Benjamin Seevers | The Libertarian Institute

Squaring the Libertarian Circle on Tariffs and Immigration

by Benjamin Seevers | Feb 27, 2025 | Economics, Featured Articles, Libertarianism

President Donald Trump claimed in a statement that his tariffs would help with “the major threat of illegal aliens.” This is a puzzling claim. While it might be true that tariffs can be used as a tool for negotiations with Mexico, immigration control and trade barriers are contradictory policies. Tariffs increase the incentive to immigrate—illegally immigrate. In his 1998 paper "The Case for Free Trade and Restricted Immigration," economist Hans-Hermann Hoppe wrote: "The relationship between trade and migration is one of elastic substitutability (rather than rigid exclusivity): the more (or...

Will Donald Trump Eliminate the Department of Education?

by Benjamin Seevers | Nov 25, 2024 | Featured Articles

Hardly a minute has gone by without the media sounding off about President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations. However, one department has garnered more attention than others: the Department of Education). Trump has stated that eliminating the Department of Education and devolving governance of education to the states would be one of the first actions of his second administration, and his choice for secretary, Linda McMahon, may or may not share Trump's goal. The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 has also called for the elimination of the Department of Education This alarms leaders of...

Mandating the Bible? A Libertarian Appraisal

by Benjamin Seevers | Nov 7, 2024 | Featured Articles

The Oklahoma State Superintendent—the highest education authority in the state—mandated that public schools incorporate the Bible into lesson plans. While there are good reasons to oppose it, the edict challenges a Supreme Court decision that should be overturned: School District of Abington Township v. Schempp. Abington v. Schempp ruled that mandatory Bible readings and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This decision is not consistent with the principle of private property. The Establishment Clause governs the use of...

How Should a Principled Libertarian Vote?

by Benjamin Seevers | Jul 1, 2024 | Featured Articles, Libertarianism, Politics

The 2024 election is right around the corner, and libertarians have a choice to make. There are many legitimate options; libertarians have historically taken a number of stances, such as abstention, write-ins, voting for principled candidates or the lesser of two evils. Considerations usually fall into two columns: principled and practical. Those who vote on principle vote for a libertarian-oriented candidate. Those who vote based on practicality care more about outcomes than not having blood on their hands, so-to-speak. If we are to take the non-aggression principle seriously, then all our...

A Libertarian Defense of Surrogacy

by Benjamin Seevers | Dec 7, 2023 | Featured Articles, Libertarianism

Amidst announcements of gay conservatives having children by surrogate, commentators such as Michael Knowles and Katy Faust levied criticism against the practice of surrogacy in general. These commentators, however, get a lot wrong. Let’s examine each of the most prominent objections. In a recent tweet, Michael Knowles states: Michael Knowles is correct. Children are not property to be bought and sold, and they certainly are not for parents to “dispose of at will.” In fact, the standard libertarian position is in agreement with Knowles in this case. But, why does this apply to surrogacy? It...

The Chinese are Reclaiming Pandas from American Zoos. Let Them.

by Benjamin Seevers | Oct 10, 2023 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

There are thousands of religions across the world and countless more personal creeds. 195 different countries dispense legal codes and many more nations and stateless peoples govern their own affairs according to their non-governmental customs and norms. Despite this, there are certain moral truths evident to all men. One truth stands out amongst them all as if it were inscribed on the hearts and minds of all men and preserved and passed down on stone tablets handed to Adam by God prior to the fall of man. What is this moral truth? Well, it is absurd to even ask that question. You should...

Protesting Abortion Clinics? Not So Fast, Libertarians

by Benjamin Seevers | Sep 27, 2023 | Featured Articles, Libertarianism

In the summer of 2022, I had the pleasure of attending a lecture on inflation. Funny enough, pro-abortion activists protested this wonderful talk (for whatever reason), standing on the sidewalk directly adjacent to the building, shouting at and harassing people as they entered the parking lot, and waving signs. As I entered the building, I remarked, “If this were a libertarian society, they would be removed.” This is true; in a libertarian society, there is no right to protest or assemble. People must abide by the rules of the private property owners, which could preclude or include allowing...

China Should Be Allowed to Buy American Farmland

by Benjamin Seevers | Jul 18, 2023 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

To suggest that Chinese businesses and Chinese nationals should be allowed to buy farmland in the United States will intuitively send many conservatives reeling. “But…but…it’s a national security threat!” This is presented by both Republicans and Democrats as the core “problem” of Chinese-owned farmland. Recently, several state legislatures have passed measures against foreigners holding U.S. land. However, thinking about it past guttural reactions will reveal that the farmland argument is full of hot air. Not only that, but these regulations are prone to heat up international tensions...

« Older Entries

THANK YOU for your generous support!