Myths about libertarianism - The Mises Community

Worthwhile read, especially if you have heard any of these myths.

Myths about libertarianism - The Mises CommunityW

Is Employer-Based Health Insurance Worth Saving? - Economix Blog - NYTimes.com

Good analysis of why the government needs to remove the special treatment for employers who provide health care benefits to employees.

Is Employer-Based Health Insurance Worth Saving? - Economix Blog - NYTimes.com

Playing Chicken in Memphis - Art Carden - Mises Institute

Excellent reminder of how the free market works.

Playing Chicken in Memphis - Art Carden - Mises Institute

Campaign For Liberty — America's Anti-Militarist Heritage | by George C. Leef

Great book! More thinking conservatives need to read it.

Campaign For Liberty — America's Anti-Militarist Heritage   | by George C. Leef

Campaign For Liberty — Balance the Budget! | by Rand Paul

Great reminder from Rand Paul that cutting government spending is crucial.

Campaign For Liberty — Balance the Budget!   | by Rand Paul

Retirees, Taxpayers Ripped Off to Subsidize UAW | OpenMarket.org

Better explanation of what is going on with car company bankruptcies and bailouts than you are likely to see in the major media.

Retirees, Taxpayers Ripped Off to Subsidize UAW | OpenMarket.org

Chrysler "Speculators" Turn Out to Be Pension Funds - News - Freedom Politics

The evil "speculators" denounced by Obama turn out to be police officers and teachers.

Chrysler "Speculators" Turn Out to Be Pension Funds - News - Freedom Politics

Campaign For Liberty — The Separation of Marriage and State | by Jerry Salcido

I agree -- better to separate marriage and State.

Campaign For Liberty — The Separation of Marriage and State   | by Jerry Salcido

Walter E. Williams : Empathy Versus Law - Townhall.com

Excellent commentary and analogy on the criteria for selecting judges.

Walter E. Williams : Empathy Versus Law - Townhall.com

Raw Story » Obama mulling ‘preventive detention’ without trials, report says

Very disturbing.

Sounds a lot like "depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury" and "transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences".

Anyone recognize those phrases?

Raw Story » Obama mulling ‘preventive detention’ without trials, report says

Sharpening the Saw for Freedom Fighters | Big Government In Your Wallet

Thanks to Kelly Estes (kellyestes) on Twitter for inviting me to do a guest post on her blog.

Sharpening the Saw for Freedom Fighters | Big Government In Your Wallet

Ron Paul: States Have Right to Legalize Marijuana | Tenth Amendment Center

Ron Paul: the U.S. Constitution gives the fifty states the right to legalize hemp production or marijuana... but drug users should not be entitled to government-funded treatment if they abuse legalized drugs.

Ron Paul: States Have Right to Legalize Marijuana | Tenth Amendment Center

Hate the Sin, Tax the Sinner? — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

Rev. Robert A. Sirico writes, "Yet the temptation to impose sin taxes is one that should be resisted for economic and moral reasons. The consequences of the sin tax are often the very opposite of those intended by its designers. Rather than increasing revenue, the sin tax can reduce it. Rather than discouraging what are regarded as morally questionable behaviors, the sin tax can make them more appealing. Rather than reducing what are perceived to be internal costs of the sin, the sin tax can increase them and expand them to society as a whole... Whatever economic or social benefits one can dream up from the sin tax, we must also realize that the decision to tax must be weighed against the social benefits for reducing the behavior by slow and deliberate persuasion and voluntary action. When it comes to public policy, the preferred method of discouraging sin should fall under the category of alternative, mediating institutions, notably family, church, and school. That would leave government officials more time to focus on the sins they can really do something about—their own."

Hate the Sin, Tax the Sinner? — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

Teach Your Children Well - Joseph Sobran - Mises Institute

Joe Sobran writes, "Some readers may object that this is a poor way to raise a child. A few may even call it child abuse. But that's the whole point: Child abuse is the best preparation for adult life under our form of GOVERNMENT."

Teach Your Children Well - Joseph Sobran - Mises Institute

Declare War on Declaring War - Columns - Freedom Politics

Gary M. Galles: Protectionism, in fact, is an alliance between domestic producers and the government declaring war on domestic consumers to force them to pay higher prices.

