The Trouble With Socialist Anarchism by Per Bylund

The new movie "V for Vendetta" has provoked public discussion of the meaning of anarchism. Murray Rothbard was an advocate of the stateless society, but he was never accepted by the anarchist movement and is still considered more a "capitalist lackey" than anarchist thinker. Indeed, anarcho-capitalism has always been considered an oxymoron by the self-proclaimed "true" anarchists.

Part of the reason is a general inability to understand different uses and definitions of words in the classical socialist and liberal traditions. Socialists refer to "capitalism" as the system in which the state hands out and protects capitalists' privileges — and therefore oppression of labor workers. They don't see that capitalism, in the classical liberal tradition, means rather a free market based on free people, i.e., voluntary exchanges of value between free individuals.

10 QUESTIONS FOR FREEDOM-SEEKERS ABOUT "V FOR VENDETTA"

Personally, the Liberty Crew agrees with those who say "V for Vendetta" is an outstanding action/adventure movie that also carries a vital message. Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine would have understood and agreed with its tagline: "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

But "V for Vendetta" isn't a simple, straightforward movie, and the character of "V" is not a conventional "good guy" or "bad guy." Behind the explosive story there's a lot to think about.

Freedom as a Ticket for Power by James Bovard

Bush’s concept of freedom hinges on omnipotent government as the savior of freedom. Attorney General John Ashcroft titled his 2003 tour to defend the USA PATRIOT Act, “Securing Our Liberty: How America Is Winning the War on Terror.” “Securing liberty” is the same pabulum recently recited by administration officials to justify the National Security Agency’s warrantless roundup of Americans’ phone calls.

America Won the World Wars, but Americans Lost by Robert Higgs

Every year, on Veterans Day, orators declare that our leaders have gone to war to preserve our freedoms and that they have done so with glorious success, but the truth is just the opposite. In ways big and small, direct and indirect, crude and subtle, war—the quintessential government activity—has been the mother’s milk for the nourishment of a growing tyranny in this country, and it remains so today.

Are Conservatives Crazy? by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

In all this, conservatives have two brains. One sees the government as a menace, something stupid, inefficient, brutal, isolated from real life, and the enemy of liberty. The other sees government as smart, wise, and all-knowing, a friend to all, in touch with life around the planet, and the friend to liberty everywhere. How these two brains are integrated is never explained. But the truth is that the Jeffersonian-Misesian-Hayekian-Rothbardian critique of the state applies in both cases. You either embrace it or you don't. As Harry Browne said: "The government that's strong enough to give you what you want is strong enough to destroy you."

Still Beating The Patriot Act Drum by Gribbit

They couldn’t shut it down while it was being debated in Congress, now the ACLU is taking another approach at the Patriot Act. Their latest scare tactic is that certain provisions of the Patriot Act silences certain political speech at the border.

Study alleges US sets aside own security interest for Israel's by Tom Regan

Justin Raimundo of Antiwar.com, a long time critic of the activities of the Israeli lobby in the US, writes that the authors also cite incidents when the lobby groups went after Jews who were advocating a different approach to US policy in the region.

Fondly Remembering Lyn Nofziger by Matt Lewis

I honestly can’t imagine a lot of men of his stature taking that much time to mentor us. To us, Lyn Nofziger was more than just a tough and smart politico -- he was a kind and generous man. Today, the conservative movement has lost a good friend.

The Revolution Will Not Be American by Scarmig

The liberty movement is all about revolution, whether it be a cultural revolution where individual respect and honor are reclaimed (or established, depending on your perspective), a financial revolution whereby fiat is thoroughly discredited (again) and people value their productivity against hard standards instead of political whim, or a military revolution, with the eradication of the mindset that increasingly views domestic peace-keeping as a war-time occupation, or all of the above (apologies for this sentence, and for anyone who subconsciously waits for punctuation to breathe while reading an article and are now gasping for air and cursing my verbosity). Libertarians, anarchists, voluntaryists, anarcho-capitalists, minarchists, old-school small-government conservatives, and European-styled small government liberals are all hoping to set in motion a sweeping social awakening resulting in a shift in values, perceptions, and attitudes towards government in America. It is our great weapon; our words, our ideas. "Ideas are bulletproof," is the vernacular of the moment.

America doesn't resemble Founding Fathers' vision

I feel as if I am living in a foreign land. When I was a young man, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, homosexuals and women were looking forward to civil rights that reflected the promises of the Declaration of Independence.

We were working for an America where truth and justice could truly be part of the American way. Sadly, that is all in the past.

