David Beito has graciously included me as a blogger on Liberty & Power. I'm honored to join David and the others who write for this forum. I know some of them personally, and others by reputation. I have particularly learned from David, whose excellent book From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State opened my eyes to the possibility for the private provision of welfare and social services, Wendy McElroy, whose edited anthology of feminist writings was one of the first libertarian books I ever read, and Sheldon Richman, whom I've only met in the pages of The Freeman and Cato Institute policy reports.

I first encountered the classical liberal tradition as a student in college, was involved in a semi-famous free speech case in the early 1990s that later inspired the formation of FIRE, and attended graduate school in history. I abandoned academia for a career as part of The Right Nation. For many years I worked at a D.C.-based libertarian organization before joining a public policy organization in flyover country.

I've found I like flyover country much better than D.C.

David and my fellow bloggers are kindly allowing me to use a pseudonym to avoid issues related to my public profile at the job I currently hold. But they will surely keep me in check. And you can, too, by writing to me at notreason@gmail.com.

M.D. Fulwiler - 12/16/2004

You're really David Frum, right? LOL! Welcome!

No Treason - 12/16/2004

Thanks for the kind remarks. I should say that my preference for flyover country is one of personal taste. I think D.C. libertarian organizations - like Cato - do a lot of good. I have friends who work at many of them, too.

I just heard about TOC moving to DC today, coincidentally. I don't know what they gain from being there. But they know their mission and goals better than I do!

Kenneth R Gregg - 12/16/2004

And best to you!

I liked your phrase, "I've found I like flyover country much better than D.C." Now that TOC is moving to D.C. with Ed Hudgins as Executive Director (alliance with CATO, perhaps), there is, alas, one less libertarian institute far from the political bowels. "Flyover country" is the place to be.

I much prefer my own cultural and entrepreneurial center of America, a city whose vision is directed toward the future, not the past or power, Las Vegas. This is where TOC should have moved.

Take care.
Just Ken
kgregglv@cox.net
http://classicalliberalism.blogspot.com/