Probably it is the whole world I do not understand, but I am going to stick to not grasping it a bit at a time. It seems less daunting. How does this work? Some commentators are saying that Senator McCain picked Governor Palin as his running-mate in order to attract supporters of Senator Clinton who are cross with Senator Obama for not giving up when he was winning the Democratic nomination. Just who is crazy…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

This morning's superstrangeness: Ministers are being urged to stop faith schools in England selecting pupils and staff on the basis of their religion. Accord, a new coalition of secular and religious figures, wants the government to stop state-funded schools engaging in what they say is "discrimination". As an atheist I find a lot of things to do with religious faith incomprehensible, so maybe I'm missing something that's obvious to a believer, but in what way…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

One thing I am hearing right now is that Sarah Palin is a fiscal conservative. The Club for Growth released a statement on a potential Palin VP candidacy that praises her stance on earmarks and support for opening ANWR.
Fighting earmarks and opening ANWR are important, but they are only half the battle.
When the […]

From The Liberty Papers

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

As with most third party campaigns, the Barr/Root campaign has had an uphill battle to make the ballot in certain states. In Texas, however, Bob Barr is the only presidential candidate on the ballot. The McCain and Obama campaigns have failed to meet the August 26th deadline to file the necessary paperwork and are not […]

From The Liberty Papers

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

I guess the Bloomberg editor who transmitted this story in error has suffered the equivalent of being thrown into a pool of sharks, as happened to a baddie who got on the wrong side of Largo in Thunderball. There has always been a Spectre-like feel about the Bloomberg news operation, not to mention a cultish aspect, even. In their London office, there are lots of fish-tanks dotted about, presumably designed to make the staff feel…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

Reason’s Steve Chapman lists some reasons why libertarians should not panic if Barack Obama becomes President:
—He’s liberal, but not that liberal. Contrary to the famous National Journal ranking that put him most leftward in the entire Senate, another study found he is really the 11th-most liberal. In the primaries, when Democratic candidates are under the […]

From The Liberty Papers

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

I'm sure that Hugo Chavez has done some good. Much more bad than good probably, but some good. And Ken Livingstone is certainly not totally evil. But when the two of them get together it is very implausible that it is good news for the world on average. Though if Mr Livingstone spends a lot of time in Venezuela, that will be pleasant both for him and for Londoners, I am really quite puzzled what…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

Freedom of movement is a simple principle and some countries are more attractive than others. Britain may have some 77 million by 2060, overtaking Germany as the most populous country in Europe . A happy result as this adds more energy to our mongrellous mix. Get rid of the welfare state and we may attract even more economic migrants, even more entrepreneurs and get even richer faster. Still, good news brings out the illiberal. We…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

I like this, from a blogger I have only recently discovered, Will Wilkinson: Climate eschatology really is the ultimate in big lie crisis politics. The far-left has failed so comprehensively to make the case for its vision of society and economy that the only thing left to do is to brazenly and repeatedly assert that the world will literally collapse unless we implement this otherwise indefensible vision. Well said. The rest of Wilkinson's blog, which…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom

Comrades! - and revisionist Hillary supporting scum. Only a little joke, Hillary comrades - your support is really most welcome. I stand before you today to tell you that Now is Our Time. The pathetic remnants of Western Civilization are ripe for destruction, and we will be the generation of revolutionaries that will finally achieve the goal of creating the new society. Outmoded institutions like private property will be swept away, and a new progressive…

From Samizdata.net

Tags: Libertarian, Politics, Liberty, Freedom