Learn Liberty Blog
Featured Learn Liberty Blog Posts
Environment
The tragedy of the commons explained
Easter Island, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is famous for its giant stone statues. However, what is less well-known is that the island was once covered with a lush palm forest. Over 800 years ago, the Rapa Nui people arrived and settled on the island. Gradually, the population grew, and so did their demand for resources. Settlers began to cut down trees to create farmland, clear land for homes, and use timber to build fishing boats. As the deforestation continued, the island’s ecosystem was irreversibly damaged. Ultimately, the depletion of natural resources is often viewed
War on Drugs
Expert answers on the Drug War: highlights from Prof. Jeff Miron’s AMA
In 2017, Professor Jeffrey Miron held an “Ask Me Anything” conversation on Reddit as part of the Learn Liberty Reddit AMA Series. The conversation
Environment
Out with the coal, in with the nuclear
Despite being home to a sizable share of the world’s uranium reserves, vast tracts of non-arable but geologically stable land, and an increasingly large
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Politics & Policy
Why China’s aggressive expansionism in Arunachal Pradesh is completely unjustified
The Chinese regime’s claims on Arunachal Pradesh are wholly unjustified. The preference of a region’s inhabitants as well as international agreements are far more relevant factors when determining its status than claims based on ancient history and expansionist aggression.
Philosophers
Happy Birthday Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand, one of the most influential pro-liberty minds of the 20th century, was born 118 years ago today. Considered to be a novelist and philosopher in equal measure, she promoted Objectivism, her philosophical system, through many works of both fiction and nonfiction.
Human Rights
Now is the time to end American involvement in Yemen
There has never been a better time to end American involvement in Yemen’s Civil War, and there has never been a better time to limit the president’s war powers.
Free Markets and Capitalism
Hong Kong: a model city-state under siege
Although now under siege, Hong Kong still shines as an example of what a well-built city-state can be. Its development should be used as an example and a guide toward realizing what is possible.
Liberty
Why does liberty work?
Advocating for liberty is both idealistic and realistic. What is it that makes liberty “work” in a way that central planning cannot?
Censorship
The KGB still runs Russia and always has
The KGB still runs Russia. In its structure of power, the same organization that inflicted terror in Soviet times is still calling the shots.
Poverty & Inequality
2022 is over and Soylent Green isn’t people
Soylent Green (1973), a dystopian sci-fi movie, depicts a world suffering from overpopulation, climate change, and extreme inequality, where the rich exploit and own the poor, who survive on the evil Soylent Corporation’s processed plankton. As 2022, the year in which Soylent Green was set, has now passed, the movie’s grim predictions of overpopulation have proven misguided.
Free Markets and Capitalism
NIMBYism: the real reason we don’t have affordable housing
Uncover how NIMBYism is driving the housing crisis, as residents use the power of the state to restrict development and reduce housing supply. Learn how this phenomenon is exacerbating affordability and accessibility issues for many individuals and families…
War on Drugs
Which states accept out-of-state medical marijuana cards in 2023?
Which states allow for the use of out-of-state medical marijuana cards in 2023? Learn about the process involved in obtaining a card and the different state regulations individuals must then navigate…
Philosophy
Review: ‘How the Force Can Fix the World,’ by Stephen Kent
In “How the Force Can Fix the World”, Stephen Kent explores how Star Wars themes can be applied to our current political and cultural landscape. A thought-provoking and compelling read for fans of Star Wars and for those looking for a new perspective on real-world issues.
Announcement
Join us in Lisbon, Portugal for LibertyCon Europe 2023!
LibertyCon Europe, the continent’s largest annual pro-liberty gathering, is coming to Lisbon, Portugal, on April 22 – 23, 2023!
Free Speech
Is social media a modern-day Tower of Babel?
As social media platforms use artificial intelligence to curate users’ feeds with the content they are most likely to engage with, this erects barriers to communication among people of differing opinions.
Human Rights
National Security Law: the crackdown on democracy and freedom in Hong Kong
China’s National Security Law has reduced Hong Kong’s autonomy and made it easier for the CCP regime to punish pro-democracy activists.
Free Speech
Are major tech companies stifling free speech?
Technological advances have made it much easier for individuals to express themselves, but are major tech companies now stifling free speech?
Cryptocurrency
Don’t believe the hype, Bitcoin is not anti-environment
Bitcoin, an innovative, decentralized digital currency, faces significant criticism over its perceived negative environmental impact. However, it is no enemy of the environment. Here’s how it can be part of the future of clean energy…
Free Markets and Capitalism
What’s wrong with making money?
Social justice advocates argue that it is “society’s” duty to eliminate pain and inequality wherever and whenever it exists. What is interesting is that I have never met Mr. Society.
Cryptocurrency
What makes Bitcoin such a revolutionary concept?
In the 14 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.
Liberty
Ten movies every libertarian should watch
Looking for a way to combine entertainment with thought-provoking ideas? Check out our list of ten movies every libertarian should watch…
Liberty
13 books every well-rounded libertarian should read
There are books that every libertarian should read and books every libertarian has read, but those circles don’t perfectly overlap. Here are 13 diverse book recommendations for well-rounded thinkers…
LGBTQ
How gay pride is a celebration of liberty
Every time someone does not conform to what is attempted to be imposed on them; those people are celebrating pride in being themselves. That’s why gay pride is so special. It is resistance against those who do not love the freedom of others.
Monetary Policy
How financial surveillance and inflation are used to rob Americans
While inflation continues to severely impact the financial security of Americans, the IRS has warned business owners that they are legally obligated to report financial transactions of over $600 made through payment facilitators such as Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal.
Tech Liberty
Is AI our generation’s nuclear fission?
Developments in AI, such as the recent creation of ChatGPT, can be seen as world-changing in ways that should not be taken lightly. However, it clearly has immense potential for humanity, so long as we choose the right path. What are the parallels between the advent of nuclear fission and the rise of AI?
Basic Economics
Rob Your Neighbor: the philosophy of publicly funded projects
The philosophy involved in Rob Your Neighbor, a game many families play at Christmas that involves buying generic gifts to be chosen at random, mirrors the public model of taxation.
Free Speech
Is Elon Musk really a friend of free speech?
On December 15, 2022, under Elon Musk, Twitter suspended several prominent journalists’ accounts from publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, among others.