On May 28, 2016, a debate took place between presidential candidates at the Libertarian National Convention. A question in that debate about driver’s licenses prompted a notable slate of responses that quickly went viral. When former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the eventual nominee, was asked, he responded in his typical matter-of-fact style, and choosing his words carefully, said, “I think government has a basic responsibility to protect us against individuals, groups, corporations, foreign governments, that would do us harm...In that context, a license to drive? You know, I’d like to...

As someone who has been a staunch libertarian for many years, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to witness dialogues about liberty, both as a participant and as an observer. I’ve noticed a recurring theme in these conversations: non-libertarians almost inevitably call libertarian ideas childish and talk down to us in a condescending tone. In a word, they become patronizing. It’s as if there’s a Godwin’s law for libertarians. For those who aren’t familiar, Godwin’s law is an Internet adage that says, “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or...

A new executive order from President Donald Trump titled “Prosecuting Burning of the America Flag” is generating considerable stir across the United States. The order, which was signed by Trump on Monday, instructs the Department of Justice to “prioritize the enforcement to the fullest extent possible of our Nation’s criminal and civil laws against acts of American Flag desecration that violate applicable, content-neutral laws, while causing harm unrelated to expression, consistent with the First Amendment.” Much of the conversation has naturally centered around the constitutionality of...