Learn Liberty Blog

Civil Liberties

My Experience with Campus Climate at a Liberal Arts College

I was a Bernie Sanders-style progressive when I arrived at my small liberal arts college. I quickly rose through the ranks of various leftist student groups. Then, one key event turned me around.

Entrepreneurship

Stop complaining, start building: why Ayn Rand is so popular among entrepreneurs and high achievers

For people of a certain mindset and ambition, Ayn Rand’s ideas serve as a beacon of empowerment, urging them to stop complaining and instead focus on what they can do to build their own destinies.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why entrepreneurs and high achievers are a particularly receptive audience to the ideas of Ayn Rand.

War on Drugs

How and why the war on drugs has failed

In this article, we’ll dissect the failures of the war on drugs, seeking to uncover the factors that have led to its ultimate downfall, as well as diverse arguments for ending the war on drugs and embracing legalization.

Philosophy

Five people influenced by Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand has inspired countless readers from various walks of life, including some you might have heard of.

Many notable people from fields as diverse as comic books, rock music, activism, and business have credited her as a significant influence.

Let’s look at five such individuals…

Censorship

Anthem: a gateway to the genius of Ayn Rand

Today, 86 years on from its original publication, Anthem stands firm as a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and the eternal flame of individualism. 

Free Press

The key to finding truth in a world of misinformation

Today, more than ever, journalism is confronted with significant challenges, especially with media outlets striving to captivate audiences and deliver returns to shareholders. 

But what happens when sensationalism and biased narratives become the norm? Where can individuals turn for accurate information when journalists prioritize agendas over facts? And how do we find common ground in an era of intense political division and factionalism?

History

Debunking Putin’s Alternative “History”

Two years on from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, let’s examine and debunk some of the bogus justifications put forth by the fascist regime in Moscow and Putin’s alternative “history” that he uses in his attempts to delegitimize the Ukrainian nation.

Liberty

Liberalism as a product: how to convince others that freedom is good

Liberalism is a great product, but it often doesn’t sell very well, despite spearheading the astronomical leap in prosperity over the past 200 years.

So, what are liberals getting wrong and how can they sell freedom more effectively?

Economics

Deirdre McCloskey: ‘The pursuit of freedom has unleashed unprecedented innovation, prosperity, and social transformation’

Deirdre McCloskey, renowned economist and advocate for liberal values, delivered a stirring address at LibertyCon International, captivating attendees with her insights into the importance of liberty in fostering human flourishing and societal progress.

Free Markets and Capitalism

David Boaz: ‘Fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it’

At LibertyCon International, David Boaz urged the liberty movement to “fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it.”

Civil Liberties

Remembering Alexei Navalny: a champion of freedom in Russia

Today, the world mourns the loss of Alexei Navalny, a fearless advocate for liberty and democracy in Russia, who died in a Siberian penal colony on February 16, 2024, aged 47.

Equal Treatment Under Law

Why our liberty hinges on the Rule of Law

The Rule of Law plays a pivotal role in enhancing individuals’ freedoms, as it dictates whether a country veers toward authoritarianism or freedom. But what do we understand as the Rule of Law?

Democracy and Voting

Why Portugal’s Socialist Party looks poised for victory despite scandal

Portugal finds itself once more on the precipice of electoral intrigue as the nation gears up for legislative elections on March 10, 2024. The (second) resignation of Prime Minister António Costa amid a corruption scandal has thrown the country into political turmoil.

Despite the obvious setbacks, recent polls indicate that Costa’s Socialist Party (PS) remains poised for reelection. This raises intriguing questions about the electorate’s enduring support and sheds light on the nuances of Portugal’s political landscape.

Civil Liberties

Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi: the tragedy of executed dissidents in Iran

Once again, on January 23, 2024, Iranian authorities executed two political dissidents, Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi, after unjust trials.

These latest tragedies shed light on the ongoing pattern concerning Iran’s use of the death penalty in persecuting both opponents of the regime and ethnic minorities. 

Democracy and Voting

The Soviet Union’s terrible legacy on democracy and minority rights

Since they first seized power, Soviet leaders have claimed their “democracy” to be the best in history. However, their understanding of democracy differs significantly from that of the United States and other Western nations.

This second piece of a series addressing myths about the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) will focus on the country’s strange legacy on democracy and minority rights.

Censorship

Tolerance means dealing with ideas without canceling or censoring

Society is always changing, and so are ideas. 

One constant, however, is intolerance for different ideas. That intolerance has left its mark, often in blood, on human history. The current iteration of intolerance, though not quite bloody, is “cancel culture.”

Ethics

Love your enemies: why human respect is the key to victory

When I was in college, my primary motivator for activism was anger. No, that doesn’t even accurately describe my mindset at the time. Fury would probably be the more correct term.

My strategy was simple; I enjoyed demonstrating the absurdity of their positions (can’t you see that all government action is theft and slavery!!!). When they disagreed, I would simply raise my volume and my indignation.

As the need for more indignant activism grew, so did my anger. But anger did more to destroy myself than to defeat my enemies.

Instead, there is a better way. One that enables the liberty movement to grow…

Ethics

AI isn’t going to leave you unemployed

From automated factory assembly lines to helping you cheat on your college term paper, AI is doing things today that were barely imagined only a few short years ago. As such, you might be wondering, “is my job at risk of being taken over by robots?” or “will we all end up unemployed?”

Debt

Why is college so expensive?

To find out why college is so expensive and why student debt has reached crisis point, we need to dig deep into a maze of factors that ultimately leave the government with a lot to answer for.

Free Markets and Capitalism

How government subsidies encourage bad diets

If, like for most people, prices are an important factor in what foods you choose to buy, government subsidies have a significant impact on what ends up on your plate.

Walk down any aisle, and you’re likely to come across high-fructose corn syrup. This commonly used artificial sweetener owes its prevalence to government handouts to the corn industry. Generous subsidies enable the widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup, contributing to the overconsumption of sugary foods.

Announcement

Join us at LibertyCon Europe in Tbilisi, Georgia!

In Tbilisi, Georgia, a gathering unlike any other is fast approaching! LibertyCon Europe 2024, Students For Liberty’s flagship annual event in Europe and the continent’s largest pro-liberty gathering, is gearing up to be an unmissable experience for friends of liberty across the region and beyond!

Held in the Georgian capital over three days, from April 19-21, LibertyCon Europe 2024 expects a gathering of over 800 attendees and over 30 pro-liberty organizations.

Entrepreneurship

How the Grace Richardson Fund is putting free-market environmentalism into action

The Grace Richardson Fund, a private foundation under the visionary leadership of President Rod Richardson, has been a trailblazer for free-market environmentalism

Civil Liberties

There is only one colonizer in Ukraine, and it isn’t the West

Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and the Russian state — along with many gullible voices in the West — assert that Ukraine is a victim of Western colonialism and expansionism.

Indeed, Putin’s narrative frames Russia’s invasion as a supposed liberation of Ukraine from nefarious external influences.

However, an examination of history reveals a starkly different truth — one deeply rooted in centuries of Russian colonialism and expansionism.

Politics & Policy

The rise of political violence: is it only going to get worse?

Political violence in the United States has experienced a surge in recent years. Incidents like the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, Antifa rioting, and the infamous Charlottesville rally in 2017 have underscored a concerning trend.

The question that looms large is whether this surge is an isolated phenomenon or a harbinger of a darker future for the nation.