Gentle Readers:

Richard Cleland, the Federal Trade Commission’s Assistant Director of Advertising Practices, has asked me to voluntarily disclose the amount, type and quantity of free goods provided to me in exchange for favorable comment in these commentaries.

He tells me the purpose of the new rules “was not so much a law enforcement effort, but only government guidelines on First Amendment protected Free Speech.” Mr. Cleland said he expects “a high level of voluntary compliance with the new guidelines,” and as a patriotic citizen, naturally I want to support this latest infringement on my constitutional rights.

Accordingly, the following disclaimer is provided:

The Government of the United States, acting on your behalf, provided me a complementary Masters degree, a modest residency program at the Harvard JFK School of Government, and an assortment of emoluments to include discount groceries and a crappy lifetime healthcare program in exchange for favorable mention in these pages.