Freedom Home Page of the Week Archive Winter 2002

I think Mises' Human Action and Rothbard's Man Economy & State are two of the most important works of the 20th Century and they should be read by all. But, a painful admission: I've never read either of them all the way through. I've tried. Repeatedly. And I didn't give up from lack of enjoyment. The several times I've found the energy to plow through a few chapters of Rothbard, I've found them intensely stimulating. Same goes for Mises, though the plowing is even slower when you have to constantly stop and try to remember what "polylogism" means, or "catallactics". It's just that both books are very large, long and frankly, hella difficult.

All of which is why I'm very excited about Gene Callahan's new book, Economics for Real People. The corresponding web site serves mainly as an extended introduction to the book, which is itself a friendly introduction to Austrian Economics which looks to do for Mises and Rothbard what Hazlitt did for Bastiat. In Callahan's Introduction to the book, (readable at the site,) he reveals his populist motive by explaining that one of the few flaws in Human Action is that it contains no references to the TV show Survivor, nor to Helena Bonham-Carter. But, he promises, "[T]his book will be free of both of those flaws."

At the site, in addition to the webbed Introduction, you can read Chapter 13: Times Are Hard (On the cause of the business cycle,) and whet your appetite for purchase by perusing the Table of Contents. But the real highlight of the site is the Resources page. Here you can jump to important works of Austrian economics on the web, all organized to correspond with subjects and chapters in the book. Whether or not you're reading the book, the Resources page serves as a useful library of online Austrian economics.

Many on the left are baffled by Bush's recent avowal that global warming is caused by human activity, combined with his continued reluctance to do anything at the federal level to stop it. The bafflement is typical of a political philosophy that amounts to the syllogism, "A problem exists, therefore the government should fix it." But back here in the real world--the one that allows for a little more nuance and depth of thought--that B doesn't necessarily follow that A.

One very thorough and informative real-world group is the Individualist Environmentalists, or iGreens. Their website is dedicated to proving that the private sector does much more to help the environment, and the public much more to harm it, than the statist Greens are willing to admit.

Though based in the UK, much of the content on iGreens is either about the United States, or of general worldwide interest. There are pages of articles on environmental topics, as well as diverting pages on topics like false doomsday predictions, Burke's "Little Platoons", and where to get fresh coffee in Leeds. This light-hearted attitude combined with a serious message make iGreens.org an excellent overview of an often overlooked segment of the environmentalist movement.

Boon-Ja-Ba Intellectual and Business Society defies simple explanation, especially by a white boy like me. It is unlike any other libertarian site I've ever reviewed. Imagine if the blackest "Black Power" advocates of the seventies suddenly took up the flag for free-market capitalism, without sacrificing any of the Black Power sentiment, and you would get some idea.

The idea behind Boon-Ja-Ba is sound, and it is perhaps the most important observation that can be made about black culture in this country: Socialist ideals pervade deeply, and if there is a "Man" who is keeping black America down, it's Karl Marx. Or Che Guevara. Or Jesse Jackson. If blacks in this country really desire freedom, and wealth, they would do well to learn economics and embrace the marketplace.

And yet the activist aspect of Boon-Ja-Ba is, at first sight, decidedly protectionist. Boon-Ja-Ba wants to establish a label which identifies products made by blacks, encouraging people to "Buy Black". And though this isn't quite consistent with the idea of a completely open marketplace, they make a very good case. I'll let you read it for yourself. That is just the beginning of this intelligent, surprising and forward-looking website.

About a month ago, I finally made a long-anticipated move to Los Angeles. A month in, I can confirm that the worst part of living in LA is, without question, the traffic. However, the worst part of living in LA is not all that bad because it's offset by what I consider to be the best part of living in LA: I can finally listen to Larry Elder on the radio. With Larry on the air, the after-work traffic jam has become a blessing. If you don't live in LA, you're missing out on the best radio talk show on the air.

Larry Elder is not like the other radio talk-show hosts. He's an unabashed libertarian and he's not afraid to use that L-word frequently. And, even more refreshing, he is never inflammatory. He's doesn't name-call (much), he doesn't make fun, he rarely even raises his voice. He just calmly deconstructs leftist arguments, one after the other, every day. And he does the same on his website, LarryElder.com. A good place to start is with his Ten Steps to Fix America. No libertarian can fail to be moved by the very first step, especially when you keep in mind that this is coming from a major radio star broadcasting from hard-left LA.