America Won, Americans Lost by Robert Higgs

Whether the U.S. government's publicly pronounced rationales for entering the wars be viewed as self-serving falsehoods or as mere mistakes, however, the ultimate outcome of waging the wars was the same. As William Graham Sumner wisely wrote, "It is not possible to experiment with a society and just drop the experiment whenever we choose. The experiment enters into the life of the society and never can be got out again."33 Thus, although the wars eventually ended, society never reverted fully to the relatively freer status quo antebellum.

The Most Successful Fraud in American History by Gary North

Can you think of a fraud in American history that has these twelve, or even more? If so, you should draw up your case in writing and submit it for consideration to this site's editor, who loves a good fraud story better than silver. Tie it to a conspiracy, and he loves it more than gold. Get the government involved, and he cannot resist.

But you cannot match mine, for mine tops them all.

Living in a Former Imperial Capital by Bill Bonner

But there is a big difference, too. The U.S. Empire is built on the dollar, not the pound. It reached its apogee at a time when the dollar had become only an abstraction. This is another first. Not only is the U.S. Empire the first to squander its most precious resource in a war against nobody, it is also the first to do so with money of no value. Since 1971, the dollar has had no sure connection to anything of real value. It is only a piece of paper. You can buy things with it, but how much of anything you can buy with it depends.

BANNED FOR SPEAKING OUT by Michael Collins Piper

The thought police are now turning into the music police, if a recent incident at Rutgers University in New Jersey is any indication.

One of America’s brightest young entertainers was recently barred from performing on the Rutgers campus, not because of any “controversial” lyrics in his music, but simply because his Internet web site contained political commentary that some people deemed to be “offensive.”

How To Destroy America by Dick Lamm

Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"

"Here is how they do it," Lamm said:

He Definitely Made a Difference by Warren Mass

As a champion of freedom, Skousen recognized that our Founding Fathers feared tyranny, and so they restrained the power of government "with the chains of the Constitution," as Thomas Jefferson phrased it. As a BYU professor, Skousen developed an in-depth study course to teach the students about the cherished document that safeguards freedom. Professor Skousen helped organize the conservative Freemen Institute (later called The National Center for Constitutional Studies) in 1972.

An Empire Built of Paper by Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr.

Two hundred years ago, when the United States was a modest commercial republic, the president could take a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue—by himself—and talk to anyone who approached him. If he wasn’t on a walk outdoors, he was most likely at home, and you could speak to him by knocking on the door of the White House and presenting yourself.

The Hamiltonians and their agenda of mercantilism, paper money, and presidential exaltation had been humiliated in the election of 1800. Jeffersonianism had prevailed against them. And though Jefferson made some missteps during his presidency—not even Jefferson could be fully trusted with power—the policy bias was clear: frugality, free trade, peace, hard money, and decentralized government.

The End of Civilization

I had a mild epiphany the other day: it’s not President Bush who’s living in a fantasy world, it’s most of his critics who are. I’m no apologist for Bush – I neither like nor dislike him. He’s no more significant to me than a fly buzzing around outside my window. So permit me to explain my reasoning.

People look at Bush’s invasion of Iraq and see a miserable failure. But a failure to do what? Democratize Iraq? Eliminate Iraq’s WMD arsenal? Reduce global terrorism? If those were, in fact, the reasons for invading Iraq, then the invasion would have to be classified as a failure. But what if the real reason was to secure Iraq’s oil supplies, perhaps not for immediate use, and perhaps not even for use by the United States? Then the invasion of Iraq would have to be judged a success, a “mission accomplished,” so to speak.

Another 'Emergency' Spending Bill by Ron Paul

Congress funds the federal government through 13 enormous appropriations bills, but even an annual budget of more than $2 trillion is not enough to satisfy Washington’s appetite for new spending. As a result, a new category of spending bill has emerged, known as the “emergency supplemental” appropriation. There’s no real emergency, however; Congress simply needs a 14th spending bill as a grab bag filled with hundreds of pages of goodies for countless favored groups, industries, individual companies, and foreign governments. It’s common for dozens of amendments to be added to the supplemental bill, all with more money for somebody.

