free market

December 19, 2017February 18, 2020 in News/Politics

Republican Senators Tank Trump’s Libertarian-Leaning Ex-Im Nominee

President Donald Trump’s libertarian-leaning nominee to chair the Export-Import Bank, former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), has been rejected by the Republican-controlled Senate Banking Committee. As a member of the House of Representatives, Garrett was a close associate of former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), and a member of the Freedom Caucus and the Liberty Caucus. He voted against the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, delivering a scathing critique of the institution on the House floor, and condemning it as a “corruption of the free enterprise system”. His staunch opposition to corporate welfare led to conflict with special interests who benefit substantially… Keep Reading

November 30, 2017November 30, 2017 in Politics/Tech

Why The Net Neutrality Alarmists Are Wrong

The Net Neutrality debate has played out like many other instances involving government intervention. The free market is full of dark and evil people who live to prey on the souls of regular people, the big government supporters say. Business people live to exploit the wallets of individuals and swindle the poor in their creative minds. Their entire goal is not to live successfully and build a strong business operation that employs many people, but rather oppress all the helpless people of the world. Then enters valiant government, our mighty knight in shining armor. Our benevolent masters have come to… Keep Reading

November 15, 2017November 15, 2017 in History/Politics

Conservative Turf War: Chambers Vs. Rand

There’s an old saying that has a kernel of truth to it: “That it takes a maniac to defeat a maniac.” There are exceptions to this rule as in the case of the calm and empirical Joseph Welch destroying the fanatical Joseph McCarthy with one phrase (“Have you no sense of decency?”). But more often than not, fanatics are outmanned by their counterparts. An example is how then-Congressman Richard Nixon, already malformed with self-pity and paranoia, sensed early and correctly that the New Deal darling, Alger Hiss was a sociopathic liar who against all accumulating and damaging evidence denied his… Keep Reading

October 22, 2017October 22, 2017 in News/Politics/Press Releases

The Liberty Conservative Endorses Josh Hawley in Missouri Senate Race

The Liberty Conservative is proud to announce that it is endorsing Josh Hawley, the current Attorney General of Missouri, for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill has shown herself to bee a strident opponent of liberty at every turn. During her time in office, she has consistently backed indefinite detention of American citizens, wasteful federal stimulus bills, bailouts, and tax hikes. It is very clear that she does not represent the interests of the people of Missouri, but rather, the entrenched Washington elite that bankrolls her campaigns. It is thereby imperative that she is replaced in 2018 with someone who… Keep Reading

September 26, 2017September 29, 2017 in Politics

Why Rand Paul is Wrong on Graham-Cassidy

The Donald Trump era has made Washington D.C. a little more entertaining, but has done little to change how the Beltway operates. Democrats still hate Republicans, Republicans still hate leadership, and Wall Street still controls the Treasury. So it goes. As such, when I had heard that a last second Obamacare reform bill had come out, I had assumed that – like Ryancare, “Skinny Repeal”, and other such gimmicks – we were dealing with another Obamacare-lite measure that did little more than paint Obama’s legislative nightmare red. To my great surprise, I was wrong. While far from being my ideal… Keep Reading

July 18, 2017July 20, 2017 in Politics

Net Neutrality Strengthens Monopolies, Invites Corruption

When it imposed its net neutrality rules on the telecom industry, the FCC was fixing a problem that didn’t exist. While proponents of Net Neutrality have long claimed that the regulations are necessary to impose fairness for Internet usage, access to the Internet has only become more widespread and service today is far faster for users—including “ordinary” people—than it was twenty years ago. Nevertheless, when the FCC in recent months—now under pressure from the Trump Administration—announced that it may step back from net neutrality, supporters immediately began claiming that net neutrality was necessary to keep Internet access affordable and “fair.”… Keep Reading

June 28, 2017June 28, 2017 in Economics

The Racist History of Minimum Wage Laws

In 1966, Milton Friedman wrote an op-ed for Newsweek entitled “Minimum Wage Rates.” In it, he argued “that the minimum-wage law is the most anti-Negro law on our statute books.” He was, of course, referring to the then-present era, after the far more explicitly racist laws from the eras of slavery and segregation had already been removed. Friedman’s observation about the racist effects of minimum wage laws can be traced back to the nineteenth century, and they continue to have a disproportionately deleterious effect on African-Americans into the present day. The earliest of such laws were regulations passed in regards… Keep Reading

June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 in Tech

Could Donald Trump Save the Internet?