After you've digested Elder's radical ten steps, be sure to browse through the Contents page to read enlightening articles by Elder and others, as well as the Radio Topics page which contains links to materials supplementing the topics recently discussed on the air. Outside of LA, you may not get to hear the "Sage of South Central", but the website will give you a healthy idea of what you're missing on your depressingly unclogged, speedy and Larry-free roads.

The Nolan chart, familiar from libertarian literature from all segments of the movement, has long been a major force in changing people's perspective of the political spectrum. The one-dimensional left/right line just doesn't realistically apply to the real, messy world of political thought. The Nolan chart, graphing thought onto a two-dimensional box, is worlds better. And the new site by IHS, Politopia, takes the phrase "worlds better" to a new literal extreme.

Let's face it: It appears as if many of the same instincts that make one interested in freedom and free markets also make one inclined towards reading paperback novels about elves and/or aliens. And it's that very same Meriadoc Brandybuck in me that really digs the fact that Politopia turns the Nolan chart into a fantasy map. To access this "Land of Custom Made Government", you take a familiar quiz which, when finished, will show you to your homeland. If you're like me, you'll move into the Northwest territory with neighbors like Ayn Rand and Jesse Ventura. And another cool feature encourages your friends to take the quiz and move in as well. Hopefully, they won't be to far away from you.

Politopia is just one feature of an IHS web project centered around LibertyGuide.com. At LibertyGuide.com, you'll find many useful (and usefully categorized) links, plus articles, book reviews, and an extensive database of opportunities for students. LibertyGuide posits itself as the Ultimate E-guide to Liberty and, though I'm professionally inclined to differ about that "Ultimate" part, LibertyGuide is an excellent guide indeed. And, being a typical friendly and open-minded Northwesterner, I believe there's room for both of us on this Web.

Brink Lindsey is well known in the libertarian sphere as the director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies, and his writing on trade policy, both for Cato and various newspapers, is unmatched for quality. As further evidenced by his latest book, Against The Dead Hand, Lindsey is the man to go to for clear-headed, painstakingly reasoned conclusions about international trade. But his blog is evidence of a mind capable of much besides.

At BrinkLindsey.com, Lindsey puts his considerable grey matter to task on a wide range of subjects, and with just the right combination of wit and brevity to keep you scrolling and reading for hours. Be sure to check out his recent posts on cloning, famine in Africa, existentialism and the meaning(s) of life. Lindsey's is a blog of such far-ranging interests that not only will you be coming back for more, you'll also be heading for the bookstore, other sites, and discussing new topics with friends. And it's updated at least once a day so, even if you've already seen it, chances are you've just missed something.

Recently, I was discussing with a friend what had gone wrong with American movies. Why were they so good 60 years ago, and then again briefly 30 years ago, and so bad now? This friend with whom I was arguing, made the statement that he often makes: "The cause of the problem is deregulation." You should also take note of the fact that this friend considers himself an anarchist (in the Chomskyite sense of the word, naturally.)

Since I've had similar discussions with him before, I was prepared for some such statement to be uttered and I'm proud to say, for the first time, I prevented the steam from coming out of my ears. This time, I didn't bother with the question, "So, you're an anarchist who believes that MORE GOVERNMENT is the answer??" This time, I just calmly said, "If you're interested in the subject, you should check out Regulation.org."

It shouldn't be hard to understand that totalitarianism is already on the move in this country, and its primary form is that of the regulatory octopus which is slowly strangling our economy, our minds, and our dwindling freedoms. But Chomskyite anarchists still flourish and, for that matter, so do Democrats. Regulation.org ought to make it even easier for them to understand.

The site is divided into two parts: The Facts and The Issues. The Facts section is the introduction. Read here for full coverage of what regulation is, why it matters, and the precise ways in which it is doing damage. If you've already got a pretty good understanding of why regulation is bad, The Issues section will probably be of more interest. Here you'll get overviews of specific regulations and their tolls: Anti-trust, Electricity, Enviromental Issues, and Workplace Issues are just a few of the topics covered in-depth. With the existence of this comprehensive website, there is just no reason for anyone to hail the demon regulation as a savior ever again.

The Atlas Society is dedicated to "celebrating the fiction of Ayn Rand", and a celebration is what you'll find at their colorful web site. Here you will find little of the hardcore, dogmatic philosophizing often associated with Randian web sites. Instead, this site is refreshingly concerned with the unique aesthetic of her fictional work.

