Daily Articles

A Conservative Dissents from the Corporate Status Quo

by Anthony Gregory August 1, 2014

The Great Deformation: The Corruption of Capitalism in America by David A. Stockman, (Public Affairs 2013), 768 pages. Most leftist critiques of libertarianism focus on an alleged blind defense of corporate power. Indeed, left-libertarian Kevin Carson has helpfully criticized the very real problem of “vulgar libertarianism,” the working assumption that current economic realities are a product of free-market dynamics ...

Borderlands: What’s Happening to America?

by Sheldon Richman July 30, 2014

A man, an American citizen, sits in his car as a U.S. Border Patrol agent insists that he roll down his window. He refuses. Agents use battering rams to smash the windows. Still, the driver refuses to leave his car, so he is hit with a Taser from two sides. He screams. It would be bad enough if this scene, ...

Tax Inversion Freedom vs. Fiscal Berlin Wall

by Richard M. Ebeling July 29, 2014

The Obama Administration has proposed its latest form of collectivist control over the American people. In a letter to Congress U.S. Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew, has called for punishment and prohibition of any company that tries to move its headquarters overseas to avoid higher taxes in the United States. Plus, Mr. Lew has the audacity to call his proposed ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Drug War

by Future of Freedom Foundation July 28, 2014

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and FFF vice president Sheldon Richman discuss the hot topics of the day. This week: the move to end the drug war. The Libertarian Angle airs weekly. Go to the podcast.

TGIF: Jane Cobden: Carrying on Her Father’s Good Work

by Sheldon Richman July 25, 2014

Among libertarians and classical liberals, the name Richard Cobden (1804–1865) evokes admiration and applause. His activities -- and successes -- on behalf of freedom, free markets, and government retrenchment are legendary. Most famously, he cofounded — with John Bright — the Anti–Corn Law League, which successfully campaigned for repeal of the import tariffs on grain. ...

In Foreign Affairs, Not Doing Anything Is the Thing to Do

by Sheldon Richman July 24, 2014

The heartbreaking violence in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere carries many messages, but here’s one Americans shouldn’t miss: The United States — no matter who the president is — cannot manage world conflict. The corollary is that when a president tries to manage it, things will usually get worse. Foresight is always defective, and tragic unintended consequences will ...

Blood, Treasure and Soul: The Exorbitant Price of the American Empire

by Mike Marion July 23, 2014

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when it happened, but clear evidence can be seen at least in the aftermath of World War II. Some trace the origins back to 1898 and the Spanish-American War, or even earlier to the War of 1812. And still others would say that imperial ambitions were even on the minds of some of ...

The Libertarian Angle: Israel, Gaza, and Egypt

by Future of Freedom Foundation July 21, 2014

FFF president Jacob Hornberger and FFF vice president Sheldon Richman discuss the hot topics of the day. This week: the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Libertarian Angle airs weekly. Go to the podcast.

TGIF: War, Peace, and Murray Rothbard

by Sheldon Richman July 18, 2014

With wars raging in the Middle East, it seems like a good time to revisit a classic work by Murray Rothbard (1926–1995), the economist, historian, and political philosopher who had a lot to do with the birth and evolution of the modern libertarian movement. His “War, Peace, and the State” is something that all peace advocates — ...

A Video Message from Jacob G. Hornberger

by Jacob G. Hornberger July 18, 2014

Please read "A Message from Jacob G. Hornberger."

Again, the Isolationist Smear

by Sheldon Richman July 17, 2014

It doesn’t take much to be smeared as an isolationist by leading Republicans. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who appears to be running for president again, and former vice president Dick Cheney — not to mention Sen. John McCain, Gov. Chris Christie, and other members of the GOP establishment — can always be counted on to drag out that insult ...

Obama Wants to Close the Oceans. Privatize Instead!

by Wendy McElroy July 17, 2014

In June, President Obama made a video announcement at the Our Ocean 2014 Conference, sponsored by the Department of State. He declared, “Like Presidents Clinton and Bush before me, I’m going to use my authority as President to protect some of our most precious marine landscapes just as we do for our mountains and rivers and forests.… ...