Sophism: n. a deliberately invalid argument displaying ingenuity in reasoning in the hope of deceiving someone.
By that definition, many modern Progressives, liberals, protectionists, and other obstructionists probably believe that they are not, in fact, sophists. Though invalid their arguments may be, many have probably persuaded themselves that they are not deliberately trying to mislead. In [...]
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Posted in Classical Liberalism on Mar 12th, 2010
Here are three things I recommend, or that I am in the process of doing, to advance liberty.
If you receive a census document, do NOT return it.
Put up a special mailbox for UPS and FedEx and see what happens – or better yet, invite UPS or FedEx to leave something in your mailbox. Did you [...]
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Posted in Classical Liberalism on Nov 9th, 2009
The beatnicks had Woodstock and the anti-war marches. Today’s teens have the election of the first African-American President. For some it is the moon-shot. For others, the end of World War II. Perhaps some generations do not have a moment etched in their memory and their soul.
Most things do not move me much. But today [...]
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Posted in Classical Liberalism on Sep 29th, 2009
The thugs with the guns of course. That is what you are if you support the government and its continued confiscation of the productive efforts of individuals.
Chairman Max Baucus’s bill includes the so-called individual mandate, along with what he calls a $1,900 “excise tax” if you don’t buy health insurance. (It had been as much [...]
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Oh yeah, I can’t – you have guns pointed at me.
In what might qualify as the dumbest piece ever published, this writer criticizes folks for arguing that health reform is like socialism. Actually, he is nominally correct. It is not socialism, but some god-awful version of Progressive Corporatism on ‘roids – so it is a [...]
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Posted in Classical Liberalism on Aug 12th, 2009
Arnold Kling discusses “real freedom”:
The exercise of voice, including the right to vote, is not the ultimate expression of freedom. Rather, it is the last refuge of those who suffer under a monopoly. If we take it as given that the political jurisdiction where I reside is a monopoly, then perhaps I will have more [...]
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What you see below you is a comparison of the size of the federal government that our Founders intended (see that tiny pamphlet on the right, it includes both the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution) and the one we have today. That ridiculous pile on the left is all the pages of the Federal [...]
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Justice Stephens, in his decision permitting the taking of private property for “economic development purposes” (i.e. giving it to another private party) made a couple of arguments to justify such abusive takings:
So long as the city puts together a “comprehensive” plan, and so long as it allows for proper review then taking for private use [...]
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I don’t want to meditate on whether taxation is theft – it is – but rather on a common justification many intellectuals (and citizens) provide for its existence. While, they say, we don’t like taxation, it is the “price” we must pay to have the Democracy we have. And for whatever its flaws, we must [...]
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Posted in Classical Liberalism on Jun 5th, 2009
How did that old Simon and Garfunkel song go? “Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio …?” Something like that.
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