Houston Mises Circle 2015

Breaking Away: The Case for Secession

The 20th century marked the rise of huge national governments, characterized by growing executive authority, standing armies, and powerful central banks. Across the western world, the last 100 years have seen states expand their power exponentially — at the expense of civil society and markets.

Unease with large, top-down, bureaucratic nation-states is growing however. National identities based on history, culture, economics, and language do not always coexist easily with geo-political borders and governments. And current political arrangements increasingly serve the interests of political and economic elites, drawing populist criticism from both left and right.

The growing number of secession movements around the world gives rise to our topic: breaking away from current government structures that do so much harm to liberty, peace, and prosperity. We will examine the philosophical and historical underpinnings of secession, the benefits of radical decentralization, and how disengagement from tyrannical states may be the last, best hope for the endangered classical liberal tradition. 

Join Ron Paul, Lew Rockwell, Tom Woods, Brion McClanahan, and Jeff Deist for a one-day seminar on breaking away from the central state. Large selections from the Mises Bookstore will be available for purchase. Show your Mises Membership card to the cashier for a 10% discount. Speakers are happy to autograph books. Questions: Call the Mises Institute at 334-321-2100 or 800-636-4737 or email Pat Barnett.

Donations to sponsor student scholarships are welcomed.

Schedule (Central time) 
Grand Ballroom

8:30 a.m. Coffee. Bookstore opens and registration begins (suggested time for purchasing books to be autographed)
10:00 a.m. Jeff Deist “Secession Begins at Home”
10:20 a.m. Brion McClanahan “Secession: The American Tradition”
10:40 a.m. Lew Rockwell “Secession is Libertarian”
11:00 a.m. Break. Bookstore open.
11:30 a.m. Panel with Q&A
Noon  Lunch
1:15 p.m. Tom Woods “Secession: The Reasonable Option Everyone Resists”
1:45 p.m. Ron Paul “Secession and Liberty”
2:15 p.m. Panel with Q&A
3:00 p.m. Adjourn
3:30 p.m. Registration table: Pick up books that have been autographed

Sessions and lunch take place at Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport Complimentary parking. Attire is business casual. Driving directions are here. For accommodations at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport, call them at 713-943-7979 before January 9 and mention the Mises Institute for a special rate of $102 per night plus tax. For a free shuttle to the hotel from Hobby Airport call the hotel from baggage claim.

Student Scholarship Applications

Students wishing to apply for a scholarship for sessions and lunch should submit an application and student ID by registering/logging in to the Mises Academy, going to Applications and completing all parts of the Student Event Scholarship Application Form.

The Mises Institute conducts Mises Circles, one-day informative seminars around the country. These events are wholly sponsored by freedom loving, concerned people who want to bring new ideas to their community and businesses. To sponsor a Mises Circle in your region, please call Kristy Holmes at 800-636-4737 or email her.

Special thanks to Christopher Condon, Terence Murphree, and TJ & Ida Goss for making this event possible.