Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
Posted in Classical Liberalism on Feb 11th, 2022
From Frederick Douglass’ Plea for Freedom of Speech in Boston: Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, […]
Posted in If I Really Hated the Poor ..., incentives, Property Rights on Nov 24th, 2021
Today I reprint a slightly edited piece I put together several years ago. I’d change a lot of it, from the content to the tone, if I were to do it over – but one must live with one’s younger self. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Four centuries after the celebration of the first Thanksgiving, there […]
Posted in Central Planning, Disingenuous, Environment, If I Really Hated the Poor ... on Sep 13th, 2021
Just writing this down as a prediction to check later. If, and when, “we” are able to roll out fusion electricity at scale: It will massively reduce pollution, electricity costs, inequality, the worry about global warming, mining pollution, resource scares, clean water and much more … It will be hotly opposed by the very communities […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Methodology on Aug 3rd, 2021
Is a pretty sure sign of confusion. Here, in reference to the “Science is Real” portion of those signs, is Richard Feynman: Learn from science that you must doubt the experts. As a matter of fact, I can also define science another way: Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts. When someone says […]
Posted in Classical Liberalism on Jul 4th, 2021
It is, and always was, a great idea. Here is an excerpt from Jefferson’s first draft of the Declaration: he has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it’s most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in […]
Posted in History on Jul 2nd, 2021
Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776, “Had a Declaration…” Page 1View larger image Philadelphia July 3d. 1776 Had a Declaration of Independency been made seven Months ago, it would have been attended with many great and glorious Effects . . . . We might before this Hour, have formed Alliances with […]
UPDATE: Edited June 10, see below. From time to time I like to write my elected officials to ask questions about policy and about the communications that they send to us from time to time. We received a mailer from our local Assemblyperson Jennifer Lunsford at the beginning of May that was a marketing document […]
Posted in Central Planning, DISC, Disingenuous, Government Gone Wild, Science on Jun 4th, 2021
That was from the YouTube comments on this incredible episode of the DarkHorse podcast with Brett Weinstein. Do you remember when there was an actual politically useful left wing that fought against corrupt big business, big government and legacy institutions? Why is the data and treatment advice on Ivermectin continuing to be silenced? Brett’s brother […]
Posted in Classical Liberalism on Jun 3rd, 2021
Here is Madison in Federalist #62: “In another point of view, great injury results from an unstable government. The want of confidence in the public councils damps every useful undertaking, the success and profit of which may depend on a continuance of existing arrangements. What prudent merchant will hazard his fortunes in any new branch […]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on May 18th, 2021
A great man from our childhood has passed on. You may or may not find his story incredible or uplifting, but his little butcher shop on Jamaica Avenue in Woodhaven was a centerpiece of our lives growing up. I still can feel the sawdust on the tile floor of his shop, and the enormous hanging […]
