Daily Articles

Carl Menger: A Biographical Appreciation by Friedrich von Wieser

by Richard M. Ebeling February 25, 2019

Friedrich von Wieser (1851-1926) was one of the leading contributors in the “second generation” of the Austrian School of Economics. This memorial appreciation of Carl Menger, the founder of the Austrian School, was published in German not long after Menger’s passing in 1921. Wieser explains the state of economics before Menger’s writings on economic theory, the lasting importance ...

Rule by Fiat

by John W. Whitehead February 21, 2019

“When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.”—Richard Nixon Who pays the price for the dissolution of the constitutional covenant that holds the government and its agents accountable to the will of the people? We all do. This ill-advised decision by President Trump to circumvent the Constitution’s system of checks and balances by declaring a national emergency in ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Horrors of the Original New Deal

by Future of Freedom Foundation February 20, 2019

With the New Green Deal a hot topic, we thought it would be time again to take stock again of the the original New Deal meant for this country. FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss. Go to the podcast.

The Nightmare Fairyland of the Green New Dealers

by Richard M. Ebeling February 19, 2019

When a small child runs around waving their arms saying, “I’m a bird, I’m a bird,” we often will say what a creative imagination they have. If an adult runs around doing the same, we usually say that that person needs help because they are clearly out of touch with reality. Anyone who takes the time to read the ...

The Green New Deal Is a Bad Deal

by Christine Smith February 18, 2019

As Democrats proclaim their Green New Deal as the solution to just about everything ailing the country and the world, one point bears emphasis: the irony of using "New Deal" in its title, as if Americans are supposed to get excited about the prospect of another federal government "deal" forced upon us. Those with economic wisdom do not view ...

I’m Not Breaking Up with America This Valentine’s Day, and Neither Should You

by John W. Whitehead February 15, 2019

“There’s absolutely no evidence to support the statement that the greatest country in the world. We’re 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, 3rd in median household income, number 4 in labor force and number 4 in exports. We lead the world in only three categories: number ...

How the Word Liberalism Came to Mean Its Opposite

by Richard M. Ebeling February 14, 2019

Over time, words sometimes change their meanings or connotations. Think of the words naughty and nice. Apparently, naughty originally meant to have or be nothing (naught or zero), but then it took on the extra sense of something being worth nothing, until finally a person who was considered worth nothing became a bad individual, or at least someone who ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Horrors of Socialism

by Future of Freedom Foundation February 13, 2019

With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushing a New Green Deal, the time might be ripe to examine the track history of socialist societies. Jacob G. Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss. Go to the podcast.

Asking the Wrong Question about Marijuana

by Laurence M. Vance February 11, 2019

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby recently announced that her office will no longer prosecute any marijuana possession cases “because prosecuting these cases no public safety value, disproportionately impacts communities of color and erodes public trust, and is a costly and counterproductive use of limited resources.” “We need to get serious about prioritizing what actually makes us ...

Let’s Keep the Electoral College

by Christine Smith February 8, 2019

We are all familiar with the “A republic, if you can keep it" reply attributed to Benjamin Franklin at the close of the 1787 Constitutional Convention upon being asked what type of government the Constitution was bringing into existence (the remark notated by Dr. James McHenry, a Maryland delegate). Though we've weathered countless assaults on this dear Republic, she has ...

These Are Dangerous Times, and the Government Is To Blame

by John W. Whitehead February 7, 2019

“As I look at America today, I am not afraid to say that I am afraid.”—Bertram Gross, Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America These are dangerous times. Mind you, when I say that these are dangerous times, it is not because of violent crime, which remains at an all-time low, or because of terrorism, which ...

Debts and Deficits are Out of Control

by Richard M. Ebeling February 6, 2019

Understandably, the problems and politics of the moment dominate the news and attract the attention of most policy commentators and much of the public. Will there be another government shutdown, will House Democrats attempt to impeach the president, will interest rates remain low, and will there be a trade war with China? But there are longer-term problems as well, ...