Free Press Publications

The US Supreme Court will, in the next couple of months, issue a ruling in a case that could have broad consequences. The case is United States v. Microsoft Corp. and according to SCOTUSblog, the issue before the Court is “Whether a United States provider of email services must comply with a probable-cause-based warrant… by making disclosure in the United States of electronic communications within that provider’s control, even if the provider has decided to store that material abroad.” In other words, the Court will decide whether or not the US government can compel a company to provide data that...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

One of the great things about the internet is the availability of information at the push of a button, and the ease with which people from around the globe can communicate. While this can be a powerful tool to help minority voices (including libertarians) publish their views, it has contributed greatly to the prevalence of the 24-hour news cycle. And with so many outlets competing for views, you end up with sensationalism, or what is now called click-bait. When social media is added into the equation, you end up with manufactured news, i.e. news reports about tweets and other posts...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

Shortly after midnight on January 20 the federal government, we are told, was shutdown. However most people haven’t noticed any differences in their daily life. CNN reports, “Essential services, such as Social Security, air traffic control and the Transportation Security Administration, will continue to be funded even if some employees of those agencies are not. The US Postal Service won't stop serving residents -- you'll still get your mail.” However tourists were rebuffed from visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island over the weekend. That’s because National Parks are part of the nonessential services that are affected by the...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

On January 15, many Americans will observe Martin Luther King, Jr Day with a bank holiday, school closures, and no postal service; otherwise it’s not really holiday that is celebrated by most Americans. King is probably best known for his “I Have a Dream” speech from 1963 where he famously said: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."” King added, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

Every January 1 a deluge of new laws take effect across the country, more than 200 of these new laws were added to the books in Illinois alone. Illinois state rep Mark Batinick said, “We passed bills that talk about things like how we label fish on a menu. I think we named two expressways after former President (Barack) Obama. We debated whether or not you need to paint a school bus after you sell it on the used market.” Adding that the “major issues facing the state” were not addressed at all. ABC News reports that a new law...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

President Trump recently held a press conference where he said, “I promised we would pass a massive tax cut for the everyday, working American families who are the backbone and the heartbeat of our country.” Adding, “Congress has reached an agreement on tax legislation that will deliver more jobs, higher wages, and massive tax relief for American families and for American companies. The typical family of four earning $75,000 will see an income tax cut of more than $2,000, slashing their tax bill in half. It’s going to be a lot of money. You’re going to have an extra $2,000.”...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

On September 19, 2016 all 193 Member States of the United Nations – including the United States – met at the Summit for Refugees and Migrants, and unanimously adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. The introduction to the Declaration states in part, “We reaffirm the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We reaffirm also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recall the core international human rights treaties. We reaffirm and will fully protect the human rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of status; all are rights holders. Our response will demonstrate...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

The First Amendment states, in part, “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...” However that was not able to stop the Alien and Sedition Acts from being passed in 1798 – which are still partially in effect today – the creation of the FCC to “regulate the airwaves” or even the prohibitions of journalists from taking cameras or voice recorders into a federal court building. The claim by some is that these are “reasonable restrictions” and in no way intended to abridge the freedom of the press. After all, I’m able to publish...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

A recent Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll “found that only 25 percent of Americans support allowing immigrants to obtain U.S. green cards or permanent resident status through a lottery system, while 60 percent oppose it… [And] a smaller percentage, just over half, said they would support a proposal to end the program.” The results from these two questions seem to indicate that a sizable percentage of Americans are opposed to more lax immigration laws. However that same Reuters/Ipsos poll also found “Seventy percent of all adults support allowing foreign spouses of U.S. citizens to obtain green cards, and 61 percent support allowing...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

Abolishing Daylight Saving Time would have significant health benefits, not to mention benefits of reduced crime from an additional hour of daylight in the evenings, and a shift in energy usage.

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

It’s not often that professional wrestling, or “Sports Entertainment” as Vince McMahon likes to call it, enters the mainstream of society.

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

Over the course of the last 12-16 months there has been a fair amount of discussion about a specific form of protest that some – including President Donald Trump – view as disrespect to “Country, Flag and National Anthem.”

