A. Barton Hinkle is senior editorial writer and a columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
A Conservative Case for Gay Marriage
How banning gay marriage encourages big-government thinking.
A. Barton Hinkle
Latest from A. Barton Hinkle
Virginia Election Offers a Real-World Test of Conservative Theory
The GOP is running a slate of socially-conservative candidates. Will the voters buy it?
Tesla Motors and the Folly of Government Intervention
Why the government can't create winners in the marketplace.
The GOP's Flawed Plan to Defund Obamacare
Republicans should focus on entitlement cuts, not P.R. stunts.
Free Speech Is So Annoying to Elected Officials
They want to control the terms of the debate.
Progressives Are Their Own Worst Enemies in New SCOTUS Case
Eminent domain abuse rears its ugly head in Mt. Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action
Virginia Libertarian Is Only Gubernatorial Candidate Focused on Issues
Robert Sarvis lags in the polls, but leads on the merits.
From Abortion to Transportation, Unnecessary Regulations Cripple Individual Liberty
Tell the government busybodies to back off.
The Least Bad Option in Syria
If military intervention is inevitable, how should the U.S. proceed?
Train Police to Protect Pets
The killing of family pets by law enforcement needs to stop.
Obamacare Buyers' Remorse
Maybe congressional Republicans should quit trying to repeal Obamacare and let the president do it for them.
Stop and Frisk: How the Right Learned to Love Gun Control
If any other program had a 98 percent failure rate, conservatives would hold it up as a shining example of everything that's wrong with big government.
Why Immigration Makes America Better
Nothing says "big government" like controlling individuals through massive federal programs, electrified fences, and biometric ID cards.
The Third-Party Catch-22
The lack of coverage for Libertarian candidates isn't just bad journalism. It makes for bad politics as well.
The Right Is Wrong About Defense
Conservatives insist military outlays must remain high in order to sustain employment levels. Are they serious?
Gas Prices: What Can the President Do?
The media is either economically illiterate or deliberately biased on the matter.
Chris Christie's Bogus Attack on Rand Paul
Christie gets in touch with his inner Maureen Dowd.
Connecting the Dots of Corruption
A thread runs through Virginia's scandal-plagued governor, the men who would succeed him, the fall of Detroit and the president's economic speech on Wednesday.
Gay Marriage Should Lead to More Freedom, Not More Government Control
Requests for tolerance must not become demands for approval.
It's Time to Train Officers Not to Kill Dogs
Cops are just "following policy" - and that's precisely the problem.
Commit Any Felonies Lately?
No? Militarized cops might attack you for buying bottled water or shoot your dog anyway.
Meet the Libertarian Running for Governor of Virginia
Robert Sarvis, a lawyer-turned-economist-turned-techie, aims to be Virginia's next governor.
Citizens and the State: The Problem Is Bigger Than You Think
The NSA scandal is the tip of the iceberg.
Big Brother Is Watching You
Politicians may be fine with the surveillance state, but they can't force you to be.
The Citizens United Backlash Threatens Basic Rights
Censoring corporations is effectively censoring ourselves.
No More Tax Dollars for Sports Stadiums
Minor league teams offer empty promises and empty stadiums.
Government Violates Rights in Name of Fighting Terrorism
The Brandon Raub case highlights disturbing government behavior
Obama's War on the Constitution
The president, who first campaigned on a claim to constitutional expertise, is now the document's biggest threat.
Survival Strategies of Governmentus Omnipotus
Government has evolved a variety of sophisticated survival strategies.
The Embarrassing Political Grandstanding of Ken Cuccinelli
If conservative hero Cuccinelli loses his bid for the Virginia governorship, he may have only himself to blame.
Politicians and Private Lives
There's a double-standard when it comes to politicians and the privacy of their families.
What Does the Boston Bombing Say About Diversity?
Individuals should be judged, not groups.
Cognitive Dissonance on Gun Rights
Both liberals and conservatives favor a selective reading of the Constitution.
Who Framed the Right?
When "logical" arguments against same-sex marriage break down, what is left?
Both Left and Right Are Afraid of Change
Social experiments don't sit well on either side of the aisle.
The Green-Car Blues
They say virtue is its own reward. But some green-car owners seem to want a little more than that.
Virginia Loses No Matter Who Wins Governor's Race
The contest between Republican Ken Cuccinelli and Democrat Terry McAuliffe leaves a lot to be desired.
