Topic: Authoritarianism

Unmasking Masks

– September 1, 2020

“As the sundry shelter-in-place orders inevitably gave way, the same government officials who bade our faces to go bare in March and April replaced them with mask mandates. Although less detrimental to the economy than lockdowns, masking may turn out to be even more deadly.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Economic Education, Government

Biden’s “Passion and Purpose” is More Political Paternalism

– August 25, 2020

“It is so essential for those who value and understand the classical liberal meaning of personal liberty, economic freedom, voluntary association, impartial rule of law, and the importance and role of a constitutionally limited government, to explain to and persuade our fellow citizens that what the Democrats and the Republicans are currently offering us is not the path to a promised ‘social justice’ heaven on earth, or a way for people or a country to be ‘great.’ But, rather, they lead to paternalistic tyrannies that once fully in place will be extremely difficult from which to extricate ourselves.” ~ Richard M. Ebeling

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Policy

A Closer Look at the States that Stayed Open

– August 24, 2020

“There is no definitive evidence to suggest that stay at home orders are effective at addressing COVID-19. Furthermore, the United States experiment with the policy has yielded results that are not favorable to Dr. Fauci’s suggestion regarding the nationwide implementation of stay at home orders. ” ~Ethan Yang

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Economic Education

The End of Consensus

– August 24, 2020

“We think of social media with its inescapable cacophony as a force dividing us. But the problem is our assumption that ‘united’ means ‘doing and thinking the same thing.’ Ironically, exactly this networked technology enables us to think and do different things while remaining connected rather than isolated, and therefore, be greater than the sum of our parts. Old ideas about our politics finding a single consensus are the true dividers.” ~ Max Gulker

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Economic Education, History

Let’s Follow the History of Science Instead

– August 24, 2020

“A politician who really had the public’s interest at heart would, instead, say: ‘Times are tough. Some Americans have died from a natural cause and more are likely to. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do because viruses live by their own rules, not ours.'” ~ Robert E. Wright

Authoritarianism, Economic Education, History

Yes, It Was “Real Socialism.” No, We Shouldn’t Try Again.

– August 22, 2020

“Feelings can be deceptive, however, and good intentions do not readily translate into good outcomes. Socialism, as Niemietz explains, has failed repeatedly. It never dies—but it should.” ~ Art Carden

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Economic Education, Free Markets

Terrible Policies Possess Both Virulence and Prevalence

– August 21, 2020

“We have civilization and prosperity not because we are smart but because we permit the freedom to cooperate toward building smart social and economic institutions.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Authoritarianism, Central Banking, Crisis

Governments Are Faking It, and Copying Each Other

– August 20, 2020

“A mystery for months is how it is that so many governments in so many different places on earth could have adopted the same or very similar preposterous policies, no matter the threat level of the virus, and without firm evidence that interventions had any hope of being effective.” ~ Jeffrey Tucker

Authoritarianism, Crisis, Free Markets, Government

This Is Not Australia

– August 20, 2020

“Our leadership must acknowledge the suffering of countless thousands of Australian citizens affected by measures taken to ‘defeat’ the virus. We need a collective plan that restores our civil and human rights and returns us to a liveable, albeit new normality. If we ever want to sing that inspiring Seekers song together again, then it’s time for all Australians to start thinking and acting collectively for the good of us all and for the future of this ‘lucky country.’” ~ Tania de Jong

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Crisis, Free Markets

Pathological and Parochial Altruism in the Age of Fear

– August 20, 2020

“A healthy altruism already resides in the concepts of liberty, free markets, free trade, and exchanges that are beneficial to each individual. If in the spirit of entrepreneurship, the defectors from the status quo, the disruptors and ingenious can rise up to challenge the “new normal” and break away from the cult of blind obedience and pathological altruism, then there is still hope.” ~ Lucio Saverio Eastman

Authoritarianism, Environmentalism, Free Markets

Let’s Cancel Environmentalism: A Triple Review of Environmentalism’s Opponents

– August 19, 2020

“We need to cancel environmentalism – and replace it with a scientifically sound and carefully deliberated environmental humanism. A humanism where damages and harm to the planet matters, but so do human life, wealth, and well-being.” ~ Joakim Book

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Free Markets

The Insidious Political Ends of Cancel Culture

– August 18, 2020

“The problem comes when such behavior gets so pervasive that it makes any sort of desirable social fabric impossible. To those people who wish to engage in the heavy politicization, divisiveness, and domination inherent to cancel culture, I say: make sure we actually have a society left.” ~ Ethan Yang