Now, most Rand enthusiasts will pause and ask how it is possible to separate Rand's ideas from the aesthetic of her fiction. With Rand, they tend to be intentionally inextricable. The Atlas Society doesn't contradict this. No one can create a piece of art which regards Ayn Rand without emphasizing aspects of her ideas: the strength of man, the beauty of simple architecture, the glory of the dollar sign. But here the ideas are put on the back burner to highlight the art. And the art is definitely worth seeing. This web site's art design is spectacular. If you've ever been inspired by Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead, you owe it to yourself to check out this site just to see some of the pictures that have been created. You'll wish they sold posters or t-shirts of the images. (Perhaps Rand's ideas have permeated enough for those products not to be long in coming. Then again, what would Ayn think of t-shirts as a medium?)

But the site is more than just beautiful pictures. There are many unique and interesting features like a descriptive listing of upcoming TV Movies with any kind of connection to Ayn Rand, i.e. actors, actresses, and ideas that she liked, plus constant updates about the ultimate Rand TV Movie, Atlas Shrugged. There is information about the books' characters, plots, and ongoing influence at the Her Fiction page. And, when the site gets you jazzed for some Rand-style thinkin', there are good articles and links at the Her Ideas page.

The Alchemind Society is a non-profit organization devoted to protecting our fudamental right to freedom of thought and, in particular, the freedom to modify consciousness. Some might try to dismiss Alchemind as a think tank for ravers but, while that classification wouldn't be totally inaccurate, Alchemind is more than that. They are a serious group with a serious and important message. Protecting our rights to imbibe any drug or install any implant we choose is a priority. Protecting our right to avoid drugs is given equal footing. To more fully understand where they are coming from, the essay On Cognitive Liberty is highly recommended.

One project of Alchemind's sister organization, The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics is fighting for the rights of Dr. Charles Sell, a St. Louis dentist charged with Medicaid fraud (but never tried or convicted), who is being held and drugged by the government against his will. Another project is the Salvia Divinorum Defense Fund. In case you've missed the recent publicity regarding this, Salvia Divinorum is one of those pesky psychoactive plants traditionally used by indians for religious purposes. Unlike the others, Salvia Divinorum has managed to slip under the government's radar until just recently. It's still legal, but the busybodies who want to dictate what and how we are allowed to think are working hard to criminalize it. Alchemind and CCLE aim to block that iron fist. Supporting their mission sends a message to the government to keep its hands off what is most obviously yours alone: your mind.

Since I became a libertarian during the Clinton years, I'd always wondered whether I would have the intellectual fortitude to consistently criticize a Republican administration as much as I had been the Democrats. And I'm sorry to admit that I'm finding it difficult. Not that there aren't many good reasons to criticize Bush. But those who criticize him most vehemently--the left--are doing it from the perspective that Gore or Nader would have been preferable. And I just can't stomach getting into bed with those people, even for a one-argument stand.

Which is why I present to you a page which has been Page of the Week before, and likely will be again: The Future of Freedom Foundation. This is where one goes to get some fuel for the fire against ALL government, with no compunction about whether it's run by the stupid party or the evil party. The president of FFF, Jacob Hornberger, is a model of uncompromising intellectual fortitude, not afraid to speak truth to any power, even the powers of Libertarian Party itself (as those who read his pre- and post-election attacks on Harry Browne will remember.) The Commentaries page of the FFF site has always been a great place to visit for a libertarian perspective on current issues. But Hornberger and FFF Senior Fellow Sheldon Richman's continuing commentary on the current War on Terrorism is a must-read for anyone not sure where to stand, and even (perhaps especially) for anyone VERY sure where to stand.

It seems the blog is here to stay. For those of you who've been asleep for the last hour and a half, (progress happens so quickly on the web,) "blog" is short for "web log" and it amounts to a remarkably easy-to-set-up web diary. But, as any regular blog troller knows well, easy-to-set-up is not the same as easy-to-make-interesting. That takes an inquisitive and original mind, plus no small amount of writing talent. This week's featured page has all that and more: a libertarian point of view.

Will Wilkinson is a philosophy student and program director for the libertarian Institute for Humane Studies. His blog, called The Fly Bottle, offers "the sweet release of reason" for all who visit. But don't take the phrase "sweet release" to mean that it's not also exciting and interesting. Sure, there's the sweet release of knowing that there's at least one other person out there able to think reasonably. But Wilkinson's site is full of provocative thinking. On the front page, check out his post (near the bottom) about "Lifestyle Entrepreneurship" and another one about why Democrats are not quite as annoying as Republicans (though neither is desirable.) Once you dip into the Fly Bottle, you'll want more. Fortunately, there are archives. And once you've gone through those, well, let's just hope Wilkinson keeps blogging.

