Derek Franklin | The Libertarian Institute

The Politics of Reaction: Civil Rights & Social Media Purges

by Derek Franklin | Mar 29, 2021 | Featured Articles, Politics

On January 11, 2021, Robert Wenzel authored a blog post entitled “Why I Would Like to See Twitter and Facebook Ban More Accounts.” In the post Wenzel makes the astute observation that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter cannot kill off “deep thinkers from communicating with each other.” He goes on to make the point that the more people and groups they ban, the stronger the counterrevolution against anti-liberty forces grow. While certainly not a member of the Trump brigade or a full-out supporter of liberty and free markets, German Chancellor Angela Merkel considered it...

Outraged at Thomas Massie? You Shouldn’t Be

by Derek Franklin | Mar 31, 2020 | Events, Featured Articles, Politics

Thomas Massie, U.S. House of Representative from Kentucky’s 4th District, took a lot of heat for trying to force a voice vote on the House floor to pass the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In a glorious show of bipartisanship, both sides of the aisle poured out their vitriol on the double-degreed MIT graduate. Rep. Peter King, (R-N.Y.) said in a tweet Friday morning: “Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House. Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed....

Regime Change & The Making of Fidel Castro

by Derek Franklin | Apr 22, 2018 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Thursday, April 19, 2018 marked the arrival of a new president of Cuba -- Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. The New York Times refers to Mr. Miguel Díaz-Canel as "the handpicked successor" to Raúl Castro and someone who is "virtually unknown." Raúl Castro, the man Miguel Díaz is replacing, ascended to the presidency after his brother Fidel "provisionally" handed over presidential duties to him in 2006. He was officially made president February 24, 2008 by the National Assembly and was re-elected February 24, 2013. That much we know for certain. What many may not know is how Fidel Castro, Raúl's...

Regime Change & The Making of Fidel Castro

by Derek Franklin | Apr 22, 2018 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Thursday, April 19, 2018 marked the arrival of a new president of Cuba -- Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. The New York Times refers to Mr. Miguel Díaz-Canel as "the handpicked successor" to Raúl Castro and someone who is "virtually unknown." Raúl Castro, the man Miguel Díaz is replacing, ascended to the presidency after his brother Fidel "provisionally" handed over presidential duties to him in 2006. He was officially made president February 24, 2008 by the National Assembly and was re-elected February 24, 2013. That much we know for certain. What many may not know is how Fidel Castro, Raúl's...