One can be overjoyed by the repudiation of a candidate without being pleased with the opposing candidate's victory. This election is an occasion for that reaction. An American (or anyone actually) is perfectly justified in taking pleasure in Kamala Harris's...
Sheldon Richman
TGIF: Election Reflections
by Sheldon Richman | Nov 1, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
The history of the human race is one long story of attempts by certain persons and classes to obtain control of the power of the State, so as to win earthly gratifications at the expense of others. --William Graham Sumner, 1883 For advocates of individual liberty,...
TGIF: Happy Halloween, Traders!
by Sheldon Richman | Oct 25, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
It's the Halloween season, the perfect occasion to introduce your young children and grandchildren to the wonders of the market economy. After all, the market is a process in which individuals strive to improve their situations through trade—that is, lucrative...
TGIF: Socialism Is War by Other Means
by Sheldon Richman | Oct 18, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
Readers may have wondered about a quote I used from Ludwig von Mises recently. In his book Liberalism Mises distinguished the (classical) liberal case against war from what he called the "humanitarian" case against war. To understand Mises, let's examine a...
TGIF: Full versus Shrunken Liberalism
by Sheldon Richman | Oct 11, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, History, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
Language, like the old common law and other customs, is a decentralized, undesigned, spontaneous institution. It serves humanity well. Nothing is perfect, of course, but no alternative—if one were conceivable—could hold a candle to it. One of the downsides is that...
TGIF: Tariffying Trade-Warmonger Trump
by Sheldon Richman | Oct 4, 2024 | Economics, Foreign Policy, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
"The word tariff, properly used, is a beautiful word. One of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard. It’s music to my ears." —Donald Trump The once and possibly future president threatens to wage economic warfare against countries and companies everywhere if they...
TGIF: Who Cares about Inequality?
by Sheldon Richman | Sep 27, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
What accounts for the preoccupation with income and wealth inequality? We hear about it every day. Isn't our absolute living standard what matters and whether it is improving or deteriorating? I'll bet that's what regular people care about. However, the professional...
TGIF: “We Are All Social Engineers Now”
by Sheldon Richman | Sep 20, 2024 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
I don't know if anyone has actually said, "We are all social engineers now," but someone might as well have. (The variation "We are all Keynesians now" was declared a long time ago, even by Milton Friedman, although see this.) When I say "all," of course, I don't mean...