Thoreau said, "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil, to one who is striking at the root." Before I found this week's featured page, I'd never heard that quote. And now that I've heard it, I think it may summarize the libertarian situation better than anything I've ever read. How many times have you been unable to participate in a casual political discussion between non-libertarian friends, because they are busily hacking at various branches, unaware that the real problems lie at the root?

If only I'd found the root strikers earlier. At Strike The Root, you will find columns by radical thinkers who are wisely uninterested in the branches. Here, you will find no fevered discussions about whether Socialization Plan A is better or worse than Socialization Plan B. Here, people know that they're BOTH worse than simple freedom. And the STR Discussion Forum is active and lively, so you'll never have to sit out of the discussion again.

The grand old institution of the libertarian movement, the one you can't call yourself a libertarian without having had some contact with, isn't the Libertarian Party, the Cato Institute or even, believe it or not, Free-Market.Net. It's ISIL, the International Society for Individual Liberty. ISIL gets its historic distinction even though it's only been around since 1989 because it was born from the merger of the the Libertarian International and the Society for Individual Liberty, or SIL, and SIL is where it all began.

At a Young Americans for Freedom conference in 1969, tensions between interventionist, hawk-like conservatives and non-interventionist, peace-loving... conservatives (who didn't know what else to call themselves yet,) reached a peak. There was much infighting, and finally a painful split and purge. SIL, and "libertarianism", was born.

SIL's current incarnation, ISIL, is still a thriving and positive force, spreading the message of freedom worldwide. But until recently, ISIL's web presence was marginal. Not anymore. The fantastic new ISIL site is elegant and packed with useful information, with a focus on educational tools. ISIL provides support for activists looking to spread the word. The famous series of outreach pamphlets is completely available online (and you can also order hard copies for handing out.) There are webbed articles, a directory of (which you'll notice bears a not-coincidental resemblance to the best free-market directory in the world,) and all the information you need to attend this year's annual ISIL International Conference. Visit the ISIL website to learn about libertarianism, activism, and to be a part of history.

Say what you will about alleged ambiguities in the phrasing of the second amendment, the fifth is crystal clear: "...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." But that clarity doesn't prevent our government from regularly ignoring it.(This makes one wonder why all the fuss regarding the second amendment, since our leaders consider the whole constitution to be hooey anyway. Did I say "hooey"? I meant "a living document".)

It's got to be a terrifying situation, to own a house or business and have the authorities arrive at your door to demonstrate that they know the title but not the lyrics to "This Land Is Our Land". And the way to fight an "eminent domain" seizure case is far from clear. What are the proper procedures? What are your rights? And what's the best way to win and send the feds packing? These questions and more are answered by the website of the Castle Coalition, an organization named for what the proverbial man's home is.

For the curious, there are moving stories of trials and successes. And, if you're a landowner in the tight spot of having the government greedily eye your land, you'll want to check out the Eminent Domain Abuse Survival Kit, consisting of all the information you need to fight back. It's not easy. In fact, it sounds like it really sucks. Few things are worse than having to fight a massive enemy on his terms. We ought to be able to just hold up the cross of the fifth amendment to send the vampires scurrying away. But, sadly, things have gotten too bad for that and we must delve into huge, inscrutable tomes of so-called law just in order to speak their language. It's humiliating. But it must be done, and the Castle Coalition is here to make the hard work as easy as possible.

The effects of the FDA are perfect examples of what Bastiat was talking about in his essay "What is Seen and What is Not Seen", (the argument famously expanded by Henry Hazlitt in "Economics in One Lesson".) We can all see that the FDA stops potentially harmful drugs from coming to market and being used by the public. In that sense, we can see that some lives are being saved. What we don't see is the number of lives lost due to drugs being held back, or drugs not even developed, due to the FDA-imposed high cost of bringing them to market. The first number, the one that we "see", is easily discovered. The second number, the one that we don't see, can be roughly estimated regarding drugs that are held back and eventually released. But we can only imagine the drugs that might have been developed, and the lives that might have been saved, if the FDA weren't around to punish drug-makers.

Making the unseen seen is the goal of FDAReview.org, a new web project of the libertarian Independent Institute. This important website should be the standard--the first site anyone goes to when considering the FDA. It is extensively researched, cogently argued, and very user-friendly. No stone is left unturned. There is a thorough history of the FDA, from creation to present day. Throughout the site, there are numerous examples of how, in practice, what is unseen vastly outweighs what is seen. A complete glossary of terms and library of quotations round out the site, making it an invaluable resource for anyone needing to argue that the FDA does more harm than good. It should not be a hard argument to make.

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