Freedom Daily Archive

Democratized Privilege: The New Mercantilism

by Richard M. Ebeling February 1, 1991

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, most of the governments of Europe established a set of economic policies which became known as mercantilism. Kings, princes and parliaments implemented and vigorously enforced detailed and pervasive controls and regulations over almost every aspect of economic life. Many imports were prohibited, and exports were often subsidized. The state imposed wage, price ...

The Roots of Limited Government

by Alan Barth February 1, 1991

The government of the United States, for all its majesty, is a limited government of limited powers. It operates under the terms of a fundamental charter — a written Constitution — which specifies what it may do, and also what it may not do, and which fixes certain procedures for its dealings with its citizens. If a Constitution is ...

Thought and Purpose

by James Allen February 1, 1991

Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to "drift" upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction. They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey ...

Book Review: Capitalism

by Richard M. Ebeling February 1, 1991

Capitalism by Arthur Seldon (New York: Basil Blackwell, 1990) 419 pp; $29.95. Arthur Seldon has been one of the most influential economists of the post-World War II era. He studied with Friedrich A. Hayek at the London School of Economics in the 1930s. After the war, he worked as an economic consultant in the ...

The Sanctity of Private Property, Part 2

by Jacob G. Hornberger January 1, 1991

Part 1 | Part 2 The last thing which Americans of today wish to face is that they have abandoned the principles of private property on which the United States was founded. In last August's Freedom Daily, I pointed to two examples of where the American people have permitted their public officials to assume absolute and total control ...

Free Trade versus Protectionism

by Richard M. Ebeling January 1, 1991

A specter is haunting the economies of the world. It is the specter of protectionism. In one country after the other, cries are heard that international trade, rather than bringing mutual prosperity, imposes economic hardship on some nations so that others may gain. Trading practices among nations are declared ...

The Tariff Idea

by W.M. Curtiss January 1, 1991

One of the fallacies popular throughout the world is the belief that exports are good and imports are bad. If we sell more than we buy, we have a 'favorable' balance of trade - and that is supposed to be good. Actually, in a free market there is no such thing ...

Book Review: Free Market Morality

by Richard M. Ebeling January 1, 1991

Free Market Morality: The Political Economy of the Austrian School by Alexander H. Shand ( New York: Routledge, 1990) 228 pp.; $16.95 (h). The global collapse of socialism and central planning have left a large ideological vacuum on the world stage. What shall replace them remains uncertain. Declarations in support of ...

Yes, Virginia, There Is No Santa Claus

by Richard M. Ebeling December 25, 1990

One of Karl Marx's most effective and influential methods of argumentation was to use language and mental imagery which were descriptive of an earlier stage of human history and then apply them to the emerging market-oriented society in which he lived. For example, the politically enforced caste systems of the old days became, for him, the "class struggle" of capitalism; ...

Christianity and Freedom

by Jacob G. Hornberger December 1, 1990

Many Americans believe that by supporting the Welfare State, they are fulfilling God's great commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself." Having been taught in public schools since childhood that the Welfare State helps needy people, Americans usually are filled with a deep sense of guilt and embarrassment whenever ...

Book Review: The Ethics of Redistribution

by Richard M. Ebeling December 1, 1990

The Ethics of Redistribution by Bertrand de Jouvenel (Indianapolis: Liberty press, 1990) 118 pp.; $12 (h);$5 (p). In the 20th century, governments increasingly have become great engines for the redistribution of wealth. Indeed, most of the activity of modern governments centers around taking ...

Charity: Biblical and Political

by Russell J. Clinchy December 1, 1990

Charity is defined as an "act of loving all men as brothers because they are sons of God." This is a purely personal matter; an act voluntarily performed by one person for another; an act of faith in God and His commandments for governing our relationships with our fellow men. When we keep this concept in mind, it becomes ...