U.S. History

In this week’s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon revisits Wilmoore Kendall’s The Conservative Affirmation, which takes issue with Abraham Lincoln and his views on equality.

Viewing the Declaration of Independence as the act that created one consolidated American nation is a common historical anachronism, which projects a later nationalist understanding backward onto the founding era.

In attacking progressivism in a recent speech, Clarence Thomas has been pilloried in the media and by politicians and academics. However, Thomas was correct: progressivism has brought one disaster after another, all the while empowering the worst of state actors.

For too long, people have thought of the airwaves and waterways as “public” property that is best controlled by government. However, Murray Rothbard and others held that one could apply the institution of private property to both.

Ryan McMaken points out that the American "great experiment" failed many decades ago. In fact, the current republic we call "the United States" is clearly a completely different republic than the one founded back in the late eighteenth century. The founding fathers wouldn't recognize it at all.

In attacking progressivism in a recent speech, Clarence Thomas has been pilloried in the media and by politicians and academics. However, Thomas was correct: progressivism has brought one disaster after another, all the while empowering the worst of state actors.

For too long, people have thought of the airwaves and waterways as “public” property that is best controlled by government. However, Murray Rothbard and others held that one could apply the institution of private property to both.

While upholding the radical ideal, Rothbard combined idealism with realism, scholarship with accessibility, and boundless curiosity with commitment to truth.

Ryan McMaken takes a look at Rothbard's seminal 1963 essay "War, Peace, and the State." 

While Republicans have promised robust economic growth to accompany their tax cuts, reality has been different. That is because Republicans increased government spending at the same time, dragging down the economy.