Mises Wire

We are told that it takes “eternal vigilance” to protect our freedom. But what if the entity taking away our freedom has the weapons and the “law” on its side?

Some economists have claimed that “transparent” monetary policy in which the Fed operates predictably will lessen the chances of the boom and bust cycles happening. It isn’t the lack of transparency that creates business cycles; it is Fed-caused malinvestments.

We are reminded time and again that prices emerge from subjective valuation, not objective criteria.

What should the younger generation do about their economic difficulties? First, learn economics—real economics. Learn logic and, math. Unlike other disciplines, correct economics does not change with trends. It helps you understand the world, predict outcomes, and make better decisions.

If prices are instrumental in providing needed information to market participants, then inflation can be seen as introducing static into the system, creating more uncertainty and leading to bad choices.

In this week’s Friday Philosophy, Dr. David Gordon discusses Jeff McMahan’s thoughts on fighting in both just and unjust wars. “Just following orders” is still immoral when one is promoting a war unjustly carried out.

The word “democracy” is almost sacrosanct in modern society, yet what advocates call “our democracy” is not what it claims to be. Real democracy can be found in the workings of the free market, not the political halls.

It is important to note that states and what we know as taxes gradually emerged through war, conquest, plunder, and tribute. While the organization has changed and become formalized over time, states and taxes have not lost their coercive character.

The anti-meat movement has influenced government policy well beyond anything close to the truth about meat. From the discredited food pyramid to government funding of “lab-grown meat,” government aids the activists who are making our lives worse.

Jonathan Newman was present as one of the Federal Reserve governors gave a talk and was able to ask questions. It seems there is not much behind the Fed’s technocratic veneer.