Zack Sorenson | The Libertarian Institute

In A True Free Market, It’s Hard To Be Rich

by Zack Sorenson | Feb 7, 2020 | Economics, Featured Articles, Libertarianism

One interesting feature of libertarian theory is its ability to offer a critique of corporate capitalism from the perspective of laissez faire economics. The political economics of societies with large corporations are troublesome, and if you read left-wing literature you’re sure to encounter an endless stream of analysis discussing the problems with large and powerful corporations. What’s interesting, therefore, about the implications of Austrian – libertarian – economics is that under this interpretation one might conclude that free markets make the accumulation of wealth rather difficult...

An Anarcho-Capitalist Take On Epidemics

by Zack Sorenson | Feb 5, 2020 | Blog

Some libertarians might think that epidemics and the panic associated with them might be some kind of government scam. Yes, government can and will exploit crises, maybe using them to accomplish its own ends more so than even solving the problem. However, an anarcho-capitalist world would certainly respond to severe epidemics. In anarcho-capitalism, authority does in fact exist. Private authority. A mall owner can close the mall. A train company can close the train. A neighborhood organization can define the terms by which people use common property like roads. Rights Protection...

The Virus Has A Racism Problem – It’s Not What You Think

by Zack Sorenson | Feb 4, 2020 | Blog

Commentators have said that people are being racist for worrying about Coronavirus and especially when they avoid Chinese people. We should never treat people poorly or be a jerk, but when you have a serious infectious disease problem with a lot of unknowns, the use of discrimination can be rational. However, there is a racism associated with this virus that people aren't talking about, and it's the same racism that we see with America's foreign policy attitudes. There's some speculation that perhaps males and perhaps Asian males might be more susceptible to the virus for certain reasons. ...

Reddit Is Cancer

by Zack Sorenson | Jan 31, 2020 | Blog

I know there's nowhere else to go, but reasonable people just need to quit Reddit. Recently they have comprehensively banned and quarantined (funny wording) all talk of the coronavirus that does not refer to either 1) government press releases or 2) mainstream media articles. It's sick, because these two sources of information are a week behind the curve and also often just wrong. Let's compare this topic to national security topics, and see how much we trust the "official" channel of information. Still, if information has to be verified by official channels before it can be viewed, then...

The Virus

by Zack Sorenson | Jan 28, 2020 | Blog

There is an odd information gap surrounding this virus. We can't say that it's particularly harmful yet, as essentially all patients who were treated for it outside of China seem to have recovered nicely or are recovering. Some seem to have only ever had mild symptoms and self-recovered. However, there's still an information gap. Until very recently there are a few facts which have been repeated in Western media and by Western governments to reassure people. I've even seen some alternative media tout some of these points in order to downplay the situation. Here's what people are saying:...

Does Foreign Press Have First Amendment Rights?

by Zack Sorenson | Jan 23, 2020 | Blog

“We have now learned from submissions and affidavits presented by the United States to this court that they do not consider foreign nationals to have a First Amendment protection,” - WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson The text of the First Amendment is: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." It seems that the US Constitution prohibits Congress from...

The Unprofession of Arms in the US Military

by Zack Sorenson | Jan 13, 2020 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy

Over the last few days, the United States and Iran came dangerously close to going to war. Thankfully, both sides backed down. The event which precipitated this latest crisis was the decision by the Trump Administration to unilaterally and illegally assassinate Iranian general and IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani. In a stunning and historically meaningful event, Iran directly targeted and attacked United States bases and equipment in Iraq. Nevertheless, the Trump administration decided, in the end, to back down from further escalating the crisis. The question on everyone’s mind - those who...

Why Bin Laden Has Won

by Zack Sorenson | Jan 10, 2020 | Blog

Iraq's infrastructure is broken. China is making them a deal: they'll help rebuild it, in exchange for some oil. Why is it that the totalitarian communist empire is making friends and money through commercial development and cooperation? How come the "liberal" and "free society" republic is trying to maintain its command authority through a boot on the face? The boot on the face is why Bin Laden hated the US Empire, more than anything else. His goal was to cut through the crap and show the Islamic World that the US might promise commercial friendship, but what it really delivers is the...