The use of drugs is sometimes characterized as a victimless crime, since the person who ingests them will bear the negative consequences should something go awry. Supporters of prohibition, who wish for the government to regulate and limit sales and distribution, are typically concerned with not only the moral effects on individuals themselves but also what might be called the “collateral damage”: the family and community members affected by the user who succumbs and loses “the plot” of his life, so to speak. This concern with “collateral damage,” however, applies to drug (including...
limited government
Abandoning the 1980s: A Strategy for the GOP
In 2022, the Republican Party has an opportunity to not just win back the House of Representatives but for the first time in a hundred years repudiate the constant creep of statism and Marxism eroding our liberties. But the GOP needs to drop its 40-year plus “game plan.” To be blunt, it is time to drop “cutting taxes," “increasing defense” budgets, and giving lip service to federalism and limited government. The greatest threat to liberty, living standards, and our natural rights has been driven by deficit spending. We expect Democrats to continue with socialism and authoritarianism but...
Our Fifty Year Inflationary Legacy
This month marks fifty years since President Richard Nixon closed the “gold window” that had allowed foreign governments to exchange U.S. dollars for gold. Nixon’s action severed the last link between the dollar and gold, transforming the dollar into pure fiat currency. Since the “Nixon shock” of 1971, the dollar’s value—and the average American’s living standard—has continuously declined, while income inequality and the size, scope, and cost of government have risen. Since the beginning of this year, price inflation has increased much, and it could continue onward to exceed the 1970s-era...
Episode 599: Destroying Libertarian, And Limited Government Dogma w/ Andrew From ‘Popular Liberty’
75 Minutes Not Safe For Work Andrew is the host of the Popular Liberty channel on YouTube and the mind behind the concept of Archotropism. Andrew joins Pete to give a primer on his concept of Archotropism which seeks to explain political power using economics and the laws of thermodynamics. Popular Liberty on YouTube Antilibertarian Substack Get Autonomy 19 Skills PDF Download The Monopoly On Violence Pete's Patreon Pete's Substack Pete's Paypal Pete's Books on Amazon Pete on Facebook Pete on...
How State Lockdowns Shredded Your Right to Due Process
Over a year ago, the COVID panic shook the world. We were told it would only be “15 days to flatten the curve” as businesses were locked down, “nonessential” employees were forced out of work (I’ve written about the myth of the nonessential employee here), masks were mandated, and individuals were not allowed to gather in groups or attend religious services. In typical fashion, a government-mandated “temporary” usurpation of liberty turned into an indefinite infringement, as shown by the fact that we’re still under COVID orders four hundred days later. Regardless of the length of time,...
Should Libertarians Compromise with Taxing Marijuana?
Marijuana freedom is a good thing. The taxation of marijuana is a bad thing. Unfortunately, owing to the greed of spendthrift politicians, it looks as though we will have to take the good with the bad or not at all. Now, this does not mean that smoking marijuana is “good.” It just means that the freedom to smoke marijuana — and be responsible for any negative consequences that may come with it — is a good thing. On the federal level, a bill (H.R.3884) to decriminalize marijuana that would have removed “marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act”...
Florida Governor’s Attack on ‘Big Tech’ Violates U.S. Constitution
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis intends to violate both U.S. and Florida Constitutions with his regulation of Facebook, Google and Twitter. If Governor Ron DeSantis signs this legislation into law he will be violating the U.S. Constitution’s Contract Clause as written in Article 1, Section 10, Clause 1 and the Florida Constitution’s Declaration of Free Speech in the Declaration of Rights, Article 1, Section 4. See the wording below for both Constitutions: United States Constitution, Article 1, Section 10, Clause 1: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant...
Does Oregon’s Decriminalization Signal An End to the War on Drugs?
Oregon became the first state to decriminalize possession of otherwise illegal drugs. According to this Feb. 1 Associated Press article, “Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday.” Instead of being arrested, those found in possession “would face a $100 fine or a health assessment that could lead to addiction counseling.” That such a measure was approved by Oregon voters is an encouraging sign that more people are waking up to...
Police Reform In Congress Is All Talk, and No Action
A friend, and reader of the Libertarian Institute, asked me a few questions recently. Why did a group of protestors demand that Rand Paul say Breonna Taylor’s name when he was the senator that introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act? Why do we see very little media coverage of bills, like the one introduced by Reps. Amash and Pressley, that could actually create criminal justice reform? Are politicians even interested in criminal justice reform, or do they only want to use it as a campaign talking point to seek votes and control? The answer to these questions is the fact that many...
It Is Time to End Federal Executions
Last week the federal government executed three inmates. These marked the first federal executions in 17 years. The long lapse in executions may make this seem like a non-issue to some people but all executions are inherently wrong. The Attorney General’s directive makes federal executions a new priority for the Department of Justice, which means there are likely more to come. Luckily, there’s a bill that has been introduced in the House of Representatives that can put an end to this practice at the federal level. In this article, I will highlight the moral, fiscal, and practical reasons...