Learn Liberty Blog

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.

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…