Commentary By John Stossel

Shutdown Theater By John Stossel

Government wants you to play a role in the "shutdown" of the federal government. Your role is to panic.

Escaping 'Government' Schools By John Stossel

People say public schools are "one of the best parts of America". I believed that. Then I started reporting on them.

Now I know that public school -- government school is a better name -- is one of the worst parts of America. It's a stultified government monopoly. It never improves.

Most services improve. They get faster, better, cheaper. But not government monopolies. Government schools are rigid, boring, expensive and more segregated than private schools.

Innovation or Stagnation By John Stossel

Invent something and the first thing that goes through some people's minds -- especially politicians' minds -- is what might go wrong.

3D printers now allow you to mold objects right in your living room, using patterns you find online. It's a revolutionary invention that will save time, reduce shipping costs and be kind to the earth.

But what critics see is: guns! People will print guns at home! Well, sure.

Make Trade, Not War By John Stossel

What's up with so many Democrats wanting missile strikes on Syria, while Republicans balk? I'm told Republicans are the war party.  

Road to Damascus By John Stossel

Some things you just have to do, in spite of great uncertainty.

Launching missiles at Syria isn't one of them.

Milk of Human Blindness By John Stossel

The Denver Post warns, "Milk, food prices could rise if Congress fails to act."

Congress is working on a farm bill, which, among other things, will set limits on how high or low milk prices can be in different regions of the country.

Trains to Nowhere By John Stossel

When Democrats and Republicans agree, I get nervous. It often means that they agree to grab my wallet.

Beware Warrior Cops By John Stossel

We need police to catch murderers, thieves and con men, and so we give them special power -- the power to use force on others.  Sadly, today's police use that power to invade people's homes over accusations of trivial, nonviolent offenses -- and often do it with tanks, battering rams and armor you'd expect on battlefields.

In his book "Rise of the Warrior Cop," Radley Balko recounts the rise of police SWAT teams (SWAT stands for Special Weapons And Tactics) armed with heavy military equipment.  SWAT raids began as rarely used methods of dealing with violent situations, like hostage-takings.

Battle of the Sexes By John Stossel

Women make only 77 cents per each dollar made by males. Outrageous! Sex discrimination!

Killing Giggles By John Stossel

Global average temperature has been flat for a decade. But frightening myths about global warming continue.

We're told there are more hurricanes now. We're told that hurricanes are stronger. But the National Hurricane Center says it isn't so. 

Meteorologist Maria Molina told me it's not surprising that climatologists assumed hurricanes would get worse. "Hurricanes need warm ocean waters," but it turns out that "hurricanes are a lot more complicated than just warm ocean waters."

Are We Rome Yet? By John Stossel

Unfortunately, the fall of Rome is a pattern repeated by empires throughout history ... including ours?

A group of libertarians gathered in Las Vegas recently for an event called "FreedomFest." We debated whether America will soon fall, as Rome did.

Historian Carl Richard said that today's America resembles Rome.

Stalled Motor City By John Stossel

MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry -- the same TV commentator who said Americans need to stop raising kids as if they belong to individual families -- had an extraordinary explanation for why the city of Detroit sought to declare bankruptcy last week: not enough government.     

Strangling Life By John Stossel

There are now 175,000 pages' worth of federal laws. Local governments add more.

I'm not so cynical that I think politicians pass laws just to control us. Someone always thinks: "This law is needed. This will protect people."

Meddling Overseas By John Stossel

You pay taxes? You contributed to the $2 billion your government gave Egypt this year. And last year. And every year -- for 30 years. Most of it went to Egypt's military. How's that worked out?   

I Shrugged By John Stossel

Many libertarians, outraged by how our government spies on us, call me a "traitor" because I'm not very angry. I understand that the National Security Administration tracking patterns in our emails and phone calls could put us on a terrible, privacy-crushing slippery slope.    

Puritanical Government By John Stossel

People say America is a free country. But what if you want to drink, have a cigarette or make a bet? Government often says "no" to protect us from ourselves.

Government's War By John Stossel

As Americans obsess over NSA spying, abuse by the IRS and other assaults on our freedom, I can't get my mind off the thousand other ways politicians abuse us.    

Austerity Myth By John Stossel

Europe's struggles prove that "austerity" fails!

So say the Big Spenders.

With a condescending sigh, they explain that Europe made deep cuts in government spending, and the result was today's high unemployment. "With erstwhile middle-class workers reduced to picking through garbage in search of food, austerity has already gone too far," writes Paul Krugman in The New York Times.

Gas Myths By John Stossel

Plan to drive more this summer? Annoyed by the price of gas? Complaining that oil companies rip you off?

Sublet My People Go By John Stossel

My kids moved out! I have two empty rooms in my apartment. Maybe I can rent them? A tourist visiting New York City could have a different experience, and save hotel money. I'd make money. Wouldn't it be great?