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

Within days of one another voters in Iraqi Kurdistan and Catalonia went to the polls, or attempted to go to the polls, to vote in secession referenda. Nearly 92% of voters in Iraqi Kurdistan voted in favor of leaving Iraq, and Antiwar.com reports, “the accuracy of the numbers aren’t in question.” This however hasn’t prevented Secretary of State Rex Tillerson from stating “The United States does not recognize the... unilateral referendum” while claiming, “The vote and the results lack legitimacy.” This statement begs the question: What is required for an independence referendum to be considered legitimate? First we must explain...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

That “modern form” of the debt ceiling eliminated separate limits on different types of debt, and in 1941 the debt limit was set at $65 billion. By comparison, the federal debt has increased by at least $65 billion in all but 2 years since 1976 (FY 1979 & 2000).

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

Just a few weeks ago people were fighting in front of statues and some were asking if America has ever been more divided. It turns out disasters bring out the best in people and serve to unite people behind a single cause: helping their fellow man.

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

For most of my adult life, I’ve heard about the eerie comparisons between George Orwell’s 1984 and our present day. After reading, or rather listening to the audiobook, 1984 again recently I noticed not only the similarities, but also some stark contrasts between Orwell’s vision of the future and our present day. Most of the oft-mentioned comparisons to 1984 involve Big Brother, and indeed the first mention of the telescreen and Thought Police does sound remarkably similar to the NSA. “The telescreen received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

Last Summer, Artem Vaulin, the alleged operator of KickassTorrents, was arrested in Poland and the website was taken down. The US Department of Justice has sought to extradite Vaulin, who is still in a Polish jail. Vaulin has retained some of the attorneys working on behalf of Kim Dotcom, the alleged operator of another file sharing website Megaupload. Like Vaulin, Dotcom is not an American citizen and does not live in the United States. Dotcom has also not been extradited to face trial. Dotcom is being prevented from challenging the asset forfeiture on the grounds, according to the 4th Circuit...

By Darryl W Perry Vote2 0

The US Senate is an interesting legislative body with rules and procedures that make little sense to anyone who does not closely follow the legislative process. Many people believe that the US Senate requires all pending legislation to obtain a 60 vote majority before the body is able to pass a bill with a simple majority. It is true that Senate rules require a three-fifths majority vote to end debate on most pending legislation; however Senate rules also allow for some legislation to bypass the need for cloture – the legal term for voting to end debate and avoid a...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

In January 2015, then-Attorney General Eric Holder made headlines when he issued a directive stating, “Federal adoption of property seized by state or local law enforcement under state law is prohibited, except for property that directly relates to public safety concerns, including ﬁrearms, ammunition, explosives, and property associated with child pornography,” which represent a small percentage of the seizures made under the federal program of civil asset forfeiture. On July 19, 2017 that directive was rescinded by now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who issued Order 3946-2017 stating, “Federal forfeiture of property seized lawfully by state and local law enforcement agencies is...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

The last week of June was important in many ways for advocates of school choice. At the federal level, the US Supreme Court, according to Qartz, “made rulings on two cases in Missouri and Colorado that, while concerning small issues within specific school districts, likely have massive ramifications on the country’s entire public and private education systems alike.” The Missouri case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, involved a church-run school alleging a violation of rights because they were excluded from receiving taxpayer funding. The majority opinion states, “the exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for...

By Darryl W Perry Vote1 0

Privacy rights at stake in SCOTUS case Feb 25, 2018

What the non-shutdown means to you Jan 21, 2018

Keeping a DREAM alive Jan 15, 2018

A new year brings new laws Dec 31, 2017

Trump’s tax reform, is not real reform Dec 17, 2017

US withdrawal from New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants is wrong move Dec 3, 2017

In support of Freedom of the Press Nov 26, 2017

Betting on immigration reform Nov 12, 2017

Time to abolish DST Nov 5, 2017

Wrestling with IP Oct 22, 2017

Flags, protest & compelled patriotism Oct 15, 2017

In support of independence referenda Oct 1, 2017

Does the debt ceiling do any good? Sep 10, 2017

It takes a disaster… Sep 3, 2017

Is Orwell’s 1984 better than the reality of 2017? Aug 13, 2017

Does the system preserve the status quo? Jul 30, 2017

AG Sessions ramps up War on Drugs Jul 23, 2017

A lack of choice is unfair Jul 2, 2017