James Bovard

Presidents perennially claim that they possess their power thanks to “the consent of the governed.” This phrase, a signature line of the Declaration of Independence, has echoed in official declarations ever since Jefferson’s time. President Harry Truman assured Congress in 1952, “No government can be invested with a higher dignity and greater worth than one based upon the principle of consent.” But this has long since been a charade.

Presidents have been perverting "consent of the governed" for centuries. “Consent of the governed” was a signature line of the Declaration of Independence, and it has echoed in official declarations ever since Jefferson’s time. President Harry Truman assured Congress in 1952, “No government can be invested with a higher dignity and greater worth than one based upon the principle of consent.” But this has long since been a charade.

Presidents have been perverting “consent of the governed” for centuries. “Consent of the governed” was a signature line of the Declaration of

Who was president at the time of the leaked data? Trump. Who appointed the chief of the IRS? Trump. And who deserves $10 billion because of alleged federal misconduct under his watch? Trump.

Who was president at the time of the leaked data? Trump. Who appointed the chief of the IRS? Trump. And who deserves $10 billion because of alleged federal misconduct under his watch? Trump.

Israel’s bombing of Lebanon has reportedly killed more than a thousand civilians this year. Israel also drove out more than a half million civilians from

Israel's bombing of Lebanon has reportedly killed more than a thousand civilians this year.

In early 2022, I predicted in the New York Post that inflation would politically bankrupt President Joe Biden. Will the affordability issue similarly bankrupt President Donald Trump?Will Trump doom his presidency by sneering and seeking to make people feel unpatriotic for complaining that his policies are slashing their family’s living standard?[Click to Tweet] Trump constantly blusters as if he deserves the Nobel Prize for Economic Triumphs, just like he supposedly deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. In a Continue Reading

In early 2022, I predicted in the New York Post that inflation would politically bankrupt President Joe Biden. Will the affordability issue similarly bankrupt President Donald Trump? Trump constantly blusters as if he deserves the Nobel Prize for Economic Triumphs, just like he supposedly deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. In a January speech in Iowa, he doubled […]

For more than a decade, TSA agents have plundered passengers at airport security checkpoints on the flimsiest or most shameless pretexts. If you get stopped at an airport security checkpoint with $100 or more in cash, TSA agents can fleece you. Since it was created almost 25 years ago, TSA has often been criticized for targeting antiwar activists, Green Party members, or prominent leftists. TSA even has a secret watchlist for people who are “publicly notorious” – especially if they are notorious for criticizing TSA. Such targeting is especially painful when it leads to cleaning out your wallet or your purse.