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Liberty and Power

  • Jul 4, 2010

    A (very late) review of Skoble's DELETING THE STATE

    by Liberty and Power

    “Centralized, coercive political authority--the State--is not necessary.”

    So writes Aeon Skoble, a philosopher possessed of an all-too-rare combination of rigorous logic, empathy, and imagination. This opening line ably and honestly captures the essence of his 2008 book, Deleting the State.

    Something in me--at some level--says that Skoble’s desire for political anarchism must be wrong. But, admittedly, I have a hard time finding what it is, no matter how hard I try af
  • Jul 4, 2010

    Does Hamas Owe Israel An Apology?

    by Liberty and Power

    In one of the small benefits to be derived from the recent Israeli assault upon the Gaza relief flotilla, Israeli politicians have declared they will relax certain import restrictions enforced by their long running siege of the Gaza Strip. Life is hard and you take whatever good you can, and not only has this move alleviated the suffering of the Palestinians t
  • Jul 2, 2010

    Michael Steele Gets It Right

    by Liberty and Power

    The talking heads on both left and right (notably William Kristol) are dumping on Michael Steele for his recent comments on the Afghan War. He may well be forced out as RNC chair or, at the very least, compelled to apologize for his alleged"gaffe." It would be a shame if Steele lost his job for this. Despite the clumsy nature of his wording, he was essentially right. The Afghan War was indeed of Obama's "choosing.
  • Jul 1, 2010

    Disaster, Heartbreak, and Unavoidable Trade-offs

    by Liberty and Power

    I received a message today from someone who questioned the position I had taken in a recent op-ed article on the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Because I was unable to get a reply through to the person who wrote to me, and because others might have the same concern he raised, I am placing his question and my reply to him here.

    He wrote:

    The last paragraph of your most recent article puzz
  • Jun 29, 2010

    BP, the Gulf spill, and classical liberal theory

    by Liberty and Power

    The Gulf oil spill is offering a teachable moment as to how understanding emergent processes in the social sciences deepens and improves classical liberal analysis. Classical liberals more than any other branch of liberalism have emphasized the role of spontaneous orders in society, particularly the market. In this they offered a powerful corrective to managerial liberal ambitions of bringing society under rational administration and egalitarian suspicion of inequality, let alone earlier Marxi
  • Jun 28, 2010

    Individual Rights get a boost

    by Liberty and Power

    The Supremes have made a pro-individual-rights ruling in the Chicago gun ban case. I know some libertarians disapprove of the idea that the 14th Amendment makes the provisions of the Bill of Rights applicable to state governments, but I am not one of them. Here is a clear case of a constitutional protection of a negative liberty: the (pre-political or"natural") right to acquire the means to protect and defend one's life, liberty
  • Jun 26, 2010

    Acton on Rhadamanthus?

    by Liberty and Power

    "The historian should be a hanging judge, for the muse of history is not Clio but Rhadamanthus, the avenger of innocent blood."

    I used that quotation in the Epilogue to Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men, with the following footnote:"I have been unable to find the source for this quotation attributed to John Emerich Edward Dalbert-Acton, 1st Baron, so it may be apocryphal. But if Acton did not actually say it, he should have. It is consistent with his thought and
  • Jun 24, 2010

    The Audacity of A Dope

    by Liberty and Power

    Not only is Bradley Birkenfeld – the former UBS banker who ratted out all the decent people trying to hide their wealth from political predators – a sleazebag for his actions, he is also a moron to think that when one dances with the devil, they get to call the tune and lead. Now in prison, he is lamenting his “unfair” treatment at the hands of America’s politicians.

    He makes me wonder if the man who told the Gestapo where Anne Frank was hiding also demanded better treatment from th