David R. Henderson

David R. Henderson is a research fellow with the Hoover Institution and an emeritus professor of economics in the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is author of The Joy of Freedom: An Economist’s Odyssey and co-author, with Charles L. Hooper, of Making Great Decisions in Business and Life(Chicago Park Press). His latest book is The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics (Liberty Fund, 2008). He has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, the Jim Lehrer Newshour, CNN, MSNBC, RT, Fox Business Channel, and C-SPAN. He has had over 100 articles published in Fortune, the Wall Street Journal, Red Herring, Barron’s, National Review, Reason, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Hill, and the Christian Science Monitor. He has also testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. He blogs at http://econlog.econlib.org

Remembering Hiroshima

Sometimes, something happens that is so awful that we find ourselves rationalizing it, talking as if it had to happen, to make ourselves feel better about the horrible event. For many people, I believe, President Truman’s dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, were two … Continue reading “Remembering Hiroshima”

The 1960s Antiwar Movement Revisited

I spent part of July 4 reading an antiwar book from the mid-1960s. Hey, call me a party animal. And what I learned gave me a perspective on today’s antiwar movement. Unfortunately, the mid-1960s’ movement makes today’s look weak by comparison. So here are some of the highlights from the book, some comparisons to today’s … Continue reading “The 1960s Antiwar Movement Revisited”

Why I Won’t Renew With Amnesty International

For about the last 15 years, I’ve been an on-again, off-again member of Amnesty International (AI) – mainly on. When I’ve let my membership lapse, it’s been due to my financial circumstances. But a letter I received from AI last month has persuaded me not to rejoin. What is happening at AI is a tragic … Continue reading “Why I Won’t Renew With Amnesty International”

Reflections on Memorial Day, 2006

Various commentators on the network political shows on Sunday, May 28 reminded us to take some time to remember, on Memorial Day, those who had died in our current and past wars. Some even suggested that we do so at a particular time: editor Dan Henninger of the Wall Street Journal, for example, suggested 3:00 … Continue reading “Reflections on Memorial Day, 2006”

Did Rumsfeld Lie – and When?

One of the main ways modern political dialogue has gone wrong is in various people’s use of the word “lying” to describe what those they disagree with are doing. If you’ve followed any political dialogue at all over the last 10 years, you’ll know what I’m talking about. So, for example, person A makes claim … Continue reading “Did Rumsfeld Lie – and When?”

Gasoline Prices and Energy Policy, True and False

The recent run-up in gasoline prices has led to a number of proposals by Washington politicians. It has also caused many people to be angry toward oil companies. What we are seeing looks like a replay of discussions and policy proposals that started in 1973 and continued throughout the 1970s. In the late 1970s, I … Continue reading “Gasoline Prices and Energy Policy, True and False”

Why Cal Thomas Is Wrong

On March 23, columnist Cal Thomas published a column titled “Blair and Bush Get It.” What, in Thomas’ opinion, do they get? The idea that the U.S. and British governments should keep troops in Iraq until, in his words, "the task is done." Interestingly, nowhere in his article does Thomas state the task that he … Continue reading “Why Cal Thomas Is Wrong”

Conversation With a Few Good Men (and Women)

I teach at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., meaning that I instruct young military officers who are generally smart, hardworking, and curious. Another important piece of background is that two weeks into a typical teaching quarter, I’ve come to love my students. On March 29, I had one of those days that I, … Continue reading “Conversation With a Few Good Men (and Women)”

The Myth of US Prosperity During World War II

In my previous article, I laid out why war is not good for an economy generally. Yet, while many people admit that the resources used to fight the Vietnam War or either of the U.S. wars on Iraq could have been put to better use, they still have an almost romantic view of how good … Continue reading “The Myth of US Prosperity During World War II”