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Civil Liberties
My Experience with Campus Climate at a Liberal Arts College
William F. Buckley famously authored God and Man at Yale in 1951. In it, he decried his alma mater’s overt efforts to undermine what he called good, American values such as faith, capitalism, and individualism. Today, I assert that institutions of higher schooling everywhere undermine — or fail to instill — other crucial values; values that underpin the very idea of higher education. In particular: appreciation for freedom of speech, academic freedom, open debate, and fearless, intellectual rigor. For more on freedom of speech, see Prof. Peter Jaworski’s Learn Liberty Video, The
History
Debunking Putin’s Alternative “History”
On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin commenced a brutal, full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Two years on from this calamity, let’s examine
Democracy and Voting
The Soviet Union’s terrible legacy on democracy and minority rights
From the series: Debunking Myths about the Soviet Union Since they first seized power, Soviet leaders have claimed their “democracy” to be
All Learn Liberty Blog Posts
Censorship
How Section 230 protects your online freedom
Section 230, part of the Telecommunications Decency Act of 1996, may sound like just any obscure piece of legislation, but it plays a crucial role in protecting your online freedom.
When Section 230 became law in 1996, it brought common sense to the table — content creators should be held responsible for their own words, not the platforms playing host.
However, in recent years, there has been significant pushback against Section 230 from figures across the political spectrum.
Entrepreneurship
A new Vancouver development shows what’s possible when housing is deregulated
Sen̓áḵw is a $3-billion, 11-tower real estate development in Vancouver, set to be built on Squamish Nation reserve land. The project, named after the ancestral territory the Squamish people were removed from in 1913, is a sustainable village developed in partnership with Westbank.
The example set by the Sen̓áḵw development project shows us what we could have in other places too, if only the state — and the NIMBYs whose interests they serve — would step aside and let progress unfold.
Free Trade
The awkward and uncomfortable problem with national conservatism
The recent surge of national conservatism in the United States has not only highlighted a departure from classical liberal principles but also raised concerns about a fundamental shift away from the values that have long defined American governance.
Government
Would a “national divorce” lead to more individual liberty?
As the United States finds itself in the throes of increasing political polarization, the idea of a “national divorce” has gained traction, particularly within the liberty movement.
Advocates argue that splitting the nation into independent states could enhance individual liberty, allowing citizens to align with governments that reflect their values.
However, opponents contend that such a move could lead to fragmented anti-liberty measures and weaken the nation’s collective defense of individual rights.
Let’s delve into the key arguments for and against national divorce, exploring whether such a division would truly be conducive to individual liberty.
Economics
How (true) liberalism made us rich
Today, a hot shower or a cup of coffee brewed in seconds are completely mundane. A journey across continents taking mere hours is, for many, just a normal part of life. Yet, these marvels would have been the envy of even the most affluent in medieval societies, prior to a period we can refer to as the “Great Enrichment.”
Cryptocurrency
What makes Bitcoin such a revolutionary concept?
In the 15 years since the Genesis Block, the first set of 50 BTCs, was mined in January 2009, Bitcoin’s profile and impact on the global economy has increased exponentially. Hundreds of millions of people around the world have begun to recognize the merits of the truly revolutionary concept of a decentralized peer-to-peer currency.
Criminal Justice
The death penalty has no place in a civilized society
While the use of the death penalty by authoritarian regimes is not surprising, what can be said for its use in countries that claim to be free societies?
A tragic irony lies in the contradiction of a so-called free society embracing a barbaric practice that fundamentally defies the very essence of freedom — the state’s ability to make an irreversible decision on whether an individual should live or die.
Lobbying & Special Interests
Unmasking the true force behind the housing crisis
For the first time since the Great Depression, a majority of young adults in the U.S. aged 18-29 live with their parents.
The intensifying housing crisis across the United States and worldwide is a pressing concern, particularly for Millennials and Gen Z, who are often priced out of getting their own place for far longer than what has been the norm for previous generations.
Such a crisis inevitably prompts a blame game. But who or what is really to blame?
Entrepreneurship
Despite regulatory barriers, 3D-printed houses can revolutionize the construction industry
What if we could revolutionize transportation to make it not only faster but also more sustainable? What if we could create educational systems that are not only more accessible but also tailored to individual learning needs?
Or, how about building new homes in a matter of days, at a fraction of the cost?
ICON Technologies is able to do just that — if not for regulatory barriers.
Poverty & Inequality
How occupational licensing oppresses the poor
Imagine having to pay and jump through hoops for the government to allow you to work. That’s essentially how occupational licensing works.
