What About “Whataboutism?”
“When the cry of ‘Well… what about X?’ arises in argumentation, it is a good time to step back and evaluate the claim through the eyes of others. It may be that the claim holds no merit. Alternatively, it may open our eyes to bigger problems that we’ve failed to notice.” ~ Anthony Gill
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10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Call Leftists “Liberal”
“If we are to stand up for liberal civilization, we must first appreciate the great arc of liberalism—that is, the development of liberalism, beginning, say, with the printing press in the fifteenth century and its subsequent ups and downs, and across liberal civilization, not just the American scene.” ~ Daniel B. Klein
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A Different Perspective on Cancel Culture
“Cancel culture may be such a controversial phrase that cannot be salvaged, but the idea that we should ostracize those who unjustly challenge the public order is necessary for a civil society.” ~ David Crego
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Owl Creek Bridge Redux?
“Sometimes I feel like the entire world is in its final throes as humanity’s storyline becomes increasingly surreal. Judging by how often I hear other people say ‘unbelievable,’ ‘beyond belief,’ or ‘incredible,’ many others seem to feel likewise.” ~ Robert E. Wright
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Leveling Down to Utopia
“In such a ‘Utopia’ without love or art or individuality, what is left? Certainly not choice. The State manages all activities, from the propagation of the species (every spring, like cattle) to bathing, since unequal habits led to ‘two distinct classes, the Clean and the Dirty.'” ~ Caroline Breashears
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The Bad and the Very Bad
“Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America in the hope of preventing the death of liberal civilization. For Tocqueville, liberal civilization was a somewhere to be defended by its sons and daughters. Throughout his famous work, he expresses hope. Heeding his warning enhances our prospects.” ~ Daniel B. Klein
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Law But No Order
“When The Law applies equally and recognizes that everyone has an equal right to life, freedom, and property, rent-seeking cannot bear fruit. It no longer detracts resources from more productive activities. The winners are those who add value to others’ lives.” ~ Sophia Spinazze
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Dandy Horses, Memes, and Private Security
“Some policy memes, like some of the political cartoons of old, constitute powerful ways of spreading important policy points in pithy, thoughtful ways. Many, though, are the weak tea products of minds ignorant of even the most basic tenets of business, economic, and policy history.” ~ Robert E. Wright
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Lessons From the Bronze Age Collapse
“We survived this time, but the next time a global crisis rolls around we may not be so fortunate if governments continue to pursue their anti-social policies that undermine the social order based upon the division of labor.” ~ Zachary Yost
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The Dangers and Opportunities of Biden’s New Antitrust Order
“Biden’s executive order is filled with aggressive and romantic language that seems to harken back to the tired old age of early 20th-century trust busting that reeks of disdain for large corporations just for the sake of being large. At the same time, the order does pay some respect to the idea that economic freedom is a necessary component for encouraging competition.” ~ Ethan Yang
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Debunking The 1619 Project
“With their 1619 Project, the New York Times has weighed in to rewrite American history by deconstructing institutions responsible for our prosperity and our success: free-market capitalism and the United States Constitution. To learn what is true, listen in to Bill Walton’s conversation with Phil Magness who devastatingly debunks these claims.” ~ AIER
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How History Moves Forward
“History is the messy sum outcome of millions and millions of people’s incentives, desires, biases, and actions. An iconic quote from Jurassic Park is ‘Life finds a way,’ uttered by the cynical chaos-theory chanting character Ian Malcolm. History, it would seem, does too.” ~ Joakim Book
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