Blogs

December 2009 • Volume: 59 • Issue: 10

Ten Reasons Not to Abolish Slavery
By Robert Higgs

Slavery existed for thousands of years, in all sorts of societies and all parts of the world. To imagine human social life without it required an extraordinary effort. Yet, from time to time, eccentrics emerged to oppose it, most of them arguing that slavery is a moral monstrosity and therefore people should get rid of it. Such advocates generally elicited reactions ranging from gentle amusement to harsh scorn and even violent assault.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Leviathans
by Steve Newton

There appears to be some sort of basic human compulsion that urges us to (a) amass wealth; (b) build larger and larger, increasingly hierarchical organizations; and (c) control other people's behavior even when said behaviors do not represent a threat to us.

Published: 17 November 2009

Classical Liberalism: Fail
By Jim Davidson

“It is excellent, we must all allow; yet this government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.” – On Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau

For those who can still put two and two together, the Ft. Hood killings look like the beginning of a long term bloodletting in our country, an unnecessary travail we will be forced to suffer unless we reverse US foreign policy blunders.

Full article:
http://www.examiner.com/e...

Very interesting questions arise when discussing economic depressions and deflation since there has been a conditioned response that deflation is an inherent characteristic of economic depressions. The primary source of this conditioning is the commonly accepted “fact” that The Great Depression was characterized by widespread and deep deflation. The question is whether or not it is actually a characteristic of a depression or an anomaly brought about by interventionist policies?

Albuquerque Libertarian Examiner November 10, 11:48 AM

A word to non-libertarians
Kent McManigal

If you are not a libertarian (under my understanding of the concept), it means one of two things-

By Chuck Baldwin
November 10, 2009

A recent column co-authored by John Eidsmoe and Ben DuPré struck me. They titled their column, "What makes a 'great' president?"

The basic thrust of the column was to examine the qualities that make one a "great" President. They start by examining the Presidency of our 11th President, James K. Polk. They note that Polk is commonly regarded as being one of America's top 12 greatest Presidents. To use their words, "between eighth and 12th among our greatest presidents."

Texans are again standing and fighting for the cause of Liberty , but we are sending out a call for reinforcements. Just as Congressman Paul has always been the defender of truth, liberty and our Constitution in the 14th Congressional District, now we have a candidate for Governor of Texas in 2010, who has been an admirer, and a supporter of Congressman Paul’s for many years. More important, she has been a student and has looked upon Congressman Paul as a mentor.

On my private bench of the accused, next to selfish human nature, stupefying propaganda and economic ignorance (whose guilt I consider to be only partial and even unnecessary), I would like to seat another culprit--this element of human nature that I would call “the control imperative.” I would describe the control imperative as a natural tendency of most people to approve of controlling the actions of others and a spontaneous inclination to try to engage in such practices.

http://www.businessinside...

The Island of Guam is #3, but Saipan is better. No Income Tax, no Chemtrails, good standard of living. But come with a nest-egg, or have a degree in law or medicine. If you have other skills to sell, you'll do well.

Guam and Saipan are U.S territories in the western Pacific, not the South Seas. We're above the equator. Moving here is as easy as moving to Pennsylvania. Oh yes, no winters. No walks to shovel.

Heady stuff, indeed. Where is the flaw? I think the American scene could use Herbert Spencer today. He’s refreshing! Behold: “Let men learn that a legislature is not ‘our God upon earth,’ though, by the authority they ascribe to it, and the things they expect from it, they would seem to think it is. Let them learn rather that it is an institution serving a purely temporary purpose, whose power, when not stolen, is at the best borrowed” (emphasis added). Brilliant!

A former Seattle Times colleague wonders what happened to the libertarian provocateur who used to engage him at their adjoining office doors.
By Ross Anderson

http://crosscut.com/2009/...

Nov 5, 2009

John Boehner, The Real Political Rebellion Is Right Here
by Alex R. Knight III

According to ABC News on November 4, recent Republican wins in gubernatorial elections in both New Jersey and Virginia prompted Ohio congressman John Boehner to say:

“There’s a political rebellion going on in America, and what we saw last night was just a glimpse of it.”

I called and spoke with Gallup to ask how they determine who makes a poll like the one that was just released for the 2012 Republican nomination. I was told by a staffer that it was based on the news worthiness and attention a potential candidate is getting. She then went on to ask me if my inquiry was for a news article, and if so, she added that she didn't want to be quoted (so I won't mention her name here).

She suggested that a better place to call would be to the people that actually make those decisions and gave a few names to call at the Gallup Princeton location, where she said the editorial board is based. Specifically she said to contact Dr. Frank Newport, the Editor-in-Chief of Gallup. She also suggested a second name - Jeff Jones. We need to spread this far and wide to every freedom-minded American, that this type of exclusion will not go un-noticed or un-protested this time around.

I suggest, if necessary, a out-right national rally outside Gallup's headquarters, if they continue to exclude Ron Paul into the future. Dr. Paul is certainly more significant than Tim Pawlenty? or Haley Barbour? I've never even heard of them, for heavens sake.

Frank Newport - frank_newport@gallup.com (not sure if this is a current email address)
or Jeffrey Jones

Princeton, New Jersey
502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300
Princeton, NJ 08540
Tel : 800-888-5493
or +1-609-924-9600 Call them with your opinion.
Fax: +1-609-927-2541 Fax them your opinion.

November 2nd, 2009

Why I’m an anarchist
by Tessa Rose

"It is not a sign of good health to be well adjusted to a sick society." ~ J. Krishnamurti (1895-1986)

THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE
Number 543, November 1, 2009

Non-Aggression Principle and Vice: Where's The Crime?
by Russell D. Longcore, russlongcore@gmail.com

One of the tenets of individual liberty is the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP), which states that no person has the right to initiate force or fraud against any other person for any reason. When the NAP comes up against criminal law as it relates to vices, both should be tested honestly.