Occupational licensing is a system that disproportionately burdens and oppresses the economically disadvantaged, hindering social mobility.
Economics
To address poverty, we must forget about inequality
Looking at inequality doesn’t tell us anything substantial about prosperity in a given country. Is inequality the real problem, or is it poverty?
Environment
Tuvalu could become the world’s first digital country as it sinks into the ocean
Climate refugees, like those from Tuvalu, warrant equal consideration alongside other displaced populations.
Moreover, proponents of liberty should unequivocally support Tuvaluans’ desire to live where they choose to: their beautiful Pacific island home.
Civil Liberties
It’s time for qualified immunity to go
How can qualified immunity continue to be a protective shield for officers who neglect their duties, especially in cases where lives are at stake?
Civil Liberties
Four civil asset forfeiture horror stories: how many more will it take to end it?
Imagine waking up one day to find your car or even your home is no longer yours. Law enforcement, armed with the authority of civil asset forfeiture, has seized it, suspecting connections to criminal activity.
Even though you are innocent, the burden of proof is on you, it’s near impossible to get your case in front of a judge, and it could be years before you get your property back.
Now, this may sound like the plot of a dystopian novel, but for countless individuals across the United States, it’s a terrifying reality.
Cryptocurrency
The elite v. the people: Nigeria’s “cashless experiment”
A cashless society: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls it the future of money. The World Economic Forum (WEF) was enthusiastic about the concept way before it was cool. In the United States, the usual suspects such as the Brookings Institute and the New York Times ask our leaders to have the boldness and courage to follow this new path.
Education
Meet the fearless middle schooler who dared to wear the Gadsden flag in class
In late August 2023, middle schooler, Jaiden Rodriguez, was removed from class over a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack.
This was in defiance of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, which has long been deemed fully applicable to publicly funded schools by the U.S. Supreme Court.
But First Amendment rights did not mean this was the end of the story.
Basic Economics
This Christmas, blame supply and demand for your expensive gifts
Even Santa’s elves can’t repeal the laws of supply and demand.
Civil Liberties
Dr. Tom G. Palmer on responsibility and freedom
Responsibility: For some the word conjures up images of old people lecturing young people about sitting up straight, doing their homework, and writing thank-you notes to elderly aunts.
Unsurprisingly, we’re expected to think it’s boring, tedious, a diversion from our enjoyment of our freedom. The goal of freedom, the images suggest, is to escape responsibilities.
In fact, embracing responsibility is neither boring, nor tedious, nor a diversion from freedom.
Blockchain
If you care about liberty, beware of CBDCs
In recent years, the concept of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has gained increasing traction across the globe, with proponents lauding the potential benefits of a digitized monetary system.
However, when we explore the real-life implications of CBDCs, it becomes increasingly clear that the rush toward digital currencies controlled by central banks poses a significant threat to individual liberty.
Civil Liberties
The Iranian dictatorship does not deserve to chair the Human Rights Council
A government that quashes open discourse and stifles diverse perspectives — as the Iranian dictatorship does — is completely ill-suited to lead discussions on social issues and human rights on the international stage.
Free Markets and Capitalism
Why we should celebrate capitalism and consumerism, at Christmas and all year
Last Christmas, Pope Francis criticized holiday consumerism, saying that ours is “a society often intoxicated by consumerism … wealth and extravagance.”
To understand why this sort of critique is mistaken, and why consumerism and capitalism deserve our love at Christmastime and throughout the year, we need to go back to basics.
Basic Economics
How minimum wage laws harm and exclude
Instead of elevating living standards and safeguarding workers from poor conditions and low pay, minimum wage laws lead to unemployment and limit job opportunities. Let’s look at how…
Environment
Here’s the reason mainstream environmentalist groups hate nuclear energy: they’re paid to
For decades, nuclear power has been shunned by mainstream environmentalism.
However, the Natural Resources Defense Council, a prominent environmentalist nonprofit, recently shut down its longstanding program dedicated to opposing the nuclear industry — and they’re not alone in this switch of priorities.
So, what is causing environmentalist groups to run out of steam in their anti-nuclear campaigns? Is mainstream environmentalism about to finally embrace nuclear power?
Civil Liberties
What the world can learn from Argentina’s liberty movement
The liberty movement’s success in Argentina serves as an inspiration to similar movements worldwide. It showcases the power of grassroots organizing and the impact that passionate individuals can have when they come together around a common cause.