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Liberty and Power

  • Sep 29, 2004

    Ok, one more thing

    by Liberty and Power

    I'd be interested in some intra-L&P discussion of something timely. Although he self-identifies as an anarchist, L&P blogger Roderick Long seems to support the idea of voting for Badnarik, thus by extension voting generally (Correct me if I'm wrong, Roderick, but your personal blog features an as urging people to do this). On the other hand, fellow L&P blogger Wendy McElroy has written that anarcho-libertaria
  • Sep 29, 2004

    Ok, that's four this morning

    by Liberty and Power

    This story says a lot about the art-critic establishment, and about abstract painting generally. If I can be Lileks for a moment, my four-year-old is all about mimetic art, thanks very much.
  • Sep 29, 2004

    Socrates would vomit

    by Liberty and Power

    Several of my colleagues are trying to promote political awareness by encouraging students to watch the upcoming presidential "debates." Just so we're all clear on this, there actually won't be any debates between the presidential candidates. They will be taking turns delivering mini-speeches they've prepared in response to questions they know they'll be asked. They will not actually "discuss with" or "debate" each other at all. Neither will ask the other a sing
  • Sep 29, 2004

    Stop the madness!

    by Liberty and Power

    Come on people, take a stand for a change. This will never be the case in my classroom.
  • Sep 28, 2004

    Helping the "Free" Election in Iraq

    by Liberty and Power

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Dem., CA) exposed the latest CIA plan to"help" the"free" elections in Iraq. Condi Rice was not pleased. Bottom Line: in a scaled back effort, we will continue to"run a number of overt programs to support the democratic electoral process," and as Time notes,"as the U.S. does around the world."

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1101041004-702122,00.html
  • Sep 28, 2004

    The US, Russia, Iraq, and Empire

    by Liberty and Power

    In reply to Keith Halderman’s comments below:

    To expand on his final comment, first: I did not have space to place all of the Russian comments in the article, but their intent, if they come into Iraq, would be to aid the American military in the Sunni sectors, not the Shia ones, which form the majority of territory. I mentioned this was the Izvestia observation.

    I certainly agree that our government has no business trying to pressure the Russians toward some of o
  • Sep 27, 2004

    Irving Louis Horowitz, Jacob Sullum Win Szasz Awards

    by Liberty and Power

    The distinguished sociologist Irving Louis Horowitz and syndicated columnist Jacob Sullum are the winners of 2004 Thomas S. Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause of Civil Liberties.

    Irving Louis Horowitz, winner of the professional award, is Hannah Arendt University Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Political Science at Rutgers University. Over the past several decades Horowitz has worked to develop a political sociology that can measure the extent of a society's personal

  • Sep 27, 2004

    Hi Ho Silver!

    by Liberty and Power

    With respect to Iraq, Tom Palmer asks, "What do we do now?"
    I am reminded of the Lone Ranger's comment to Tonto (the Fool) when they were surrounded by Indians, and the LR, said, "Well, old friend, this looks like the end for us," & Tonto replied, "What do you mean 'us' White Man?"
    What do mean, "we," Tom?
    If you wish to associate yourself with the American Empire, that is your business, I choose not to do so."
    As the R
  • Sep 27, 2004

    Tom G. Palmer's Challenge to Antiwar "Immediatists" on Iraq.

    by Liberty and Power

    Tom G. Palmer has posed a challenge and several questions for antiwar advocates who have called for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Should we take it up?

    Tom's stresses the dire consequences that would follow if the U.S. left immediately. In my view, however, it makes more sense to focus on the even more dire consequences that will probably result (and have resulted) from"staying the course."

    For his challenge and my answer, see

  • Sep 27, 2004

    No Ability, No Right, No Responsibility

    by Liberty and Power

    William Marina’s post directly below links to a very good article of his that raises two interesting questions. He discusses the idea that Russian President Putin is using the atrocity that took place in Beslan as a device to install a much more authoritarian government. Marina then quotes Peter Reddaway of George Washington University as observing, “it remained to be seen whether the U.S. would translate rhetoric into tough
  • Sep 25, 2004

    THE MSU MESS

    by Liberty and Power

    The story of the "decline" of MSU is a story of faculty and administrative complicity. The president, Shelby Thames, is a puffed-up and Putin-style despot whose action against two tenured professors earlier this year assures him of a place in the administrative rogues' gallery. But such creatures remain in office only through faculty complicity. The same faculty who cry and moan in the public forum shut up pretty fast when a "deal" is rigged and they are comfortably cashie
  • Sep 23, 2004

    The Hayekian Triumph of the Blogosphere

    by Liberty and Power

    A nice article on The Hayekian Triumph of the Blogosphere:"If Nobel Prize winning economist F.A. Hayek had been watching last week as bloggers spontaneously responded to fraudulent documents aired by the program"60 Minutes", he would've grinned in humble satisfaction. Hayek's work centered on the effectiveness of spontaneous, decentralized organization." It partners well with