Declare War on Declaring War - Columns - Freedom Politics

Stop Bailing Out Government Schools - Columns - Freedom Politics

Mary Theroux: If the government can’t teach reading and writing and ‘rithmetic for $10,000 per year per student, why would anyone want them to have more?

Stop Bailing Out Government Schools - Columns - Freedom Politics

Hysteria over swine flu is the real danger, some say - CNN.com

"Some say the hype over H1N1 has led to undue hysteria. Malaria kills thousands daily."

Hysteria over swine flu is the real danger, some say - CNN.com

Tenth Amendment Showdown: La Boétie vs. Machiavelli by John Bowman

Great suggestions on toppling the federal Leviathan State.

Tenth Amendment Showdown: La Boétie vs. Machiavelli by John Bowman

I Quit, I Think

John Taylor Gatto: We don’t need state-certified teachers to make education happen -- that probably guarantees it won’t.

I Quit, I Think

A National Day of Prayer is Not Enough -- The American Vision

Gary Demar writes, "Well, I'm kind of glad. I'm tired of politicians who take the name of the Lord in vain, that is, acknowledge God publicly and then don't honor God publicly. Please tell me how someone who supports abortion on demand, homosexuality, and generational theft by government edict should serve as the national spokesman for a day of prayer."

The American Vision » The American Vision Blog » A National Day of Prayer is Not Enough

Fort Wayne News » Senate poised to pass Hate Crimes Legislation

Brian Sikma writes, "Those who commit violent crimes should be punished regardless of their motive and regardless of the identity of their victim. Contrary to what many advocates of hate crimes legislation wish you to perceive, not a single criminal is escaping the consequences of his crime because of the lack of a hate crimes statute. Those who oppose hate crimes legislation do so on the grounds that everyone deserves to be equally protected from violent criminals. When government seeks to use the criminal justice system to right supposed social wrongs, the outcome is far from what real justice should be. You cannot have appropriate justice in the unequal application of justice."

Fort Wayne News » Senate poised to pass Hate Crimes Legislation

Ten Years Later, Boy's 'Hand of Hope' Continues to Spark Debate - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

I remember that photo. Nice follow-up story.

Ten Years Later, Boy's 'Hand of Hope' Continues to Spark Debate - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Congressman Ron Paul - On Af-Pak: Stop "Helping" - Texas Straight Talk

Good article by Congressman Paul on Pakistan's problems. Dr. Paul writes, "We need to bring our troops home, end all foreign aid, and maintain a neutral stance on the world stage. It, in fact, is the only foreign policy we can afford right now."

Congressman Ron Paul - On Af-Pak: Stop "Helping" - Texas Straight Talk

White House puts UAW ahead of property rights -- www.washingtonexaminer.com >> Politics

Disgusting and disheartening. Executive branch of national government does exactly the opposite of its fundamental role of protecting property rights.

Michael Barone writes, "The White House, presumably car czar Steven Rattner and deputy Ron Bloom, is seeking to transfer the property of one group of people to another group that is politically favored. In the process, it is setting aside basic property rights in favor of rewarding the United Auto Workers for the support the union has given the Democratic Party. The only possible limit on the White House’s power is the bankruptcy judge, who might not go along... In the meantime, who is going to buy bonds from unionized companies if the government is going to take their money away and give it to the union? We have just seen an episode of Gangster Government. It is likely to be part of a continuing series."

www.washingtonexaminer.com >> Politics >> - White House puts UAW ahead of property rights

Rule of law trumps identity politics | women, court, justice, groups, woman - Opinion - OCRegister.com

Jay Ambrose writes, "Much of what's best in Western civilization has been the movement from the rule of on-the-spot judgment to the rule of law."

Rule of law trumps identity politics | women, court, justice, groups, woman - Opinion - OCRegister.com

Real Americans Don’t Buy American « But Now You Know

"The American Dream is for everyone to earn their way, NOT for people to be given an easy way out with affirmative action. And Buying American™ in order to protect overpriced, inefficient union monopoly jobs is the very worst form of Affirmative Action."

Real Americans Don’t Buy American « But Now You Know

Moving toward Drug Legalization by Jacob G. Hornberger

Jacob Hornberger writes:

We should always keep in mind the biggest reason for ending the drug war: the concept of individual liberty. The government has no more business monitoring and punishing a person for what he ingests than it does for what he reads. The right to ingest anything you want goes to the core of a free society. When the government wields the power to punish people for ingesting substances that public officials don’t approve of, there is no way that people in that society can legitimately be considered free. That’s why such sentiments as “Thank God I’m an American because at least I know I’m free” are ridiculous. They reflect what might be called living “the life of the lie.”

