The great free trade and most astute defender of liberty from France Frederic Bastiat said "Trade barriers constitute isolation; isolation gives rise to hatred, hatred to war, and war to invasion." These words ring more true than ever as Russia invades Ukraine and the illusionary veil of peace is removed, a distant but ever existing reality hits home. The reality that conflict and not peace is the true nature of human existence, it always was and it always will be. This conflict is born out of the innumerable differences that exist amongst us as different members of the human race. While...
Bastiat
Ten Favorite Books
Keith Knight, host of the Don't Tread on Anyone podcast, interviewed me about ten of my favorite books. Watch it here.
Bastiat Foresees 1/6
"As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose—that it may violate property instead of protecting it—then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." Frédéric Bastiat, The Law (1850)
Ending the 2021 Lockdowns Before They Start
Sixteen months ago, in March 2020, we argued for an end to government-imposed shutdowns of businesses, schools, churches, restaurants, and events due to the covid virus: The shutdown of the American economy by government decree should end. The lasting and far-reaching harms caused by this authoritarian precedent far outweigh those caused by the COVID-19 virus. The American people—individuals, families, businesses—must decide for themselves how and when to reopen society and return to their daily lives. Our claim was straightforward: government officials are singularly unqualified to...
The Anti-Capitalist Ideology of Slavery
https://youtu.be/F6bdrqNX8Qs ... the draft — that obnoxious system of slavery and forced murder. There is nothing anyone even remotely calling himself a libertarian can say about the draft except that it is slavery and that it must be combatted. Murray N. Rothbard Libertarian Forum v. 1, p. 42 The 1619 Project: A Critique: https://www.aier.org/article/the-1619-project-a-critique/ Phillip W. Magness is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He holds a PhD and MPP from George Mason University’s School of Public Policy, and a BA from the University of St....
Wisdom From Great Minds. Jeff Deist & Keith Knight
https://youtu.be/ljpRZH4Z_4A To make their rule permanent, the State rulers need to induce their subject masses to acquiesce in at least the legitimacy of their rule. For this purpose the State has always taken a corps of intellectuals to spin apologia for the wisdom and the necessity of the existing system. Murray N. Rothbard Economic Controversies, p. 656 ***Correction*** Jeff Deist meant to say Walter Block is a deontologist, not utilitarian. Jeff Deist is president of the Mises Institute, where he serves as a writer, public speaker, and advocate for property, markets, and civil...
The Separation of Economy and State. Lawrence W. Reed & Keith Knight
https://youtu.be/OOucImdODmM ... the existence of free will prevents us from conducting any controlled experiments; for people’s ideas and valuations are continually subject to change, and therefore nothing can be held constant. Murray N. Rothbard Economic Controversies, p. 18 Lawrence W. Reed is the President emeritus of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). www.lawrencewreed.com LBRY / Odysee: https://odysee.com/@KeithKnightDontTreadOnAnyone:b/Separation-of-Economy-and-State-Reed:0 BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/video/bsY1uHxbYFFk/ Minds:...
What is Libertarianism? Ron Paul and Keith Knight
https://youtu.be/uyFUSeAHXk8 The libertarian creed rests upon one central axiom: that no man or group of men may aggress against the person or property of any-one else. This may be called the “non-aggression axiom.” “Aggression” is defined as the initiation of the use or threat of physical violence against the person or property of anyone else. Murray N. Rothbard For a New Liberty, p. 27 BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/video/goqajLJRBDZJ/ LBRY: https://lbry.tv/@KeithKnightDontTreadOnAnyone:b/What-is-Libertarianism-Ron-Paul---Keith-Knight:c Archive:...
TGIF: Is Socialism Good in Theory?
This is an expanded version of something I wrote for The Freeman, October 2003, during my tenure as the editor. Socialism has been mortally discredited on economic grounds, thanks to Ludwig von Mises, F. A. Hayek, and history. But for many people it has not been discredited on moral grounds. You can tell this by how often people say that while socialism doesn’t work in practice, it is good, even beautiful, in theory. (Even Thomas Sowell has said that.) Strange notion—that a theory which doesn’t work in the world can somehow still be good. Where else is it to be judged? William Graham...
7/3/20 Tom Woods on How the Pentagon Makes Us Poorer
Scott talks to Tom Woods about his latest free ebook, The Pentagon vs. The Economy. Woods examines the many ways America's military-industrial complex distorts the economy, often applying Frederic Bastiat's principle of "seen vs. unseen" to demonstrate just how many resources are diverted away from the productive economy, toward the project of killing foreigners abroad. Woods has written the book with minimal political slant, so that readers on both the left and the right can find agreement on this vitally important issue. Discussed on the show: The Pentagon vs. the Economy Pentagon...