Absolutism and the “Reason of State”: Rothbard on the Growth of Statism
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.
Mises Wire
James Comey Is Not an Innocent Victim of the Lawfare He Helped to Create
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.
Trump, Comey, and the Long History of the Unelected Government
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.
Trump’s National Guard Deployments Centralize Power and Undermine Federalism
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.
The Complicated Legacy of Andrew Jackson’s Bank War
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.
Trump, Comey, and the Long History of the Unelected Government
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.
Schumpeter Explains the Origins of the Modern Tax State
In the West, the “tax states” we now live under are relatively modern institutions, and they developed from earlier non-state civil governments that were often not primarily funded by taxes.
The Wheels of Government Cheese
By trying to protect dairy farmers and raise their incomes, the government created a massive cheese surplus, then gave it away, thus harming the farmers they were trying to support.
How the Fourteenth Amendment Empowers Judicial Activism
Created to assure that newly-freed slaves would receive equal legal protection, the Fourteenth Amendment has come to dominate federal jurisprudence.
Inflation and Economic Growth
According to mainstream economists, inflation aids economic growth while deflation impairs growth. Austrian economists, however, point out that in much of US history, economic growth was accompanied by deflation.
