03 Nov

what is libertarianism?

Excellent and badly needed new website that defines and explores the history and current state of libertarianism.

It includes some pretty nicely done videos that explore the nuances and complexity of a political, moral, and social philosophy that many people consider antiquated, simplistic, utopian, or impractical.

14 Nov

the win-win scenario that we’ll lose

If there were some way to reduce world government spending by hundreds of billions of dollars a year, while significantly reducing CO2 emissions and igniting the alternative energy market, you’d think the government would be all over that, right?

Not so fast:

Call to Stop Fossil Fuel Subsidy

People think that libertarians don’t care about the environment or only care about money. The truth is that libertarians are keenly aware of how money motivates people and businesses. If you subsidize something, you encourage more of it and you hurt free market alternatives that would likely be better.

Instead of doing the sensible thing, I expect we will continue to subsidize bad industries while at the same time subsidizing the clean industries, but not so much that the bad industries get worried and put pressure on their congressman.

Fossil fuels would be long gone by now if not for government intervention, keeping them artificially cheap and delaying the time when renewable sources will become highly competitive.

06 Nov

another senseless caffeine death

A Man Dies After Overdosing on Caffeine

Funny how people die from abusing alcohol, prescription drugs, caffeine and pretty much anything you can get a high or a buzz from, but you just don’t hear much about the huge number of deaths from smoking marijuana.

Hmm, wonder why that is!

05 Jan

headline of the year

I know it’s only January 5th, but this headline should win some sort of award:

New scanners break child porn laws

In just one headline, it summarizes how utterly screwed up both the UK and the US are.