The nomination of California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown to the D.C. District Court of Appeals has escaped from its Senate filibuster purgatory that illustrated much of the worst of politics. But the attacks that she is an “extremist” who is “out of the mainstream” continue. However, what has been most striking about this episode is
Yesterday was the anniversary of Walt Whitman’s birth in 1819. It is celebrated because to many, he was America’s foremost poet, whose Leaves of Grass had a farther-reaching impact than any other book of American poetry. Despite his extensive career as a journalist, Whitman’s poetry attracts all the attention. That is unfortunate, given that his
Various fearsome characters will soon be chanting “trick or treat” at doors all over America. That peculiar threat would seem to be a long way from the dismal science, but actually, Halloween reflects economics’ central precept that people choose by comparing the benefits and costs they expect to bear as a result. Modern jack-o-lanterns are carved
FCC Accused of Doing Poor Job on E-Rate : WASHINGTON - Lax oversight by federal regulators has helped waste millions of dollars in a government program that aims to connect schools and libraries to the Internet, according to a congressional investigation. The E-Rate program, which is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, provides
One of the best writers of the old liberal school was Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay (1800-1859), the Whig historian, essayist and statesman. He was an unashamed advocate of economic freedom and a writer who excelled at pointing out the errors of logic and abuses of power he saw at work around him, who, according to Walter Olson, “has a fair
California is having a November 8 special election with nationwide consequences. Of particular importance, because of the implications if it wins and its momentum spreads similar initiatives throughout the country, is Proposition 75, which would require public employee unions to obtain members’ permission before using their dues for political
Though all but overlooked now, John Dickinson (1732-1808)--birthday November 2--was among the most important of America’s Founders and one of the most radical revolutionaries. He was a colonial legislator, member of the Stamp Act, Continental, and Confederation Congresses, chief executive of both Delaware (by a 25 to 1 vote; his being the only
Today, December 5, marks the birthday of Rose Wilder Lane (Daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder) born 1886 and died 1968. She was one of the last century’s most ardent defenders of American freedoms. In books such as The Discovery of Freedom (one of the top 100 non-fiction books of the 20th century in a readers’ poll) and Give Me Liberty , which laid
Few Americans consider themselves at significant risk from ugly or misshapen tomatoes. But the Florida Tomato Commission (FTC) “protects” those of us outside the state against any of their winter tomato growers who want to put “product of Florida” on any fruit (yes, tomatoes are fruit) not up to standard in size, shape, skin quality or color. As a
March 3 marks the 185 th anniversary of economist and philosopher Gustave de Molinari’s birth in Belgium. It is a date worth commemorating, because according to David Hart, ”He was the leading representative of the laissez-faire school of classical liberalism in France in the second half of the 19 th century.” As Wikipedia put it,
What is the Mises Institute?
The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.
Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.