Tag: free society
Trail of Tears
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, […]
Trend Is Not Destiny
September 11, 2024 | Post
Hegel, Historicism, and the End of History Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel is one of the most influential and prominent philosophers of the 19th century. He’s also regarded as controversial, his works considered hard to read, and his inquiries challenging to understand. The obscure philosopher Hegel belongs to the philosophical tradition of German idealism, while his […]
Presidents and Their Wars on the Press
August 15, 2024 | Post
Sixteen prisoners were recently released from Russian prisons in the biggest exchange deal between Russia and the West since the Cold War, involving seven countries in total.
Does the Freedom of Your Nation Set You Free?
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.
Searching for the Heart of LibertyCon Europe: A Recap
May 9, 2024 | Post
From rooftop receptions to thought-provoking sessions at unique venues like a former Coca-Cola factory, every moment was inspiring at LibertyCon Europe 2024
My Experience with Campus Climate at a Liberal Arts College
April 12, 2024 | Post
I was a Bernie Sanders-style progressive when I arrived at my small liberal arts college. I quickly rose through the ranks of various leftist student groups. Then, one key event turned me around.
How and why the war on drugs has failed
March 21, 2024 | Post
In this article, we’ll dissect the failures of the war on drugs, seeking to uncover the factors that have led to its ultimate downfall, as well as diverse arguments for ending the war on drugs and embracing legalization.
Anthem: a gateway to the genius of Ayn Rand
March 14, 2024 | Post
Today, 86 years on from its original publication, Anthem stands firm as a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit and the eternal flame of individualism.
The key to finding truth in a world of misinformation
March 6, 2024 | Post
Today, more than ever, journalism is confronted with significant challenges, especially with media outlets striving to captivate audiences and deliver returns to shareholders.
But what happens when sensationalism and biased narratives become the norm? Where can individuals turn for accurate information when journalists prioritize agendas over facts? And how do we find common ground in an era of intense political division and factionalism?
Liberalism as a product: how to convince others that freedom is good
February 21, 2024 | Post
Liberalism is a great product, but it often doesn’t sell very well, despite spearheading the astronomical leap in prosperity over the past 200 years.
So, what are liberals getting wrong and how can they sell freedom more effectively?
Deirdre McCloskey: ‘The pursuit of freedom has unleashed unprecedented innovation, prosperity, and social transformation’
February 21, 2024 | Post
Deirdre McCloskey, renowned economist and advocate for liberal values, delivered a stirring address at LibertyCon International, captivating attendees with her insights into the importance of liberty in fostering human flourishing and societal progress.
David Boaz: ‘Fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it’
February 21, 2024 | Post
At LibertyCon International, David Boaz urged the liberty movement to “fight illiberalism and authoritarianism wherever you find it.”
Remembering Alexei Navalny: a champion of freedom in Russia
February 16, 2024 | Post
Today, the world mourns the loss of Alexei Navalny, a fearless advocate for liberty and democracy in Russia, who died in a Siberian penal colony on February 16, 2024, aged 47.
Why our liberty hinges on the Rule of Law
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?
Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi: the tragedy of executed dissidents in Iran
February 8, 2024 | Post
Once again, on January 23, 2024, Iranian authorities executed two political dissidents, Mohammed Ghobadlou and Farhad Salimi, after unjust trials.
These latest tragedies shed light on the ongoing pattern concerning Iran’s use of the death penalty in persecuting both opponents of the regime and ethnic minorities.
Tolerance means dealing with ideas without canceling or censoring
January 25, 2024 | Post
Society is always changing, and so are ideas.
One constant, however, is intolerance for different ideas. That intolerance has left its mark, often in blood, on human history. The current iteration of intolerance, though not quite bloody, is “cancel culture.”
Love your enemies: why human respect is the key to victory
January 24, 2024 | Post
When I was in college, my primary motivator for activism was anger. No, that doesn’t even accurately describe my mindset at the time. Fury would probably be the more correct term.
My strategy was simple; I enjoyed demonstrating the absurdity of their positions (can’t you see that all government action is theft and slavery!!!). When they disagreed, I would simply raise my volume and my indignation.
As the need for more indignant activism grew, so did my anger. But anger did more to destroy myself than to defeat my enemies.
Instead, there is a better way. One that enables the liberty movement to grow…
AI isn’t going to leave you unemployed
January 22, 2024 | Post
From automated factory assembly lines to helping you cheat on your college term paper, AI is doing things today that were barely imagined only a few short years ago. As such, you might be wondering, “is my job at risk of being taken over by robots?” or “will we all end up unemployed?”
There is only one colonizer in Ukraine, and it isn’t the West
January 16, 2024 | Post
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.
The rise of political violence: is it only going to get worse?
January 15, 2024 | Post
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.
A new Vancouver development shows what’s possible when housing is deregulated
January 12, 2024 | Post
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.
The awkward and uncomfortable problem with national conservatism
January 11, 2024 | Post
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.
Would a “national divorce” lead to more individual liberty?
January 9, 2024 | Post
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.
How (true) liberalism made us rich
January 4, 2024 | Post
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.”