Libertarianism

Archive for Libertarianism

Arguing With People On Twitter Is Stupid

…but every once in a while I have to remind myself why. Seriously, this guy is a force of nature. Unfortunately not all of our exchange is captured in this link (I think maybe I spared Miles Kimball at some point, and so Twitter didn’t put those tweets in the same thread), but let me […]

Efficient Market Bubbles and Why Is Scott Sumner a Libertarian?

I am really swamped with work stuff so I can’t do this justice. But I couldn’t ignore this recent Scott Sumner post at EconLog, in which he asks, “If you believe in bubbles, then why are you a libertarian?” Here’s his argument: I don’t believe in bubbles. In addition, I’m a libertarian. I see those […]

Problems With Libertarianism?

A reader sent me the following email, which he gave me permission to reprint. I thought his concerns were quite understandable but that I wouldn’t have the time to do justice to them. So below is his (edited) email, and then my own two cents. Please chime in (with courtesy) in the comments. =========== Dear […]

“How Do You Reconcile Your Christianity and Libertarianism?”

Such was the question a guy asked me at Mises University (where I spent last week). To be clear, he was also a Christian and (presumably) attracted by libertarianism, but had doubts about how the two fit together. I realize why atheist libertarians, who argue on Facebook with statist Christians, would walk away thinking that […]

Is It Justified to Torture the Word “Libertarian” If It Makes Us Happier?

I don’t mean to be a whiner but check this out from Scott Sumner’s recent EconLog post: Unlike many on the left, I don’t envy the rich. I’m really happy that Larry [Ellison] is really happy. If Larry was even a bit happier, and if that boosted total global happiness, that would be fine with […]

Stephan Kinsella Discusses Argumentation Ethics With Tom Woods

Here. Let me emphasize that I really do think I get what Hoppe is trying to do here, and I appreciate how awesome a project it is. It’s like Aquinas’ arguments for God; they are really hardcore and so much more fundamental than the usual thing you hear in a debate. I just think Hoppe’s […]

“But Who Would Build the Roads?”

Tom Woods and I tackle this old chestnut. Show notes here with lots of links.

Taxes Are Theft?

…he asked innocently. I am guessing I will have more to say on this topic, but here’s the first swing. Notice this part where I point out something ironic in Sumner’s discussion of Hiroshima: It’s also interesting that we can use Sumner’s rhetorical device against him. Notice in the beginning of his passage, he says […]