Libertarians Must Never Warm to the Warfare State
The July issue of Reason has a new format, which improves the layout of the publication. But what about the content? Unfortunately, on that ground, the new Reason seems to be worse than the old.
Carter’s Energy Fascism
Several months into his new administration, President Carter was worried. How was he going to get power, and how was he to establish himself as a forceful, commanding president? Carter discovered his proposed route to power: his energy scheme.
Our Greatest Presidents?
In the 1940s and early ‘50s, a school of establishment historians existed who made it their business to extol the virtues of the “Great Presidents.” This was a childishly transparent attempt to turn a bit of left-liberal politicking into the verdict of history.
Defending the Miser
[Excerpted from Defending the Undefendable]
Grassroots for Mises
The advent of the Internet and online forums seemed to have made old-fashioned meet-up groups obsolete. The truth is that reading groups are still very relevant, especially when they take advantage of what websites like Mises.org can offer.
Playing Fast and Loose with Civilization
Everyone knows that the Obama administration’s decision to suspend consideration of applications to drill in the Arctic is driven by political considerations, some attempt to “respond” to the BP mess in the Gulf. But what strikes me as just how willy nilly the state acts toward the goods and services that fuel civilization itself.
The Chicago Tax Strike of 1977
The Illinois tax rebellion shows the great importance of libertarian activists and organizations being already in place, ready to take advantage of and take the lead in mass protests and mass movements.
Anderson’s Economics and the Public Welfare
He once told me an amusing story of a conversation with Keynes. In connection with the latter’s theory of stimulating consumption to cure a slump, Anderson asked him, “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea to raise white elephants in a period of depression?”
The Sad State of Financial Economics Teaching
Mishkin’s popular textbook describes the business cycle both as an unexplained cause and as the effect of other unexplained causes. If students adopt this circular reasoning when they become researchers, one should not be surprised if they produce only nonsense.
Government Codes vs. Innovation
Economics is the study of unintended consequences. Safety codes are merely the inadequate and disproportionate reaction to unintended consequences. America is addicted to safety codes, and the victim is liberty.
