The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

How much did you enjoy our recent “shingle apocalypse” brought on by the little wind storm? Probably about as much as I did. I even went out and took a walk in it. I love the feel of gravel...

It’s interesting to me how many people want their own rights respected, while also wanting other people’s rights to be violated. People who want their rights as gun owners respected often...

While I appreciate when governments express support for natural human rights, I wonder if they really understand the rights they claim to support. Roosevelt County was recently declared a “Second...

It was once a common theme in science fiction humor for a flying saucer to land in front of witnesses, with little green men coming out to say: “Take us to your leader.” If this happened to you,...

I’ll never understand how the output of the government’s court system passes for “justice.” If you ever find justice in a courtroom it will be a fluke; an accident. Justice doesn’t require...

How much of what you want government to do is based on your emotions? On your feelings about what you wish other people would do or believe they should do, and your willingness to use government viole...

Last week, a local business delivered to my home — even though I didn’t ask and it wasn’t expected. Just to be nice and to make a good impression. And it worked. This reminded me of the...

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, and one many people can’t accept, but you and I can never know everything. This means if you want to act politically, you’ll come from a place of ignorance whether...

You’ve probably been hearing about the “deep state” recently, with some pundits saying it’s a danger and others saying it doesn’t even exist. It’s real, but it’s not the conspiracy...

When an addict’s supply is cut off, it’s usually an agonizing journey through withdrawal to the other side of the addiction; where the poison finally loosens its grip on the person, giving him a...

One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do is let people make their own mistakes. Whether you’re seeing your child about to make a mistake, or seeing other people making pointless and...

In spite of how libertarianism is often portrayed, it’s not a middle ground between conservatism and progressivism. It’s not even on the scale with those positions. But during social gatherings...

Here we go, wrapping up another year. While there’s still the possibility of something significant happening in the final days of December, there’s an even better chance nothing significant will...

I’m in favor of solar energy. I’m not in favor of city commissions spending money on it, or on anything else. The news that the Clovis city commissioners want to spend your money for land on...

Occasionally I’m asked what I write about. It’s a hard question to answer. Some would say I write about politics, but this isn’t quite right. I don’t care about politics. I want to encourage p...

For decades I’ve had my doubts about whether America is still the land of the free. With rules and enforcers everywhere you look, it doesn’t seem so. I’ve been wrong. Most Americans are free...

I love the free market. The market, liberated from government rules, subject only to the choices of individuals. One of my choices is to not shop on major holidays. If I knew for certain the store...

In those moments when my skepticism falters, the recent midterm elections threaten to give me a little hope. It doesn’t last long. A Congress divided between Republicans and Democrats brings the...

I want you to be safe. I hope you don't do things to endanger yourself and others, and I want you prepared — everywhere you go — in case someone else means you harm. In the past couple of weeks...

Emotions are running hot on the topic of immigration these days, both for and against, with most of the current drama surrounding birthright citizenship and migrant caravans. Immigration is a governme...

Those who play politics are asking people to vote for or against the racino. Some say it will help the economy. Others say it will bankrupt people, both morally and financially. I say such things...

Social media gets a lot of well-deserved criticism. It’s presented as a service, but with the vast majority of social media platforms, you and your information are the products being sold. Even...

A badge doesn’t grant extra rights. When the law acts as though it does by treating people differently based on whether or not they wear a badge, the law undermines its appearance of legitimacy. No...

I have leaned libertarian most of my life. I didn’t know what that word meant until I went to work for Freedom Communications in 2001 and they sent me to “freedom school.” That’s when I found...

When most people use the word “government” they are talking about the collective more accurately called “the state.” Not in the sense of the 50 familiar shapes making up maps of the United...