Philosophy and Methodology

No organization has more money at its disposal than the US government, which attracts thieves and con men at least in full proportion to its control of wealth.

Hayek was forced to conclude that the term "social justice" was "entirely empty and meaningless” and is generally used to assert a claim without giving a reason for it.

Those who oppose "consumerism" contend it is wrong to give consumers what they want if they want the wrong things.

Who would join a radical minority movement, and commit him- or herself for life to social obloquy and a marginal existence, for the sake of 20% more bathtubs, or 15% more candy bars? Who will man the barricades either physically or spiritually, for more peanuts or Pepsi?

"Liberalism" has always been the proper name of the ideology of freedom and free markets. But almost from the beginning, illiberal theorists claimed the name for themselves.

Recorded at Mises University 2018.

Even if everyone were totally charitable, we still could not build a complex economy without the price mechanism provided by markets.

Our modern reliance on government to make law and establish order is not the historical norm.

The central problem that confronts modern libertarian political theory is how to place limits on the number and kinds of intrusions in which government may engage — and how to ensure that it will confine itself to these limits.

War follows protection. Peace follows free trade. As David Ricardo said, “If you want peace, starve the government.”