Statists on either side of the coin take issue with libertarians when it comes to liberty. We unapologetically defend everyone's freedom from state intrusion. Where that confuses people is that we'll even defend freedom when the exercise of that freedom is hateful, self-harmful, or stupid. That doesn't mean we'll agree with the use of those … Continue reading COVID-19, Masks, Politics, and Authoritarianism.
Author: Pragmatic Libertarian
Confederate Statues and the Legacy of the Lost Cause
One of the side-effects of the BLM protests has been the outrage over Confederate statues. The common theme in some circles is the removal of these statues is an attack on Southern history. That premise assumes that the statues are there to honor Southern heritage and those that served and died in the Civil War. … Continue reading Confederate Statues and the Legacy of the Lost Cause
No Virginia, the Civil War was not about States’ Rights
If you ask a number of people what the Civil War was about, you'll often hear it was about States' Rights. Why is the concept so prevalent? John C. Calhoun created the concept of States' Rights as a justification for maintaining slavery and arguing for Southern secession as early as 1850. This idea was later … Continue reading No Virginia, the Civil War was not about States’ Rights
The DEA’s Whitewashing of Harry J. Anslinger
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, I was doing a great deal of research on topical events tied to the murder. One of those topics is the racist War on Drugs. I had planned a two-part series on the War on Drugs and how it was a racist institution from its inception. … Continue reading The DEA’s Whitewashing of Harry J. Anslinger
The War on Drugs – Part I
The Beginning The War on Drugs started much earlier than most people think. The first salvo on the War on Drugs was the Smoking Opium Exclusion Act of 1909. Opium was banned for recreational purposes. The next volley was the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, which regulated and taxed cocaine and heroin. Additional laws adding … Continue reading The War on Drugs – Part I
Causes of Systemic Racism
In my last post about systemic racism, I provided ample evidence that there is indeed systemic racism in the criminal justice system. That said, it's don't hate the playa, hate the game. What that means is that I'm not blaming law enforcement officers as much as the system. The laws themselves are biased; cops have too … Continue reading Causes of Systemic Racism
Systemic Racism?
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, there's a lot of talk about systemic racism, especially in regards to the criminal justice system. What does that mean? Though some may disagree, it does not mean (nor am I implying) that police officers are racist. Statistically speaking, some are racist, most are not. That … Continue reading Systemic Racism?
The Murder of George Floyd – Minimization
The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin has aroused a range of emotions across the country. Some are sympathetic, some are enraged, some are defensive, and inexplicably...some are in outright denial. As it took me some time to carefully research and consider the facts before writing this post, … Continue reading The Murder of George Floyd – Minimization
Principles and Pragmatism
I've been voting for Libertarian Party candidates for 26 years. That's a lot of write-in candidates over the years. I fully stand on our principles but the fact of the matter is that the Libertarian Party has not made a substantive impact on American Politics since it's founding. What are our goals as a party? … Continue reading Principles and Pragmatism