“Ludwig von Mises’s 1927 path-breaking work in political theory speaks to the current generations. In section 5 of his introduction to Liberalism: The Classical Tradition, Mises sounds impeccably relevant in describing how the opponents of liberalism and the market economy twist facts that are plainly before our eyes. You’ll see how he refuted the absurd claim that capitalism serves only a tiny privileged and exploitative group. The work of most thinkers passes away soon after they do. Not so with Ludwig von Mises. He began the section by acknowledging what should be obvious. Governments have always interfered with individual freedom, free enterprise, and free markets — in a word, capitalism — in substantial ways. Laissez faire has never been allowed. That does not prove it is impossible, only that people either did not understand the system or did not want its success demonstrated.” (03/28/25)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“I have a few real-life heroes, with Ron Paul sitting at the top of the list. Another of my real-life heroes is John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute. There are few people who are as fierce and competent defenders of civil liberties as John Whitehead. He not only understands the critical importance of civil liberties to a free society, he knows how to competently make the case for protecting civil liberties. Perhaps most important, every one of his articles and books exudes the deep passionate love of liberty that characterizes this man. I make it a point to read his weekly perspectives.” (03/28/25)
“We have seen entirely too much cowering and capitulation in the face of Trump’s threats: by the Paul Weiss law firm and Columbia University, by Meta and much of Silicon Valley, by Big Pharma and other industries, by mostly supine congressional Republicans, by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (in the eyes of many on the left [sic]), and by media outlets. But in a crisis, courage can be found in unexpected places. This is why it’s heartening to see some on the right (beyond the usual never-Trumpers) beginning to speak out about Trump’s overreach. We might be seeing the first cracks in MAGA unity, which Trump has maintained by threats and fear.” (03/28/25)
“Everywhere I go in America, when I tell people I’m from California, I get one of two reactions: ‘You need to get out of there — move to somewhere less crazy!’ Or: ‘Why do they keep voting for that [fill in your curse word of choice]?’ Well, here’s the good news: the answers to those two questions are now coming together in a beautiful and positive prospect — real political change in the Golden State. My answer to the first question is typically, ‘Why should we leave? This is my home! I’m raising my family here; I started a business here. Yes, our terrible government has turned everything into a disaster right now, but I love California. …’ Then combine that with how I’m now answering the second question, about why people still vote for the same old you-know-what: ‘Actually, they’re starting to vote differently.'” (03/28/25)
“Even if you’re sure you’re right, you’re supposed to acknowledge the possibility that critics are sincere unless there’s clear reason to believe otherwise. But Trump and his minions already have a totalitarian mindset, in which there is no such thing as legitimate skepticism of the Leader’s proclamations. Anyone who expresses doubt, whether it’s Larry Summers or the Wall Street Journal editorial page, must be a corrupt globalist, or a woke radical left-wing Marxist, or maybe both. Hey, Larry Summers isn’t really Jewish — he’s Palestinian. Do people in the business world still think Bessent is a sensible guy who will exert a stabilizing influence on Trump policies?” (03/28/25)
“It’s ‘bad-penny’ time in the Maine legislature, as in ‘back like a’: a bill threatening the privacy of political donors. LD951, introduced and foiled in the previous session, would force nonprofit organizations that take a position on policy measures ‘to not only report their donors, but their donors’ donors,’ which Philanthropy Roundtable compares to legislation in Arizona that did become law — a law now being challenged in court. Like Arizona’s law, LD951 would impose cumbersome regulations and steep fines while obstructing free speech and free association. The obviously intended result being for nonprofits to not take such positions.” (03/28/25)
“There are many contrasts between the 35th president, John F. Kennedy, and the 45th and 47th president, Donald J. Trump. One extreme example is regarding U.S. policy toward Israel. Unknown to many people today, JFK supported Palestinian rights and sought a sustainable peace in the region. In 1960, when JFK was campaigning to be president, he spoke at the convention of the Zionists of America. In his speech, Kennedy was complimentary about Israel but frankly said, ‘I cannot believe that Israel has any real desire to remain indefinitely a garrison state surrounded by fear and hate.’ That warning, issued when Israel had only existed for 12 years, was ignored.” (03/28/25)
“Israel has resumed its aerial bombardment of Gaza. The latest cease-fire, which lasted two months and led to the release of 33 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, never made it out of its first stage. The Israeli government has now adopted a strategy of inflicting overwhelming violence until Hamas capitulates by releasing the remaining hostages. Ukraine and Russia have accepted a limited cease-fire. Both sides have agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure, but neither has actually adhered to this condition. U.S. President Donald Trump, who coaxed both sides toward this cease-fire, is reportedly furious. This week, Moscow and Kyiv agreed to extend this partial cease-fire to the Black Sea, though here, too, they don’t seem in a rush to stop their attacks. No serious analysts, including those in Russia, expect this cease-fire to hold.” (03/29/25)
“Yahoo posted a fascinating clickbait article with all kinds of numbers. What would upper-middle-income wages and salaries be like if the FedGov income tax disappeared? Depending on the various income levels in the States, working folks would take home anywhere from $1200 to $1800 every two weeks. That is an average of more than $30,000 per year per taxpayer. Government is expensive. The FedGov is more expensive. And what do we get for it? Well, libertarians and lovers of liberty have long advocated the abolition of this nasty method that the government uses to steal money from the people it supposedly works for. This gives us one more really neat talking point in getting people to at least consider that what we have done for more than a century is a really bad idea — not just expensive but stupid.” (03/28/25)
“Yes, many auto workers had to find new jobs once imported vehicles were allowed to compete with American-built vehicles [under NAFTA]. Yes, that made some of their lives harder and left some of them worse off, at least temporarily and sometimes long-term. Welcome to the real world, where auto workers aren’t unique and special snowflakes who never have to change careers like the rest of us. The average American changes jobs 12 times in his or her lifetime … and the average American, including one who worked on a Ford assembly line at some point, is more prosperous now than he or she was in 1993. Trump’s cockamamie tariff schemes might well have been intentionally tailored to undo all that.” (03/27/25)
