners across the country—as well as their employees and community residents who benefit from the senior and day care centers, playgrounds, charities, and learning centers that are built or supported by small-business owners.

Wikileaks editor skips NYC hacker event - Julian Assange, public face of a Web site that posted a video embarrassing to the U.S. military, doesn't seem to want to get too friendly with inquisitive Homeland Security agents.

Originally posted at News - Security

That's not how liberty works.

You enjoy a right to be free from governmental intrusion unless and until you have shown yourself incapable of exercising that right responsibly. That determination can only be made in a court of law.

The very reason for the American experiment was -- and is -- to establish the principle and the reality that no man or government may alienate a person's life, liberty or pursuit of happiness.

Anyone who has experienced the expectation of the imminent loss of any of those conditions knows profoundly their value -- and thus the value of our form of government, which exists to protect those rights.