When Propaganda Controls America's Thinking by William Hughes

I believe the people are now being programmed by insidious pro-war propaganda mongers to accept yet another unjust and unnecessary military conflict. The target this time is Iran! (7) In the eyes of the cunning Wire Pullers, we Americans are merely a nation of ignorant Bible-belting, Elvis-worshipping, Hip-Hop-loving, Six-Pack guzzling and Reality-TV-watching Rednecks. They cruelly exploit us like the pimp does the prostitute, while sucking the country to the marrow. The truth, however, is that we are the spiritual heirs of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Douglass, Kennedy, Chavez, King and Parks, and we have a mighty legacy of heroic deeds to call on for our renewal. But first, America must wake up!

The Death Of Society by Don Heinrich

Is there any wonder why our freedom will be ultimately lost? When the division of labor breaks down through a process of globalization it is society that dies while the individual remains and strives to be self-sufficient.

One can only wonder why our globalist education is not saving us? Why are we not saving more money? Why are Americans professionals and manufacturers being cut out of the division of labor to do more menial service tasks or none at all? Why is international economic intervention the rule of the day? Why are we forced to sell our ports, shipyards and hard assets and defense contracts to reduce an unfavorable balance of trade and still end up with a huge trade deficit?

Is There a Libertarian Case Against Free Trade? by Robert Murphy

For some time now Mises.org has come out squarely in favor of free trade,[1] and has opposed the new attacks on trade and "globalization" (notably from Paul Craig Roberts). I myself have written numerous pieces along these lines, and have thus received perhaps hundreds of email comments on the topic. One type of argument is typical anti-capitalist rhetoric; the profit motive causes companies to exploit workers, degrade the environment, and rip off consumers, and only benevolent government intervention can check the evil market. Naturally I don't find such emails very persuasive.

Is The Constitution Dead?

All too often when I propose returning America’s monetary and banking systems to constitutional principles, or revitalizing “the Militia of the several States”, I find myself assailed with the retort that “the Constitution is dead”; that attempts to apply its true principles–its “original intent”–as a means of limiting the powers of contemporary public officials are futile; and that my exhortations to the contrary are irrelevant, impotent, and even innately, if innocuously, screwball in character. Although no man is likely to be taken for a prophet in his own country, one’s being spurned in that role does not, by itself, prove his pronouncements erroneous. Especially when the argument against his prophetic gift is as self-evidently nonsensical as that “the Constitution is dead”.

The Crumbling Empire by NOAM CHOMSKY

The prospect that Europe and Asia might move towards greater independence has troubled US planners since the second world war. The concerns have only risen as the "tripolar order"--Europe, North America and Asia--has continued to evolve.

Lessons of Iraq War start with U.S. history by Howard Zinn

On the third anniversary of President Bush's Iraq debacle, it's important to consider why the administration so easily fooled so many people into supporting the war.

I believe there are two reasons, which go deep into our national culture.

One is an absence of historical perspective. The other is an inability to think outside the boundaries of nationalism.

How Will They Confiscate Your Guns by John A. Sutter

For decades I have heard gun owners claim that the government would never be able to confiscate our firearms because the government would lose too many men. The implication being, of course, that gun owners would actively resist confiscation, even to the point of shooting back.

Blogger Gets Education in Gestapo Tactics by Kurt Nimmo

Huffington Post blogger John Serry wants to know, in response to the intimidation and harassment of Pomona College professor Miguel Tinker Salas, how “the FBI [could] be so duped or goaded into having their domestic operations so blatantly hijacked and transparently politicized.” Obviously, Mr. Serry knows little about the FBI and its long-standing agenda to harass, intimidate, and neutralize individuals and organizations deemed a political threat by the government.

MARTIAL LAW SURVIVAL GUIDE by J. Croft

This article will start off assuming that the Reader (you) is already subject to MARTIAL LAW; that is, the "suspension" of the Constitution. Curfews, rationing of basic goods, enforced relocations, confiscation of firearms and supplies, and summary arrest/execution by soldiers, paramilitary police and other jack booted chumps in black wielding assault rifles. Basic survival tips will be followed by more detailed ideals on how to counter this coup against the American People.

Dots connect from Lee Harvey Oswald to Patriot Act by WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR.

Three news bulletins catch the eye.

The first touches on Jonathan Pollard. We knew he was an American spy. When he was apprehended in 1985 it transpired that he had been sending American national secrets to Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency. It is nice that Israel was an ally of the United States, but that was not exonerative in U.S. v. Pollard. He was sentenced to life in prison.

There Are Two Ways To Gain Cooperation by Gary North

An empire must defend territory already secured and then extend control over those who live beyond its borders, who chafe against the terms of exchange between them and the empire. The underlying motive of empire builders is the desire to control the terms of trade. The empire's strategy of controlling the terms of trade is always in some way geography-based. This is the essence of empire.

