Category:Role of Government

September 12, 2024 | Post

The Trail of Tears is the common name for the network of routes the United States Federal government forced the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw to travel between 1830 and 1850. As the National Park Service map below shows, the trail began largely in Georgia and Tennessee, traverses the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, […]

August 9, 2024 | Post

In his 1850 essay, Frédéric Bastiat discusses the notion of “Public Works.” He explains that public works like opening roads, building palaces, and repairing streets create jobs and boost the economy in the short term, but they take away unseen opportunities in the long run.

May 28, 2024 | Post

In fact, the Italian embassy’s denial of Bangladeshi chess players’ visas for a recent tournament reveals how national “freedom” can actually restrict personal freedoms.

May 22, 2024 | Video

In this video, we delve into the troubling history of political office in New York, highlighting recent scandals and the broader issue of politicians losing touch with their constituents. The video features an in-depth discussion on the necessity of implementing term limits for statewide offices, advocating for a system where elected officials are more integrated […]

February 16, 2024 | Post

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?

December 22, 2023 | Post

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.

October 31, 2023 | Post

This Halloween, let’s look back at some terrifying incidents from the recent past that should not be forgotten. For the best part of two years, beginning in March 2020, attempts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic involved governments around the world seizing new powers and further expanding the scope of the state. 

October 31, 2023 | Post

War, a tragic yet perennial facet of human history, has long been a subject of intense debate. Many philosophers and political thinkers have grappled with the ethical, moral, and strategic implications of war. Within this nuanced landscape, the perspectives of three influential thinkers offer a fascinating contrast…

June 28, 2023 | Post

Classical liberalism, with its emphasis on individual liberties and limited government intervention, has played a crucial role in advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community throughout history. 

By advocating for principles such as individual liberty, reason, fundamental rights, and equal treatment under the law, classical liberal ideas have challenged societal norms, fought against oppression, and paved the way for greater acceptance and inclusion.

May 30, 2023 | Post

In an era marked by growing concerns about climate change, the role of government in addressing environmental issues has become increasingly prominent. However, as billions of dollars are poured into climate change programs and regulations, it is essential to critically examine the true impact and costs of these initiatives. 

May 25, 2023 | Post

Karl Hess is a figure whose political journey was more complex and revelatory than most. His journey is one that is worth retracing today as a means of understanding the roots of contemporary libertarianism, its early flirtations with radical countercultural politics, and the outdated left-right political paradigm

May 15, 2023 | Post

Would you tell a lie to protect someone from harm?

March 30, 2023 | Post

TikTok has been under intense scrutiny for its data collection and sharing practices, with concerns raised about the platform’s relationship with the Chinese government and its potential for mass surveillance of Americans. But should it be banned?

March 29, 2023 | Post

Many are familiar with Portugal’s Carnation Revolution that brought an end to the authoritarian Estado Novo regime in 1974 and paved the way for democracy. Still, perhaps fewer are aware of the fascinating circumstances around the country’s Liberal Revolution, which took place just over 200 years ago.

March 24, 2023 | Post

Alongside economic devastation and a mental health crisis, another legacy of lockdowns will be changed perceptions of the role of government

March 2, 2023 | Post

Consensual sex is legal. But as soon as one party offers cash to another in exchange for sex and that money is voluntarily accepted, it’s considered prostitution, and that is illegal.

March 2, 2023 | Post

Across his many political coalitions, Murray Rothbard remained steadfast in his opposition to war and to American intervention abroad.

October 26, 2022 | Post

It is clear that more prudent and proactive statecraft is needed; a doctrine that accepts that the sword cannot solve every problem and a retreat from world affairs will only leave space for uncertainty. Rather, the US should embrace the prospect of working alongside diverse partners to make the world more resilient to the forces that seek to undermine free societies.

October 6, 2022 | Post

In the hyperpartisan culture war, increasingly radical and uncompromising political factions seek to leverage division to cement their own power

August 25, 2022 | Post

Policies are not implemented in a sterile lab environment, they are implemented in the world as it exists now. If a policy increases liberty in some theoretical world, but decreases liberty in the present world, can we really consider it to be pro-liberty?

August 17, 2022 | Post

A libertarian’s opposition to American military involvement in this war should not be because of edgy nonsense about Russia being provoked, or the historically ignorant idea that Ukraine is only defending itself because it’s taking orders from the West.

June 23, 2022 | Post

Students For Liberty’s Director of Alumni Programs, Jorge Jraissati, gives his thoughts on the ideology of Vladimir Putin, its history, and its ongoing effects.

May 31, 2022 | Post

There is a more sinister reason for the overlap between junk food and cheap food. Government subsidies of the ingredients that are the hallmarks of unhealthy food are nudging Americans toward junk food and fueling the obesity epidemic.

May 25, 2022 | Post

The factions people ally with are going through a dramatic change, but what is driving this political realignment and what does it mean for liberty?