Big questions are being thrashed out these days. One of the biggest is this: do we want capitalism or socialism? Unfortunately, the online discussions I've witnessed have been, to put it as politely as I can, terrible. (For an example, see this one between Reason...
free markets
How Not to Defend “Capitalism” Against” Socialism”
by Sheldon Richman | Feb 25, 2023 | Blog, Economics, Justice
I challenge you to show me a lamer "debate" over "capitalism" and "socialism." (Don't worry; it's not about Bill Maher.)
TGIF: Fins Left, Right, and Center
by Sheldon Richman | Feb 17, 2023 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
Th[e] central question is not clarified, it is obscured, by our common political categories of left, right, and center. --Carl Oglesby, Containment and Change You got fins to the left, fins to the right And you're the only bait in town. --Jimmy Buffett, "Fins"...
Tom Woods Debunks the “Socialist Sweden” Myth
by Keith Knight | Nov 4, 2022 | Blog
There’s plenty to say regarding Sweden: (1) its “socialist” policies were made possible by wealth created under an essentially capitalist economy (as recently as the 1950s, remember, government spent less as a percentage of GDP in Sweden than in the U.S.); (2)...
TGIF: Free Markets and Greed
by Sheldon Richman | Oct 28, 2022 | Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." Ever since corporate raider Gordon Gekko, the lead character in Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987), made that declaration, left-wing opponents of the market economy have regarded that one-liner as the only rebuttal required...
A Permanent Solution to Deep State Tyranny
by Keith Knight | Sep 4, 2022 | Featured Articles
The following is a section from The Voluntaryist Handbook, organized by Keith Knight. One need look no further than to the examples of North and South Korea or East and West Germany to see that the freer people are, the wealthier they can become through mutually...
TGIF: National Conservatism’s Ominous Economics
by Sheldon Richman | Sep 2, 2022 | Featured Articles, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
National conservatism is objectionable on many counts -- the name in itself tells you that -- but it does pay tribute to free enterprise. A closer look, however, may cause one to doubt its commitment. The movement's official Statement of Principles includes Principle...
TGIF: Complete Liberalism
by Sheldon Richman | Jul 22, 2022 | Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
Many people formerly of the left, who have bid good riddance to their former political home, believe they can retain the mantle of authentic liberalism while ignoring its free-market component. They don't want socialism, and they appropriately dislike the right-wing....
Why Democratic Socialists Are Wrong About “Profit”
by Keith Knight | Jul 20, 2022 | Don't Tread on Anyone
https://youtu.be/Eg9OIssCmsc One of the most incredible attributes of free markets is the ability to harmonize our self-interests with the interests of greater society. Contrary to the popular demonization of profits as extraction of surplus value, profits in freed...
The Voluntaryist Handbook: Self-Ownership and Its Implications
by Keith Knight | Jul 18, 2022 | Don't Tread on Anyone
https://youtu.be/xGrh6D3o8Kw One need look no further than to the examples of North and South Korea or East and West Germany to see that the freer people are, the wealthier they can become through mutually beneficial voluntary exchange. These two controlled...
Poverty, Churchill, Free Markets, Iran, and Shortages (Weekly Roundtable)
by Keith Knight | May 15, 2022 | Blog
https://youtu.be/L1cGI5U_UaA
4/22/22 Ryan McMaken on Capitalism and Peace
by Scott Horton | Apr 26, 2022 | The Scott Horton Show
Download Episode. Scott talks with Ryan McMaken about free markets and free trade. They begin with a discussion about the role of the Mises Institute in the push for sound money. Scott then asks McMaken about the nuances of debating capitalism vs. socialism while...
Capitalism Puts the Poor First
by Thomas Eddlem | Mar 22, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles
The socialist left says the evidence capitalism oppresses the poor is that free markets relocate factories to the poorest nations in order to pay the lowest wages. And when wage rates rise in poor nations like South Korea and Japan, they move their factories over to...
TGIF: Get Rich Quicker!
by Sheldon Richman | Sep 17, 2021 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Sheldon Richman, TGIF
"I have observed that not the man who hopes when others despair, but the man who despairs when others hope, is admired by a large class of persons as a sage.” --John Stuart Mill, 1828 We mustn't let the wrongdoing of politicians and bureaucrats blind us to the good...
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The Capitalist Competition Myth
Capitalism involves far more cooperation than competition—think of the number of mutually beneficial transactions you’ve had today compared to the number of competitions you’ve been in today - Chris Freiman, author of Why It's OK to Ignore Politics Democratic...
Blame Mexico? Blame Neocons! Blame Big Pharma! Blame the USA!
ABC News: If fentanyl is so deadly, why do drug dealers use it to lace illicit drugs? I have an alternative explanation. America has been fighting endless wars almost the entire century. Many have come home from these never-ending wars with injuries and pains. Doctors...
My Testimony Before the Maine State Senate
In support of Ld 1054, Defend the Guard legislation: Thank you all so much for the opportunity to testify before your committee today. Today is the 20th anniversary of the beginning of Iraq War II. The consensus now is that we should not have done it. Iraq was not...
These Iraq War Supporters Are Still in Congress
On March 19, 2003 the United States began its military invasion of Iraq. The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq passed Congress in October 2002, with 296 congressmen and 77 senators voting in favor of giving President George W. Bush carte blanche...
Laci Green is Wrong: Democratic Competition vs. Free Market Competition
In environments where there's a lot of competition, people tend to lie out their ass and you can apply this to any competitive situation. Take capitalism. As industrialization took full effect, the Federal Government had to interfere because there was so much false...
Empower the Workers: Decriminalize Economic Activity Between Consenting Adults
The most reliable and effective protection for most workers is provided by the existence of many employers. As we have seen, a person who has only one possible employer has little or no protection. The employers who protect a worker are those who would like to hire...
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