Military Conscription Is a Tool for Centralization, State Building, and Despotism
Support for federal conscription is contrary to principles of decentralization or a "limited republic." Early Americans would have viewed this Jacobin-inspired scheme with dismay and fear. Original Article: "Military Conscription Is a Tool for Centralization, State Building, and Despotism" This Audio Mises
A Fat, Comfortable Military Is a “Woke” Military
The US military's turn to "wokeness" is a result of decades of high military spending and public deference toward military "experts." That gave us a military that is overfunded and highly political. Original Article: "A Fat, Comfortable Military Is a "Woke"
OPEC Can’t Make High Oil Prices Go Away
High oil prices are a symptom of economic and monetary imbalances, not just a consequence of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decisions. Throughout history, we have seen how OPEC cuts have done little to elevate prices when diversification and
“Going Cashless” Isn’t as Easy as It Seems
Many economic commentators are in favor of phasing out cash. They are of the view that cash provides support to the shadow economy and permits tax evasion. It is also held that in times of economic shocks that push the economy
Nation and Nationality
The Nation as Speech Community The concepts nation and nationality are relatively new in the sense in which we understand them. Of course, the word nation is very old; it derives from Latin and spread early into all modern languages. But
The Criminality of the State
[This essay first appeared in the American Mercury in March 1939.] As well as I can judge, the general attitude of Americans who are at all interested in foreign affairs is one of astonishment, coupled with distaste, displeasure, or horror, according
Is College Worthwhile? A Two-Time Dropout’s Take
Pursuing one’s dreams without a degree requires more self-discipline than serving four years on campus. One of Nietzsche’s best lines offers a warning: “He who cannot obey himself will be commanded.” Original Article: "Is College Worthwhile? A Two-Time Dropout’s Take" This Audio
Inflation: A Brief Look Back, and A Path Forward
Starting with the April 2021 release, virtually every monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) report has indicated some form of abnormally high inflation. For instance, the April CPI rose 4.2 percent over the previous 12 months, the largest year-to-year increase since
Has the Rise of Socialism in US Politics Been a Boon to Austrian Economics? Evidence from Social Media and Other Metrics
Abstract: The rise of socialism has been one of the more dramatic movements in US politics in the modern era, with recent Gallup polling indicating that 39 percent of Americans (and 65 percent of Democrats) hold a favorable view of
Should We Get Rid of Guns?
You will not be surprised to learn that my answer is no, but what I’d like to discuss in this week’s column is an argument by an eminent philosopher that we should. Robert Hanna is an authority on Kant (Objectivist