Ludwig von Mises dedicated a great amount of ink to the role that ideas play in shaping society. Not only does his analysis illustrate why it is so important to educate the public on topics such as economics, but also explains the enormous danger posed by widely accepted political myths. Examples include various false narratives such as deregulation caused the financial crisis, that American healthcare costs are driven up due to “capitalism,” or FDR saved America from the Great Depression. Of course. these various fictions, which all enjoy the support of most of the “intellectual” class, all conveniently lead to… Keep Reading

May 23, 2017August 15, 2017 in Economics/Politics

Healthcare Isn’t a Right or a Privilege

A few days ago I had the opportunity to participate in a brief discussion on the subject of healthcare, more precisely, whether it is a right or a privilege. The person I was talking with is one of those who frames the debate in terms of a false dilemma: healthcare is either a right or a privilege. If it is not one it must be the other, the former being the morally upright side of the debate, the latter being on the side of evil corporations and systemic greed aimed at killing and robbing as many poor people as possible.… Keep Reading

January 7, 2017January 9, 2017 in Economics/Politics

Did The Free Market Kill Coal?

Would you like to know my secret to turning my environmentalist friends into stalwart defenders of the marketplace? The answer is simple: coal. You would be amazed by the reversal in rhetoric witnessed right before your eyes, typically accompanied by a big dose of schadenfreude aimed at Appalachian people. The “free market killed coal” adage apparently qualifies as ironic humor in leftist circles. Never mind the tens of thousands of families, hundreds of communities, a plethora of near-bankrupt school districts, and so many others left behind in the wreckage of coal’s decline. They’ll laugh as states who have endured generation… Keep Reading

September 30, 2016September 30, 2016 in Economics/Politics

Single-Payer Sucks

Proponents of universal healthcare hold one of the most morally attractive political positions of present day: healthcare is a natural human right and should be readily available to all, regardless of socioeconomic standing. On top of their moral high ground, they pile on supposed proof of single payer’s merits by pointing to Canada, Scandinavia, and various other countries. It’s their belief that if only such a system were implemented in the US, the problems associated with healthcare would largely be alleviated. It’s a very emotionally pleasing opinion to hold. Single-payer advocates pat themselves on the back for being so benevolent… Keep Reading

June 4, 2016June 5, 2016 in Economics

Ayn Rand, Rand Paul, and Paul Ryan Walk Into a Bar…

The age of social media has given rise to an increasingly large group of people who believe that a couple sentences, or even just a few words posted on a picture constitute an effective argument. While in some ways, political and philosophical debate is healthier than ever before, the over reliance on simplistic arguments is creating a “meme world” where an asinine idea can be conveyed in few words and posted in mere seconds. Proper refutation, however; takes more than a few words. In the 140 character world of Twitter, these types of arguments exist almost exclusively. This tweet from… Keep Reading

June 2, 2016 in Economics

James J. Hill and The Liquidation of Malinvestment

James J. Hill is unquestionably one of the greatest entrepreneurs in American history. This past weekend marked the 100th anniversary of his passing. He is best remembered for the successful construction of the only transcontinental railroad to not go bankrupt. He didn’t accept government subsidies, and argued eloquently against his competitors who did: “The government should not furnish capital to these companies, in addition to their enormous land subsidies, to enable them to conduct their business in competition with enterprises that have received no aid from the public treasury.” His endeavors can claim to be largely responsible for the settling… Keep Reading

January 15, 2015April 3, 2015 in Economics

Hayek, Statistics, and Trade-Cycle Theory

Austrian economics is often caricatured and criticized because of its approach, or deliberate lack of an approach, to mathematical models, multivariable calculus, and econometrics. Attacks are leveled against Austrians such as Mises, Rothbard, and Kirzner for their failure or refusal to avail themselves of applied empirical research in their scholarship. The Austrian methodology most frequently targeted is praxeology. It is not the purpose of this short article to refute these attacks or to explore their errors and merits. That has been done ably by others (see, for example, the series of debate-essays available here, here, here, and here). Nor does… Keep Reading