Libertas

Making sense of liberty
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Batman and Nietzsche facing each other.

Batman vs. Nietzsche Oct 22, 2019

While DC's latest movie Joker is taking over theaters, I'm reminded of Christopher Nolan's critically-acclaimed Dark Knight Trilogy. This work of cinematic art was perhaps the height of Batman on film, not just for its quality film-making but also because of its deep philosophic story telling, particularly in the third installment: The Dark Knight Rises. Some political pundits argue it's a neocon movie meant to trash Occupy Wall Street. But that's a shallow reading of the movie. Whether intentionally or coincidentally, it is steeped in the philosophy of Frederick Nietzsche and, to a lesser extent, Ayn Rand, with lessons about...

By David Libertas Vote3 0
Principes du Droit Politique. Par J. J. Rousseau, Citoyen de Geneve.

The Social Contract Apr 5, 2019

Famed French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote "The Social Contract" in 1762 and statist political philosophy has never been the same since. For those not familiar, the argument goes that when we are born we all enter into a social contract wherein we give up rights to the government for mutual protection. To which the astute Lyssander Spooner once retorted, "I didn't sign shit!" This has been used for many bad ideas from Thomas Hobbes' totalitarian state to John Rawls' softer socialism. Yet Rousseau's famous book on the subject advocates something more libertarian than what many advocates of big government social...

By David Libertas Vote1 0
"The Myth of the Rational Voter: Why Democracies Choose Bad Policies" by Bryan Caplan. "The best political book of the year," Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times.

The Myth of Rationality Nov 4, 2018

Libertarians are the most rational voters. This was confirmed by a Yale University study. But before you cheer, the largest mass of voters (independents) proved to be the most prone to impulsive less informed judgments. Hence why rational candidates like Ron Paul lose to emotionally driven campaigns like Trump and Obama. This is what reasoned libertarians are up against: recognizing voters are not attracted to rational arguments and finding ways to make libertarianism emotionally appealing. This phenomenon is thoroughly explored in "The Myth of the Rational Voter" by Bryan Caplan. He provides a compelling theory of why voters consistently vote...

By David Libertas Vote2 0

Is Trumponomics Really That Stupid? Jul 4, 2018

Could there be anything more derptarded than Trumponomics? I knew the tariffs were coming and predicted eventual economic doom. But I didn't expect they would be this stupid. Starting a trade war with China and Mexico was expected. But Canada and Europe? The policy is stupid enough, but so-called "problem" it seeks to solve shows Trump is over 9,000 on the derp scale. Derptastic Solution Take steel tariffs. The idea is that American steel can't compete with cheaper foreign steel, and equalizing them is somehow a good thing. There are two ways Trump could have equalized steel: subsidies or tariffs....

By David Libertas Vote1 2
Perched american eagle with human arm instead of wing holding an AR-15, and an American flag behind it, all behind prison bars

Prison Nation Jun 26, 2018

Not too long ago, judge Aaron Persky was recalled by voters, a feat not accomplished in California for 86 years. At issue is how he sentenced Brock Turner. A student at Stanford University, Turner was caught using his fingers to sexually molest a drunk unconscious woman. Two other students stopped him from taking things further. Judge Persky sentenced Turner to 6 months in jail (3 months credited from jail during the trial), 3 years probation, rehab, and a lifetime as a registered sex offender. This light sentence outraged social media, outraged activists, and ultimately outraged voters. Now Persky has been...

By David Libertas Vote4 0
Support the Assault Trucks Ban. Fully automatic transmission. 30 gallon high capacity tank. Collapsible side view mirrors. Tactical running lights for night operations. Exhaust suppressor (mufflers). Hi impact front windshield. Wide entry side steps. 60 degree turning radius. Driving is a privilege, not a right!

We Must Ban Trucks Apr 24, 2018

2018 has been the year of gun ban hysteria. A recent example was a screed from the Chicago Tribune entitled, "We should be able to eat waffles in peace — but Trump and the NRA accept this kind of terrorism." Here is my sarcastic response, in light of a more recent mass killing in Canada. We should be able to stroll down the street in peace — but Trudeau and the CTA accept this kind of terrorism I shouldn't have to carry caltrops to feel safe strolling down the sidewalk. Nobody should. I shouldn't have to hope I'm walking near a...

By David Libertas Vote6 0
PorcFest gun free zone

The PorcFest Gun Ban Mar 24, 2018

I have a modest proposal for the Free State Project's (FSP) upcoming PorcFest: ban guns. It's not uncommon to see people openly carrying pistols there. You might even see the occasional AK-47 strapped to someone's back. To understand why this should be banned, we need to look back to 2016 and also reflect on the 2018 Parkland school shooting. PorcFest 2016 2016 is the year when the FSP banned Ian Freeman. Ian via his Free Talk Live radio show had been the most important person for promoting the FSP and, other than the "rock stars" with national media attention like...

By David Libertas Vote2 0
Berkley students riot against Milo Yiannopoulos in front of rainbow colored building with signs: "This is war" and "Become ungovernable."

The Left-Wing Cause of Right-Wing Extremism Feb 25, 2018

The niece of Marine Le Pen gave a keynote speech at CPAC this past weekend. For those unfamiliar, Marine leads a party that her father founded as more or less a French National Socialist (Nazi) party. Marine has tempered the party. No longer referring to the Nazi occupation of France as "not particularly inhumane" and homosexuality as "a biological and social anomaly," the party now embraces Jews and gays while espousing strong anti-Islamic nationalism. Though one can be sure elements of the old party still remain. As CPAC listens to Marine Le Pen we are reminded of what has been...

By David Libertas Vote3 0
I'm not racist: white guy and black guy face each other while divided.

I’m Not Racist Dec 9, 2017

Joyner Lucas recently released the viral music video entitled "I'm Not Racist." It features two caricatures. One is an extremely obese white guy with a MAGA cap looking like he's from a Rust Belt steel mill, and the other a black guy styled like he's fresh from the 'hood. Each takes a turn venting to the other about their views on race relations in a very harsh, often intense manner. Each keeps dropping the line "I'm not racist." It is as if both are racist yet they don't want to be, so they continuously tell themselves this white (pardon the...

By David Libertas Vote3 0
Protesters with sign that says, "Protect my vote."

This Is What Democracy Looks Like Nov 2, 2017

If you want to understand how democracy really works, there's a fascinating referendum underway in Ohio serves as a textbook example of real non-mythological democracy. The myth of democracy is that the people join together in a social contract, relinquishing rights in exchange for government protection, and through the ballot box the people wisely deliberate and enact their will. This farcical social contract idea was thoroughly destroyed long ago by Lysander Spooner. But for now, let's pretend the social contract exists and ask: does the ballot box fulfill it's intended purposes? Democracy: Not the Will of the People It's called...

By David Libertas Vote3 0

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