Whatever Happened to Courage? by Charles Sullivan

It is far better to fight and die for just causes, even against impossible odds, than to live in the perceived safety of indifference and complacency that characterizes our time. Our dance of life on this earth is short. We seriously delude ourselves if we think there is safety in capitulation to unjust authority. Our spirits thirst for justice. The organizing principle of life itself is not competition—survival of the fittest; it is mutual cooperation, looking out for the welfare of others. This is what makes life worth living. The public interest is a far nobler cause than private wealth and industrial slavery.

Bush, Chavez, and Hitler by Jacob G. Hornberger

Unfortunately, when U.S. officials such as Rumsfeld compare Chavez to Hitler for “consolidating power,” their own arrogance and hubris prevent them from seeing that President Bush has been doing the exact same thing ever since 9/11 — and arguably to a much greater extent than Chavez — “consolidating power.” While they have no hesitancy in placing the label of “Hitler” on foreign leaders for doing so, U.S. officials scratch their heads in befuddlement when foreigners place the label of “hypocrites” upon them.

Another War for Israel by Justin Raimondo

Some, like Gore Vidal, believe we live in "the United States of Amnesia," and that Americans can't remember what happens from week to week, never mind the lies they told last year and the year before. I respectfully disagree: the people clearly realize they were lied into war, and they aren't happy about it. As to whether they'll let the War Party get away with pulling another fast one, that remains to be seen. The Republicans, if they are smart, will bet on "no" and back away from the abyss, while the Democrats blithely step off the ledge and invite the rest of the country to come with them. The Bushies are already under fire for going soft on those Ay-rabs with the Dubai port-management brouhaha, and the Democrats show every sign of taking up with alacrity Marshall Wittmann's advice and outflanking the GOP on "national security" issues, i.e., out-warmongering the Republicans.

America the Pitiful by Charles Sullivan

Progressives and conservatives alike recognize that we have an obscene and belligerent presidency that is buoyed by a frightened and timorous congress. They see that the institutions of government are not servants of the people—they are the servants of their corporate pay masters. Depravity and concentrated wealth hold sway in the halls of government. The White House is a brothel teeming with corporate lobbyists, whose fornications are conducted beyond the pale of public view. Congress is as awash in corporate money as maggots on a corpse. The Bush cabal has to go. However, we must also recognize that the cancer extends well beyond Bush. We must recognize that the system itself is the malignancy. Effective and conscientious citizenship demands more from us than paying taxes and exercising our right to vote. It demands that we act for the common good with conscience and tenacity of purpose. Let us finish the revolution that was begun here in the 1700s.

Harry Browne, R.I.P.

The world has lost a wonderful human being. Harry Browne passed away last night after a long illness. Harry was a joy and inspiration to all who knew him. We offer our condolences to his family, and especially to his wife Pamela.

Words cannot express what Harry meant to us. But words are all we have. And so we will muster what meager inadequate words we can find to remember Harry Browne over the days ahead. You are invited to participate. This message will be posted at the top of the DownsizeDC.org blog. You can leave your thoughts and comments there. The blog can be reached by clicking here.

I Love America. Do You? by Harry Brown

Harry Browne, libertarian author and activist, died Wednesday, March 1, 2006. The following piece originally appeared on Antiwar.com Nov. 20, 2001. We reprint it in memory of this great friend of peace and liberty.

I love America.

Ike Saw It Coming by Bob Herbert

"The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist," he said. "We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes." It was as if this president, who understood war as well or better than any American who ever lived, were somehow able to peer into the future and see the tail of the military-industrial complex wagging the dog of American life, with inevitably disastrous consequences.

Top 10 Conservative Legislative Priorities for 2006 by Rep. Mike Pence

While this is not an exhaustive list, the fiscal and social policy reforms included in the RSC Top 10 comprise the nucleus of issues that minted this majority. Acting on the RSC Top 10 is the best hope for renewing the confidence of the American people in our commitment to fiscal discipline and reform.

On Being Anti-State, Anti-War, and Anti-Bush by Anthony Gregory

But George W. Bush is no Warren G. Harding. On the contrary, he has far surpassed Clintonian governance in devastation and abusiveness. Yet many libertarians continue to believe that one can be anti-state without being thoroughly anti-Bush. For many, the confused orientation comes from attempting to be anti-state without being emphatically anti-war. These poor creatures have lowered their sights and extinguished their lanterns of liberty, have traded their principles for the real or imagined personal security that accompanies shameless loyalty to Republican power.