Mises Wire

Artificial Intelligence, for all of the fear-mongering taking place, simply is a tool that if applied in a free market setting will make our economy stronger, not weaker.

In this week's Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon examines John Tomasi's thesis of Free Market Fairness that the collectivism espoused by John Rawls is compatible with classical liberalism. Not surprisingly, Dr. Gordon has another viewpoint.

Governments at all levels play the same game—always threatening to eliminate school buses, police departments, ambulances, garbage collection—whatever can succeed in getting the voters to approve more taxes and spending.

Through its coercive monopoly over money creation, government constantly engages in silent theft through inflation, all done in the name of “stimulating” the economy.

Advocates for US military intervention have invoked the war against the Barbary pirates as justification. Yet, an examination of that conflict shows that President Jefferson’s actions were limited and followed the direction of Congress.

The Renaissance period is seen as mostly positive by historians, but the sinister development of absolutism and the imperial state complicates the legacy of that time.

Although the political establishment claims the Comey indictment represents an unprecedented moment in our history, the truth is much different. Federal prosecutors have a long history of bringing unjustified, politically-motivated prosecutions.

The media is trying to frame last week’s indictment of James Comey as a “norm-shattering” use of executive power for personal gain. In truth, it's just the latest chapter in a much older story: the struggle between elected and unelected officials.

For those who are actually concerned about the further concentration of political power, the president’s habit of sending federal troops to American cities is a serious problem.

Was Jackson’s victory over the Second Bank of the United States a triumph for liberty, or did it merely expand federal authority under the guise of constraining it? His legacy is complicated, but there is much we can learn from it.