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
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.
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
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
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...
I Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Vote
I just turned 22, and I should not be allowed to vote. I agree with Vivek Ramaswamy that the voting age probably should be increased, but the good intentioned policy misses the mark because it does not go far enough. Raising the voting age would be a step in the right direction, but the criterion for voting should not be age, but instead if one owns property in land. Ramaswamy, a candidate in the 2024 Republican primaries, stated that the voting age should be increased to 25 years of age, granting exceptions to those that serve in the military, work as emergency responders, or pass the...
Libertarianism Must Be Exclusive
This Pride Month, like many before it, some libertarians are sharing the slogan “Liberty is Inclusive.” The slogan is meant to affirm the idea of equality, not only in the law, but also in how people treat one another outside of legal arrangements. Is this consistent with libertarian ethics? No. Liberty is inherently exclusive, not inclusive. The most consistent brand of libertarianism, Rothbardianism, holds that homesteading is the ultimate criterion for justice. Murray Rothbard comes to the conclusion that we own ourselves and any resources we first use or acquire voluntarily by virtue of...
A Response to My Memorial Day Critics
My article against Memorial Day drew a lot of ire and attention. This should not have been surprising; I was making a controversial statement. What did surprise me, however, was that many critics were self-described libertarians or former libertarians. There were many rebukes, but few dealt with the content of my article, either saying that it was just simply wrong or attacking my character, neither of which were sufficient. I stand by my article, but I think that in light of the criticism, the argument needs to be stated one more time with feeling. It is not honorable to sacrifice yourself...