Michael Maharrey | The Libertarian Institute

Think Deficits Are Bad Now? You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet

by Michael Maharrey | Mar 16, 2020 | Economics, Featured Articles

The Trump administration has been operating with a crisis-like fiscal policy for nearly four years. Now it looks like America’s hurtling toward a genuine economic crisis. What’s next? The U.S. appears to be heading for economic lockdown as the impact of the coronavirus grows. Ever the Keynesian, President Trump has promised fiscal stimulus to offset the economic impacts. The actual plan remains unclear, but the Trump administration has floated a reduction in payroll taxes, along with bailouts and loan guarantees for struggling industries. While the details are murky, one thing is certain —...

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: Which Hamilton Are You Talking About?

by Michael Maharrey | Mar 6, 2020 | Economics, Featured Articles

We often hear people referred to as “Hamiltonians.” But that term always makes me wonder, which Hamilton do you mean? I recently had the opportunity to speak to a class at the West Virginia University School of Law. The subject was the constitutionality of federal marijuana prohibition. As I told the class, this is an open and shut case. It’s clearly unconstitutional. If you doubt me, ask yourself why alcohol prohibition required a constitutional amendment. The simple fact is there is no delegated power for the feds to regulate marijuana within the borders of a state. But over the years,...

Libertarians Have to Cope With the Real World

by Michael Maharrey | Feb 23, 2020 | Featured Articles

Imagine you're starving to death in a desert and you happened across a man who has a loaf of bread. He takes pity on you and offers you a slice. But you refuse it and go on your way because he won’t give you the whole loaf. That would be pretty dumb, wouldn’t it? But this is exactly how a lot of libertarians approach political activism. They reject small steps forward that would make us a little bit freer because it’s not complete liberty. I’ll give you an example. Last week, the Kentucky House passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. Activists have been pushing toward this for...

Another Massive Budget Deficit to Start 2020

by Michael Maharrey | Feb 19, 2020 | Economics, Featured Articles

The Trump administration posted another massive budget deficit to start out calendar-year 2020. According to the latest data released by the U.S. Treasury Department, Uncle Sam spent $32.6 billion more than it took in last month. That compares with an $8.7 billion surplus in January 2019. Analysts had projected an $11.5 billion shortfall in January. That brings the total deficit in FY2020 to $389.2 billion. So far, the deficit in fiscal 2020 is about $79 billion bigger than it was at this point in FY2019, a 25 percent gain. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the federal budget...

Meds or a Cage: A Choice Nobody Should Have to Make

by Michael Maharrey | Feb 12, 2020 | Criminal Justice, Featured Articles

It blows my mind that some states still haven’t legalized medical marijuana. Actually, what really blows my mind that otherwise rational people believe that they have the right to lock people in a cage for consuming a plant. Maybe they aren’t so rational. I mean, these people are literally saying, “I don’t approve of this thing you’re putting into your body, so I’m going to hit you.” Imagine if I went around hitting every person I saw eating a hamburger because I didn’t approve of fatty foods. And it’s even worse than that. These drug warriors don’t have the guts to hit you themselves....

Support Grows for West Virginia Bill to Block Unconstitutional National Guard Deployments

by Michael Maharrey | Feb 11, 2020 | Featured Articles, Justice

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Feb. 10, 2020) – There was political drama in West Virginia last week as the sponsor of a bill that would prohibit unconstitutional foreign combat deployments of the state’s national guard troops narrowly failed in a parliamentary move to get it discharged from committee. Even so, support for the legislation is growing. **If you live in West Virginia, scroll to the bottom of the report for important action steps. House Bill 2732 (HB2732) would prohibit the deployment of West Virginia Guard troops in “active duty combat” unless there is a declaration of war from Congress,...

The Best Short Introduction to the Constitution

by Michael Maharrey | Feb 3, 2020 | Blog, Politics

Tom Woods called my new book, Constitution - Owner's Manual: The Real Constitution the Politicians Don't Want You to Know About, "the best short introduction to the real Constitution, as opposed to the one taught in law school and the New York Times." Tom was kind enough to have me on his show last week to talk about the book. You can listen to the interview here. And yes, I am a little biased, but I don't think this book could have come out at a better time -- as we approach the next "most important election of our lifetime." The original U.S. Constitution lays encased in glass inside the...

Rep. Adam Schiff’s Constitutional Malfeasance

by Michael Maharrey | Jan 28, 2020 | Featured Articles, Politics

I have to be honest. I haven’t paid a whole lot of attention to the kabuki theater better know as the Trump impeachment proceedings. Mainly because I don’t care. And it doesn’t really matter. I mean seriously, there is virtually zero chance that the Senate will actually remove Donald Trump from office. We all know this. So, the Senate trial is really nothing more than a carefully orchestrated stage show. And even if by some weird swirl in the political winds Trump gets removed from office, we end up with President Pence. I can't quite picture this as an upgrade. Pence is pretty much Trump...