Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Joshua Mawhorter
“Public goods theory is presented as scientific, value-free economic theory, however, it implicitly smuggles in normative presuppositions that lead to the conclusion that the modern nation-state, and the state alone, must provide certain essential goods and services, which legitimates the state and its actions as necessary and legitimate. Historically, many applications of public goods theory emerged less as neutral demonstrations of state necessity than as retrospective justifications for functions governments had already monopolized.” (05/27/26)
“For my six decades, the United States has been the dominant military power in the world. Yet, with China’s massive military buildup that is now an open question in Asia. Which is why failure to help Taiwan defeat a Chinese attack would destroy U.S. credibility there … and likely far beyond. So, how do we ever relinquish the badge of world’s policeman? One word: Allies.” [editor’s note: Three words — non-interventionist foreign policy – TLK] (05/27/26)
“It seems modern Democrats can’t object to Nazi-lovers inside the party. Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss just got major lefty backlash for calling Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi tatoo (and his pathetic excuses for it) ‘disqualifying.’ ‘I’ve been clear about Graham Platner. I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,’ Auchincloss said Monday on CNN; ‘I hope Maine voters agree with me.’ That brought a storm of progressive social-media fury, accusing Auchincloss of wanting President Donald Trump to have a Republican Senate majority for his last two years in office. Saikat Chakrabarti, the former AOC staff chief now running to replace the retiring Rep. Nancy Pelosi, called on Bay State Dems to oust Auchincloss in his coming primary; others demanded Jake get kicked out of the Democratic Party.” (05/26/26)
“Two years ago I published ‘The Philosophy of Conservatism’ as a series of essays on Conservatism and Conservatives. I divide it into small-c conservatism, which is a character trait, ‘a disposition averse from change,’ as Lord Hugh Cecil put it. The small-c conservatives oppose change because it is upsetting, and because the loss of the familiar is threatening. ‘Every change is an emblem of extinction,’ as Oakeshott expressed it. Large-C Conservatism is a political tradition, not a character trait. It recognizes that change happens because of new technology, new information and new ideas. But it wants change to come from below, organic, evolutionary and unplanned. It opposes imposed change, preconceived plans.” (05/27/26)
“Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wouldn’t schedule a vote before the House left town for the Memorial Day recess on the Iran War Powers Resolution because it would have passed. There’s no other way to say it.” (05/27/26)
“For months, the Trump administration has aimed various types of punishing force at the regime in Havana to free the Cuban people: An oil blockade. Criminal charges against the dominant leader, Raúl Castro. The deployment of an aircraft carrier and its strike group in the Caribbean Sea, hinting at an invasion. Much of this strategy has been driven by influential Cuban Americans who have long sought retribution against the island’s communist rulers. ‘It will be difficult to completely control the impulse for revenge that some Cubans may feel during a transition,’ an opposition leader, José Daniel Ferrer, told Cuban news outlet 14ymedio in January. Yet another force might be strengthening among the political opposition, one that could erode the regime from within, official by official. It entails ridding oneself of thoughts of revenge and, as respected dissident and former political prisoner Óscar Elías Biscet puts it, loving one’s adversaries.” (05/26/26)
“New York Democrat Rep. Dan Goldman is fast becoming the Marie Antoinette of New York politics. As Democratic socialists rage against the privileged elite and promise sweeping welfare programs, Goldman is doubling down on promises of more impeachments and investigations. The ultimate establishment candidate is floundering. He is reportedly more than 20 points behind his Mamdani-endorsed opponent, housing advocate and former Comptroller Brad Lander. It appears that the ‘let-them-eat impeachments’ is not resonating with his constituents. While Goldman is trying to fight off the challenge from the left with some pocketbook pitches, he is sticking to the narrative that got him elected a few years ago. In an ‘age of rage,’ Goldman has excelled, pushing unstepped on, unadulterated rage..” (05/27/26)
“It is clear that we are living through a dramatic revolution in warfare brought about by changes in technology. Classic airpower, manned by human pilots, is increasingly being displaced by pilotless drones and ballistic missiles. This has led to surprising developments, as seemingly weaker powers like Ukraine and Iran have been able to stymie larger ones like Russia and the United States. Over the last several weeks, the mainstream media has begun picking up on the fact that Ukraine has been doing much better on the battlefield, and that the war with Russia may at long last be turning in its favor. But some of the claims about the underlying technological revolution have been exaggerated, and we need to understand the precise ways in which warfare is changing.” (05/27/26)
Source: The Daily Economy
by Logan Tantibanchachai
“Affluent activists increasingly treat property rights as morally negotiable, attacking the system that enabled their (and their parents’) success..” (05/27/26)
