Frida Kahlo’s Socialism

Socialists have always denigrated marriage, and have always devised alternative arrangements to “free” women from men (or, is it the other way around?). In the new movie, at the (first) marriage of Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera, one of their comrades attempts to explain why their marriage is to be celebrated. Even the choice of marriage is politicized.

Why Law School Costs So Much

In 1902, writes George Leef, those who aspired to enter the legal profession could take several different routes. One was simply to study law individually. A second route was to apprentice yourself into a law firm and learn what you needed to know in that environment--as Clarence Darrow did. The third option was to go to law school.

Burning Down the House

The Fed has changed the rules under which it can inject liquidity into the system, says Sean Corrigan in this wide-ranging interview. The Fed has made several overt statements of intent that, if necessary, it will buy anything—corporate securities, mortgages, physical assets—it will conduct a “money rain” if it has to.

Bernankeian Economics

Most commentators have focussed, with merit, the Fed’s official’s alarmingly sanguine view that monetary inflation is a tool to combat evils and achieve all manner of economic good. But Ben Bernanke’s most revealing remarks concern his subtle references to the Fed as just another branch of the federal government.

David and His Goliaths

David made an enemy of the State because he dared to legally push the boundaries and defy the police state. He did so during a crusade aimed at the prevention of further regime encroachment into the lives of others. David’s story, as told by Karen De Coster, is one of principle and perseverance.

Freedom and Fairness

Philosopher John Rawls, who has died at 82, is widely regarded as the most influential philosopher of the 20th century—a sort of John Maynard Keynes of political philosophy. He is credited with reviving political philosophy in an age of behaviorism. Because of his topical focus and the intuitive appeal of his ideas, he has left a long train of devoted followers and has significantly shaped mainstream political discourse.

Defenders of liberty, however, have good reason to question key elements of Rawls’s thought.

Politics and Pathogens

Weakening and destroying the will to health is a major occupation of the state, which makes its public service announcements, prodding us to take care of ourselves, something of a joke. James Ostrowski explains the relationship between health and the state.

Enron, One Year Later

Many pundits have attempted to diagnose why such a wave of scandals and record bankruptcies occurred when it did. Most suggestions fail to address underlying causes. The real lesson of Enron, argue Steinreich and Oglesby, is that significant corporate corruption will end when one-party rule of corporate America does. Until then, expect more Enrons.

What’s Wrong with Taxation?

Liberty is incompatible with taxation, writes Tibor Machan. This is despite the famous saying by Oliver Wendell Holmes that “Taxation is the price we pay for civilization.” In fact, taxation is a most uncivilized way of obtaining funds, given that it boils down to nothing less than extortion.

Subscribe to