Moving toward Drug Legalization by Jacob G. Hornberger

American Daughter Media Center - Editorials » Blog Archive » Making Free Speech a Hate Crime

Jerry A. Kane writes, "Polemicists who denounce homosexuality and same-sex marriage are no less entitled to their opinions than the apologists who promote them... Hate crime laws violate the fundamental notion that man’s natural equality entitles him to impartial justice."

American Daughter Media Center - Editorials » Blog Archive » Making Free Speech a Hate Crime

Libertarianism's hook to be cool -- radical freedom and freely chosen social responsibility - Libertarian Blog - Bonzai: A Libertarian Blog

"When these men and women realize that the private sector can use the same genius-magic to deal with social problems as it has to create social-sites and new technologies, they'll look on government like the sluggish, stupid obstacle it is."

Libertarianism's hook to be cool -- radical freedom and freely chosen social responsibility - Libertarian Blog - Bonzai: A Libertarian Blog

Campaign For Liberty — Abusive Power and the Culture of Obedience | by Bretigne Shaffer

Highly-recommended reading for United States citizens who still love liberty.

Here are some of the clips I really liked.

Why have we institutionalized dangerous bullies in our society in the first place?

There seems to be an absence of any idea that law-enforcement officers even need to justify their actions.

Somewhere along the way (I'm guessing that "somewhere" was a government-run school), a large number of Americans learned to equate "law and order" with "obedience to authority."

We are becoming a nation of prisoners and prison guards.

Refuse to be treated like a criminal if you aren't one.

Refuse to go along with others being treated like criminals if they aren't.

Campaign For Liberty — Abusive Power and the Culture of Obedience   | by Bretigne Shaffer

Heroes of the Day: The Second Amendment and a Georgia college student « Liberty Portal

"Who brings a gun to a birthday party? Apparently someone who values their life and the lives of those around them."

Heroes of the Day: The Second Amendment and a Georgia college student « Liberty Portal

In defence of the secessionist traitors… « The Constitutional Alamo

Michael Naragon writes, "It is not that those who entertain the “fantasy” of secession wish to leave the United States. These men are not traitors, as you would paint them to be. The real traitor is a federal government that has abandoned the Constitutional principles that it was founded upon. A federal government that has taken far more power than the “rebels” of 1776 ever intended it to have."

In defence of the secessionist traitors… « The Constitutional Alamo

The Revolution for Liberty

"It is not enough to join a party and be active, we must CHALLENGE the Parties WE support."

The Revolution for Liberty

LewRockwell.com Blog: re: Jon Stewart's Shameless Flip Flop on Hiroshima

David Kramer asks, "if we didn't have an atomic bomb at that time, would those people who think it was a good thing that Truman dropped the bomb be okay if Truman had sent U.S. soldiers into Hiroshima and shot to death the UNARMED¹ civilians as a means of forcing the Japanese to surrender?"

LewRockwell.com Blog: re: Jon Stewart's Shameless Flip Flop on Hiroshima

Attack on the Chrysler Capitalists by Peter Schiff

Peter Schiff writes, "Giving control of Chrysler, and soon GM, to the UAW and the government will enshrine a culture of failure and seal Detroit's fate. Both companies will become government-sponsored entities, not too dissimilar from Amtrak or the Post Office, forever relying on taxpayer funds to create products of dubious quality."

Attack on the Chrysler Capitalists by Peter Schiff

The Washington Independent » Ron Paul’s Economic Theories Winning GOP Converts

Very glad to read this. This man is one of the few on Capitol Hill with true solutions to our nation's woes.

I count myself very blessed to have gotten to meet this statesman with my family in his office several years ago. What a gentleman he was and is.

The Washington Independent » Ron Paul’s Economic Theories Winning GOP Converts

Teen homeschooler jailed under Patriot Act

Infuriating story from "the land of the free."

Teen homeschooler jailed under Patriot Act

Congressman Ron Paul - When Government Plays Doctor - Texas Straight Talk

Great food for thought, as always, from my favorite Congressman.

Ron Paul writes, "When government gets involved in healthcare decisions, the cure is so often worse than the illness."

