A few weeks ago YouTube suggested that I watch a 1988 episode of William F. Buckley’s PBS TV show, “Firing Line,” featuring Ron Paul, who at the time was the Libertarian Party candidate for president. I had to chuckle right at the top when Buckley introduced Rep. Paul by striking an ironic pose: while “libertarians specialize in non-organization…,” Buckley said, “to run for president of the United States, which Dr. Paul is doing on the Libertarian ticket, does require organization, to be sure uncoerced.” (Emphasis added.) Buckley flashed his trademark impish smile while his guest remained silent looking bemused.
Tag: liberty
Seeing The Police Brutality Problem Wrong
Anyone who believes the police brutality problem is a sign of racism isn’t seeing the root cause and therefore won’t have an actual solution.
Ol’ Joe Bad’un’s “Executive Actions” against Gun Owners
Domestic enemy and anti-gun bigot criminal Joe Biden (probably under the control of his emotional support pig*) has announced “executive actions” on guns.
The Fraught World of Second-Bests
When discussion turns to how to make government “better,” however any particular person would conceive that condition, libertarians understand that we are in the fraught world of second-bests. In other words, because of the nature of the state, no solution that merely attempts to reform it will be or could be truly satisfying. The system will continue to feature exploitation, rent-seeking, public-choice and knowledge problems, and worse.
Rights are Individual
Anyone saying “corporations have a right to…” or “government has the right to…” doesn’t understand what a right is.
I Won’t Accept a Vaccine Passport
I’ve said for a long time that libertarians may be headed for a fate of being second-class residents, as the tracking demands get more numerous and more rigid, to a point where more of us simply can’t comply. This is just another move in that direction. What are you going to do about it?
Robert Higgs: The State Is Too Dangerous to Tolerate (58m)
This episode features a lecture by economist and economic historian Robert Higgs from 2013. This is an intellectual tour de force from Higgs, where he demolishes many of the popular misconceptions about (and justifications for) the state.
Rebel, but Make It Responsible
Did the past year signal the end of liberty, or just put a few more nails in its coffin? Is liberty under a greater threat these days or is it only a matter of perception? I hope it’s the latter, even though I suspect it’s the former. I plan to pry some of those coffin nails out before it’s too late to salvage what we’re losing. I hope you’ll help.
Immigration and Housing: The Meaning of Hsieh-Moretti
Now that we correctly understand Hsieh-Moretti’s results, let’s put them in context.
Where Property Rights Begin
Your bodily autonomy– no matter where you stand– is the beginning of property rights, but not necessarily the end. Hopefully, your property rights don’t end there, but for some people, they do.