A. Barton Hinkle is senior editorial writer and a columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Americans Forget How Good They Have It
Less than 3 in 10 Americans believe the country's headed in the right direction
A. Barton Hinkle
Latest from A. Barton Hinkle
Sacrifice Civil Liberties? You First
Both sides want to chip away at your civil liberties, even if sometimes they argue about it.
Virginia Keeps Third Parties at the Bottom of the Ballot
Court dismissed a challenge from a former Libertarian gubernatorial nominee
No Such Thing As a Perfect Route for a Gas Pipeline
If America wants to wean off coal, it needs natural gas, and the pipelines that carry it.
Vindication For Virginia Gun Rights Group
Katie Couric admits to deceptive edit, but anti-gun extremist director still standing by it
Does Virginia's Governor Mean It About Restoring Rights for Felons?
Will they be able to exercise their right to own a gun again, or just to vote for their leaders?
No, You Don't Have an Obligation to Vote
Once you start dissecting the please-vote platitudes, it quickly becomes evident that you should feel no guilt about skipping the polls.
Should Felons Get Their Gun Rights Back?
Yes, especially if their right to vote's been restored.
An Open Letter From the GOP to the State's Criminal Class
A. Barton Hinkle takes McAuliffe up on the challenge of earning the votes of ex-felons
Fight Against NC LGBT Discrimination Law Reveals Hypocrisy Over 'Dark Money'
Corporations influencing politics is awful for liberals, unless the influence benefits their political agenda.
Another Lesson from the Iraq War
Liberals and conservatives are short-sighted even when claiming to have learned their lessons.
Virginia's System of Injustice
Wrongful convictions like Keith Allen Harward's are made easier without open discovery rules.
Shut Up, They Explained
Increasingly, free speech ends where the listener stops agreeing.
Merrick Garland, Extremist
Garland looks like a moderate because he tends to side with the government irrespective of who's in charge.
The Fourth Branch of Government is Out of Control
Regulators and other bureaucrats form a fourth branch of government with elements of the other three, but little public influence.
The Candidates' Public Disservice on Trade
Major party candidates doing their best to get Americans to oppose free trade, despite its role in increasing prosperity.
The Fall and Decline of the English Language
How :-), :-(, and emoticons helped lead to Trump
Israel, Gay Marriage, Boycotts, and the Right to Withhold Consent
Who can participate in a boycott?
Virginia Legislature's Airbnb Battle: Who Rules Your House?
Right now, renters can't collect.
Donald Trump's Authoritarian Fantasies
Trump asks voters to "believe me." But why should they?
Hillary Clinton, Democracy's Friend—and Foe
She likes democracy, when it breaks her way.
Contraception, Immigration, and Liberal and Conservative Hypocrisy
Partisans decide their position on religious liberty based on their partisan agendas toward the specific issues.
Don't Put Right-to-Work in the Virginia Constitution
Right-to-work laws are a response to federal mandates, and don't belong in state constitutions.
None Dare Call It Treason
The disclosure about Valerie Plame was called "treason" and people have gone to jail for mishandling classified info, what Hillary Clinton is accused of.
Who Needs These Bums, Anyway?
2016 features the sorriest bunch of candidates in more than 150 years.
Theft-by-Government Continues Through Eminent Domain
Governments ignoring the constitutional limitations to eminent domain.
How Long Could the U.S. Go Without Electricity?
Ted Koppel's latest book explores the effects of EMP weapons.
Do Teachers and Pharmacists Have the Right to Say No?
From mandatory union fees to health laws.
Will Charter Schools Ever Get Off the Ground in Virginia?
Politicians doing their best to stop them.
Saving the Planet Requires Nuclear Power
Climate change activists can be deniers, too.
To Reduce Inequality, Cut Red Tape
Regulatory and cultural capture means a government-induced upward redistribution of wealth.
Dear GOP: Dump Trump
Donald Trump is the closest thing to a fascist in America in generations.
It's Time to Go After Those People!
Who those people are depends on your partisan affiliation.
Feds Overreach on Election Regulation
The FEC claims authority over regulating press coverage of elections.
