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

How can anyone ever be disappointed in a president? It shows unrealistic expectations. Don’t people realize that getting to the top of the political heap takes a certain kind of person, and it’s...

Why have there been no libertarian countries? It’s a popular question from those skeptical of libertarianism. On the face of it, it seems a reasonable question. Until you understand what they’re...

Is Syria worth dying over? No. It would be a tragedy for you to die — or to kill — over Syria, North Korea, Russia, or any other country the U.S. government is trying to goad into war. Americans d... Full story

It’s a wonderful thing when someone decides to help the community. I might even join them if their efforts align with my values. I’m somewhat less thrilled when someone mistakes running for...

The middle of April is approaching fast; the time of the year when I hear a lot about taxes. Mention of taxes brings Robin Hood to my mind. I don’t think of him with the more recent spin that has...

Neglecting to understand which things are your business, and which are not, causes many problems. People spend too much time with their noses in places where they don’t belong while ignoring things...

How much do you respect self-destructive people? Do you honor those who engage in self-harm such as “cutting?” Do you celebrate those who burn up their mind and body by abusing drugs and alcohol?...

There are three topics which come up frequently in libertarian writings: guns, drugs, and national borders. The reason is those three areas are where the people of America seem willing to let...

How much is enough? When it turns out stronger anti-drug laws don’t prevent addiction or tragedies, how much are you willing to expand prohibition? How far are you willing to have armed government...

It’s time to take a hard look at America’s gun laws. In fact, it’s over a century past due. How many more innocent lives will be snuffed out before people demand change? Before they demand...

A defining trait of libertarians is our opposition to all slavery; we are abolitionists. Libertarians were among the loudest of the 19th Century’s voices against the enslavement of people of...

Space exploration thrills me. I’ve followed Apollo moon landings, Skylab, various Martian landers and rovers, Space Shuttle launches, and every other manned or robotic mission I could watch. So I go...

Laws can’t solve anything, and often destroy things that worked. Sometimes this is due to the unintended consequences of trying to stop something that might actually be harmful, but more often it...

I am not libertarian because I expect to get anything from it. Well, that’s not completely true. I should say I am not libertarian because I expect to get anything from you because of it. I don’t...

Like most people, I enjoy fiction; books, movies, and television programs. Fiction can be entertaining, educational, and inspiring as long as you don’t confuse it with reality. As a child I loved...

A great many people are upset because President Trump is claimed to have observed that many places around the world are, shall we say, “less than ideal.” Of course, being Donald Trump, he is claim...

When Ronald Reagan began his first successful run for president, I wasn’t quite old enough to vote. I liked what he said and I put a Reagan campaign sticker on my car. During his first term, I felt...

After almost a year of President Trump, half the country is in an absolute uproar over the ruination of America being caused by the man. Exactly like the other half of the country gnashed its teeth fo...

As 2017 draws to a close, it is disappointing to see America more divided than at any time since the 1860s. The main cause being government. Almost everyone complains about government, at least...

Christmas is a good holiday for outlaws. No, not for criminals. For outlaws. What? You don’t know the difference? Let me explain why outlaws are not your enemy and why Christmas is a great outlaw...

To get the most out of this holiday season, and to finish out 2017 on a high note, I recommend avoiding outrage fatigue. What is outrage fatigue? It’s the exhaustion, cynicism, apathy, and...

Most people enjoy helping others when they can, and when they see a deserving opportunity. It’s one of the best things about human nature. Yet it’s easy to fool yourself into believing you are...

Everyone likes to be comfortable and avoids discomfort when possible. It’s human nature. Yet your quest for comfort doesn’t give you the right to make everyone else uncomfortable. If you are...

When something has been around a long time, it’s easy to take it for granted and stop seeing it. Sometimes you need to look at familiar things in a new way; from a different perspective. If you...

How different the news of recent weeks would be if more people understood their rights and responsibilities. Some say people who care about rights are trying to downplay responsibilities. For anyone...