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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
Uncategorized
What’s Not Being Said About the Wage Gap
The gap in wages between men and women has been a topic of debate for years. With candidate Hillary Clinton shining light on the issue with promises for a Paycheck Fairness Act, Diana Furchtgott-Roth has addressed what’s not being addressed in conversations about the wage gap: choice. Furchtgott-Roth notes that the differences in wages for […]
Uncategorized
Quote of the Day: David Friedman on the Infantile State
This quote comes from David Friedman’s book, “The Machinery of Freedom,” in which he makes the case for private markets in law enforcement, courts, and other conduct typically defined as the exclusive realm of the state.
Uncategorized
Can Bitcoin Help Alleviate Poverty?
The benefits of having a denationalized form of money are great. Apart from the inherent budgetary constraints it would impose on governments it also makes trading and the transferring of money cheaper and easier. The potential this has for emerging market economies is breathtaking. Professor Jerry Brito talks how Bitcoin can help alleviate poverty in […]
Uncategorized
Featured On Demand Program of the Week: Bitcoin
You may have heard a news report or two about Bitcoin. Your friends might have mentioned it in passing at the latest cocktail (read: frat) party, and you may even know someone who has invested in it. But what exactly is Bitcoin? And why is it important? In this program, you will learn the basics […]
Poverty & Inequality
New Smoking Ban is Anti-Liberty
The government “smoking police” are at it again. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently proposed a rule that will force more than 3,100 housing agencies in the United Sates to become smoke-free. Specifically, the regulation will prohibit “lit cigarettes, cigars and pipes in all living units, indoor common areas, administrative offices and […]
Regulations
Discussion Question: Gun Control
In March of 2015, the Obama administration proposed a ban on ammunition commonly used in AR-15 rifles. Are there functional differences between restricting ammunition and restricting the right of gun ownership? Should the government’s ability to control gun possession change based on the type of weapon? What are the distinctions, if any, between handguns, assault […]
Uncategorized
Trade-Offs, Not Solutions
Among my favorite observations made by Thomas Sowell is his insistence that in economic reality human beings confront, not the possibility of solutions to problems but, instead, only trade-offs. We can have more of this good, but only at the cost of having less of that good. T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L. Such is economic reality. A frustration suffered […]
Uncategorized
Three Reasons Why a $15 Minimum Wage Is a Bad Idea
Is a $15 minimum wage a free lunch? George Mason University Professor Don Boudreaux says no. In the brand new video below, he points out that minimum wage hikes may sound good in on their face, but in reality they result in job loss because they increase the cost of labor, making low-skilled employees more […]
Education
Roman Phalluses Sink Professor
Academic free speech is in serious jeopardy. And censorship doesn’t only hurt students—it also silences the professors who oversee and guide the flow of dialogue in the classroom. A former professor at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota found that out the hard way. David Hillman, a drama instructor, helped out with school plays before he […]
Uncategorized
Trivia: What does it mean to plead the Fifth?
You’ve probably heard the people use the phrase “I plead the Fifth,” either on television or when people, jokingly, don’t want to answer a question. You might not know that this is referring directly to
Uncategorized
How to Make A Learn Liberty Video
Every week, the team here at Learn Liberty works to bring you a fun and engaging video filled with the ideas of a free society. From economic theories to philosophy, through law and pop culture, we help present the themes and motifs that support individual freedom and a prosperous world. It sounds like a ton […]
Uncategorized
Why We Don’t Invade Canada
Over at Cafe Hayek, Professor Don Boudreaux has outlined an objection (or addition, really) to our recent Learn Liberty video with Peter Jaworski: War Sucks, What Is It Good For? He writes: “Countries whose peoples trade extensively with each other are less likely to go to war with each other not only because people in […]
Uncategorized
Love social media AND liberty? AEI is hiring.
If you’re looking for a job where you can satisfy your love for social media and the ideas of freedom, you’re in luck: the American Enterprise Institute is seeking a Social Media and Digital Advertising Assistant. AEI is a great organization, dedicated to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. You can find […]
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This Week on Learn Liberty's Periscope
If you haven’t checked us out on Periscope make sure to stay tuned this week, to discuss our new video releases and help us choose the topic of our next video! Be sure to head on over to Periscope this week and check out the following scheduled streams: Tuesday, January 12th @ 2:30pm EST – […]
Uncategorized
Should We End the Fed?
In just under two weeks the U.S. Congress will vote on whether or not to grant the Office of the Comptroller General of the United States the power to conduct an audit of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet. The Federal Reserve and the conduct of its monetary policy has grown under increased scrutiny over the […]
War on Drugs
Marijuana Legalization in the United States: What Can We Expect?
More of the United States are legalizing medical marijuana, and voters in two states—Washington and Colorado—voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use a few years ago. The legalization is subject to certain restrictions, but it is a step toward ending the world’s failed experiment with drug prohibition. Will the US turn into a nation of […]
Uncategorized
Featured On Demand Program of the Week: Thought Experiments in Liberty
Join our professors Peter Jaworski, Howard Baetjer, and Matt Zwolinski as they take you into a world of thought experiments that will literally blow your mind as they expand your normal cognitive processes and your worldview. Then take on the thought-provoking questions after each video. Trust us, after completing this course nothing but nothing will […]
Uncategorized
Police Brutality: What Is Happening To Our Communities?
Tensions between police and the citizens of Chicago are continuing to rise after CPD Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged in the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald in November. Even calls for the mayor’s resignation have begun echoing across the United States. Now, a top Chicago lawyer has stepped down after being accused of hiding evidence in another fatal […]
Uncategorized
Did you know that New York City taxi medallions can cost over $1 million?
In order to run a taxi in New York, you need a medallion. Because the number of medallions is restricted by the government (artificially restricting the supply, and thus, competition), getting your hands on a medallion can be extremely expensive. As Bloomberg Business explains: “To own a cab in New York, you need a medallion—a […]
Uncategorized
Discussion Question: Pharmaceutical Regulation
What is the best way, if at all, for medication to be regulated? How do you balance the right of consumers to purchase what they want with protection of consumers from dangerous or fraudulent medical treatments? Be sure to check out this video on the current government monopoly on prescription drug approval.
Education
Campus Speech Repression is Nothing New
Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), pointed out in a recent essay that the threat to free speech on college campuses is nothing new. Proponents of political correctness have long sought to impose speech codes to censor the masses. In 2004, a University of New Hampshire student was evicted from his dorm […]
War on Drugs
Cops, Drugs, and Cops with Drugs
A California sheriff’s deputy was arrested in Pennsylvania in December as part of a drug bust that seized over $2 million dollars in marijuana. That’s right, the deputy was arrested trying to sell millions of dollars of a substance his department has likely put other people in prison for selling. Countless stories of police officials being caught in […]
Uncategorized
Liberty and the American West, on campus in Texas!
Learn Liberty’s parent organization, the Institute for Humane Studies, doesn’t just educate students online. IHS also hosts on-campus events at campuses across the country. The first weekend seminar of 2016 will be held at Texas Tech University on February 5. Focusing on Liberty and the American West, the event will be two days packed full […]