Jose Alberto Nino | The Liberty Conservative

February 14, 2018 in Culture

The Leftist War on Meat

Plant-based diets, especially vegan diets, seem to be all the rage these days. Based on the practice of eschewing animal products, veganism has attracted a broad coalition of interest groups — ranging from animal rights to environmental activists — who believe that veganism is the most ethical and sustainable way of promoting human health and animal welfare. At first, these appear to be reasonable premises for an alternative lifestyle that challenges the dietary status quo. But when placed under the microscope, the modern vegan movement has shown signs of increased politicization and a tendency to mesh with socialist causes. Keep Reading

December 20, 2017 in History/World

Simón Bolívar: Liberator or Tyrannical Demagogue?

Latin American revolutionary Simón Bolívar is commonly referred to as the George Washington of Latin America by numerous scholars and political figures. Bolívar’s military prowess was unquestioned, as he led a vigorous liberation campaign that freed present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela from the grasp of the Spanish Empire. Bolívar’s exploits have become legend in Latin American political history, with numerous countries fashioning themselves as “Bolivarian” in their style of governance. From leftist parties like the late Hugo Chávez’s Socialist Unity Party to establishment conservative parties, Latin American elites have repeatedly channeled the image of Bolívar in order to create an aura of political legitimacy. Despite… Keep Reading

December 17, 2017December 17, 2017 in Economics/Politics

Just in Time for the Holidays, Reckless States Are Coming for Your Online Purchases

If there is anything that gets demagogic politicians and pundits riled up, it’s the closing of tax loopholes, and the tax-hike demagogues might just be getting one of their wishes come December. Bloomberg reports that most online consumers will pay sales taxes in some shape or form in the next few months. Currently, consumers pay taxes on goods purchased straight from Amazon, but they can avoid paying taxes on goods if they purchase them through Amazon’s third-party merchants. By the start of December this could all change, as several merchants are expected to start collecting taxes in return for partial… Keep Reading

December 14, 2017December 16, 2017 in Politics/World

Secession — Not Military Intervention — Can Help Venezuela

Not too long ago, President Donald Trump made headlines by suggesting a potential military option in Venezuela in the face of the country’s rapidly decaying political situation. It’s undeniable that Venezuela is suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis of unprecedented proportions all thanks to the socialist policies that the country has experimented with over the past two decades. But a military intervention in Venezuela is likely to be costly and damaging to Americans, while disastrous for Venezuelans. Keep Reading

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 in Economics/Politics

Texas Freedom Caucus Flexes its Muscles

New players are now on the scene in Texas politics. The Texas Freedom Caucus, founded by members of the Texas House of Representatives dedicated to carrying out the will of liberty-minded Texans, is beginning to flex its muscles in the Texas State legislature. Texas Freedom Caucus members, led by pro-gun champion Jonathan Stickland, recently made their presence felt by killing more than 100 local and uncontested bills in short order. Such an unprecedented move was largely in retaliation for House leadership’s failure to address critical pro-liberty legislation during the 2017 legislative session. Keep Reading

October 2, 2016October 2, 2016 in Economics/History/Politics/World

Three Myths About Venezuela’s Opposition

Venezuela’s current political crisis has drawn much attention worldwide. The shortages, increasing violence, skyrocketing inflation, and the increasing militarization of its economy are all fixtures of Venezuela’s current national disaster. Opposition movements have naturally arisen in response to Venezuela’s squalid state, with the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) leading the charge against the current ruling class. Despite the unprecedented awareness of Venezuela’s delicate situation, considerable amounts of disinformation abound both in mainstream media and social media coverage of these events. This article seeks to dispel many of these myths and misconceptions that concern Venezuela and its political opposition. The Venezuelan Opposition is Attempting… Keep Reading

September 6, 2016September 7, 2016 in Economics/Politics

Donald Trump is No Hugo Chávez

The rise of Donald Trump’s candidacy has generated a strong degree of backlash among the chattering classes worldwide. No stranger to controversy himself, his campaign’s unconventional style has led various experts to draw parallels between Trump and the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. While both Chávez and Trump never shied away from throwing verbal haymakers towards their opponents, the actions that these men have taken in their respective political careers could not be any further apart. The age-old axiom of “actions speak louder than words” is now more relevant than ever in this discussion. These comparisons are not only specious,… Keep Reading

August 11, 2016September 1, 2016 in Economics/Politics/World

Venezuela’s Economic Collapse: A Process 50 Years in the Making

In recent times, Venezuela has been the object of many headlines across the globe that detail its current economic predicament. Once Latin America’s most stable country, Venezuela is now experiencing a historically unprecedented economic and social collapse. How did such a nation awash with bountiful oil reserves and numerous decades of democratic stability stoop to such levels of misery? The conventional narrative typically points to Hugo Chávez’s arrival to power in 1998 as the main catalyst of Venezuela’s economic decline. Quantitatively speaking, Chávez’s presidency was responsible for the largest economic downturn in the country’s history. Through an unprecedented number of… Keep Reading