Mises Wire

In this week’s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon takes a hard look at philosopher Omri Boehm’s fixation with John Brown and his commitment to violence in the name of ending slavery. 

Camillo Tarello was one of the fathers of modern agriculture. Fighting the headwinds of state disapproval for his innovative farming methods, he made many agricultural discoveries, benefitting not only his fellow Italians, but future farmers around the world.

The Continentals and other paper monies only temporarily retained some value largely because of an initial promise of future redemption in gold and silver—a monetary “bait-and-switch.”

Charles Dickens trained many to hate capitalism, but he never understood the difference between envious hatred of wealth and charitable concern for the poor. The true story of his personal life makes this evident.

Losing one’s money, credit cards, and passports in a New York City cab could have been a disaster. Thanks to trust and cooperation among people who didn’t know each other, this story had a happy ending.

Shortly after hearing about the birth of Jesus, Herod the king tried to have the child murdered. Indeed, Herod's oppressive rule and the predations of the Roman state play a huge role in the Christmas story.

The 1940 version of The Mask of Zorro is more than a swashbuckling film featuring Zorro and his skills with the sword. It is also a reminder that the state is oppressive and seeks to take away the natural rights and liberties of the people.

Like his predecessor, President Trump unsuccessfully tries to convince Americans that their economic pain isn’t real, but Americans know the difference.

Historically, it has been very poor manners in Washington to admit that keeping home prices high is a deliberate policy. High prices are not the "unintended consequence" of good intentions. 

Two days before Christmas, 1913, the infamous “creature from Jekyll Island,” the Federal Reserve System, was birthed into our body politic. It has been devouring the economy ever since.