Source: Libertarianism.

The podcast explores various ways political decisions in a democracy are made in ignorance.

Continue reading “Democracy and Political Ignorance” →

Source: ZeroHedge.

This story is less interesting for its Covid commentary than for its media commentary. It shows how media serves an agenda, as opposed to a function.

The object lesson here is public skepticism with respect to Covid vaccines and other measures. The article cites a few examples from “the science” that might inspire rational skepticism and notes that media outlets are pushing the vaccines and other measures, anyway.

One can certainly wish for a more virtuous Fourth Estate. I note, however, that there is no shortage of information to support any narrative the public as a whole wishes to explore.

Source: American Institute for Economic Research.

“This is an important issue that needs to be addressed much more vigorously than has been the case up until now.”

I agree with the writer. What is liberty if those who harm no one must prove themselves to others? It is nothing. It doesn’t exist.

Source: Mises Institute.

The origins of private property are obscure. We can imagine there was a time in which it didn’t exist, and that some time later it did. But how do we account for it’s manifestation?

Continue reading “To Understand Economics, First Understand Private Property” →

Source: Capitalism.org

I came across this little gem while looking for a way to make sense of a comment that flummoxed me in another thread: “Capitalism is an economic construct, not a social one.”

The Tour addresses the comment in it’s first panel, but not in great depth. Instead, it merely alludes to the historical (or social) context in which capitalism evolved.

But it is an important point. Capitalism is a naturally occurring phenomenon, not an invented one. It is a reality, not a philosophy.

Source: Mises Institute.

I have always associated progressives with either communists of the Marxian variety or socialists of the Robert Owen variety. I am accordingly thankful to have my perspective revised by associating progressives with Jeremy Bentham, of whom I know very little, but in whose Wikipedia biography I see much that is both familiar and repugnant.

Beyond that, the writer captures the contemporary progressive mindset exactly as I experience it: Practicalities just don’t matter.

Source: American Institute for Economic Research.

This story may be of some interest because it critiques a WSJ item that was the subject of a post here in the Forum.

https://tidewaterforum.blog/2021/02/25/deregulated-texas-market-cost-consumers-28-billion-more-for-electricity-since-2004/#comments

Continue reading “Texas Electricity Prices Are Lower Due to Deregulation” →

Source: ZeroHedge.

This is a “point of order” post because, if memory serves, at least one commenter in the Forum has claimed that firearms were found among the weapons confiscated from those Capitol rioters who were arrested. More generally, however, the idea that the riot was an “insurrection” is turning out to be a farce, a product of overheated imaginations.

Continue reading “FBI Counterterrorism Official: No Firearms Recovered During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach” →

Source: The Wall Street Journal (behind paywall).

Propaganda is so pervasive now that it is newsworthy to observe the beginnings of a new disinformation campaign.

Continue reading “Joe Biden’s Trump-Like Fabrication on Covid” →

Source: Marginal Revolution.

Generally speaking I’m in favor of exposing people to the risks the natural world inevitably presents to them, or at least not protecting them too much from experiencing those risks personally. That way, risk mitigation remains decentralized so that effective mitigation strategies emerge organically, producing anti-fragile outcomes.

Continue reading “Texas utilities should have had more dynamic pricing” →