Congressman Ron Paul - When Government Plays Doctor - Texas Straight Talk

John Marshall Vs Thomas Jefferson on Constitutional Interpretation | Tenth Amendment Center

Gennady Stolyarov II writes, "Perhaps it is time to give each branch of government the sovereignty to judge for itself what is constitutional, and the ability to act as a check against misinterpretations by the other branches."

John Marshall Vs Thomas Jefferson on Constitutional Interpretation | Tenth Amendment Center

StormTrooper USA — Populist Party Blog

Philip A Farruggio writes, "To date, America has over 750 military bases in over 100 countries! Anyone wish to know why the ‘man and woman on the street’ worldwide has no use for us? How about every nation that has American military installations hold a referendum? Allow the populace to vote as to whether they want foreign military bases on their sovereign land. Cut and dry, vote and decide. Isn’t that what Bush and his crew meant by ‘bringing democracy to (enter country here)?’"

StormTrooper USA — Populist Party Blog

Free Speech or Permission to Speak? — Populist Party Blog

The First Amendment to the Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Steve Osborn writes, "When we accept the government’s (Federal, State or Local) requirement as to time and place to protest or demonstrate; when we agree to demonstrate only far from where the demonstration needs to take place; when we agree to limit the scope of our grievances to avoid embarrassing the officials we are trying to wake up, then we are voluntarily giving up that First Amendment right."

Free Speech or Permission to Speak? — Populist Party Blog

Campaign For Liberty — The War on Drugs Is a War on You | by Michael Boldin

Good arguments in favor of personal liberty (at least for adults) and against the costly (in many ways) United States "War on drugs".

Campaign For Liberty — The War on Drugs Is a War on You   | by Michael Boldin

The War on Drugs is a War on You | Tenth Amendment Center

Michael Boldin writes, "Every day that the war on drugs continues is another day of injustice; another day of spending countless billions to lock people up that don’t behave the way the bureaucrats want them to behave. It’s time to bring this multi-billion dollar attack on your liberty to an end."

The War on Drugs is a War on You | Tenth Amendment Center

Separate but unequal protection

14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states, "nor shall any State... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

J. Matt Barber writes, "H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009... represents a thinly veiled effort to ultimately silence — under penalty of law — morally, medically and biblically based opposition to the homosexual lifestyle."

Separate but unequal protection

And how do we pick our justices? Tradition! -- The Constitutional Alamo

Michael Naragon writes, "By using the word tradition, Obama is – intentionally I believe – implying that the Constitution is not the standard by which laws should be judged."

The Constitutional Alamo

The Minimum Wage, Discrimination, and Inequality - Art Carden - Mises Institute

Art Carden writes:

The tragic irony of the regulated workplace is that it most adversely affects those on the margins of society...

Tragically, a higher minimum wage and workplace-safety regulations are likely to exacerbate rather than mitigate social inequalities by removing the penalties that discriminatory employers would have to pay in a competitive market and by eliminating an important margin on which disadvantaged groups could compete.

When people aren't allowed to compete on the basis of price, quantity, and quality, firms can discriminate on the basis of something other than productivity.

A racist employer would suffer a penalty (lower profits than his competitors) if he insisted on indulging a "taste for discrimination" in a competitive market. When prices are fixed, and labor conditions are set by law, that same employer can indulge his racist preferences without receiving his capitalist comeuppance...

One of the unintended consequences of the minimum wage and workplace regulations is that they perpetuate inequality...

But racism is an entrepreneurial error, and one that should be quickly punished in the marketplace. With restrictions on the way the labor market functions, the entrepreneurial error (and moral abomination) that is racism can go uncorrected.

Milton Friedman openly argued that minimum-wage laws are racist in effect if not intent...

Denied the opportunity to earn incomes and to acquire valuable skills, those adversely affected by the minimum wage were not allowed to share in the general prosperity that a market economy produces...

The Minimum Wage, Discrimination, and Inequality - Art Carden - Mises Institute

The new capitalism: Where theft is legal

Star Parker: Welcome to the new capitalism – where politicians rule, irresponsible behavior is rewarded, and theft is legal.

The new capitalism: Where theft is legal

Lincolnian Judicial Tyranny by Thomas J. DiLorenzo

Here's a lesson that needs to be relearned in our generation.

Andrew Jackson: The opinion of the [Supreme Court] judges has no more authority over Congress than the opinion of Congress has over the judges.

Lincolnian Judicial Tyranny by Thomas J. DiLorenzo