Libertarianism

A libertarian view of the law by definition means that there can be no immunity from legal consequences. Anything else perverts the very meaning of law.

The late Dr. Thomas Szasz, who was well known to libertarians, believed using coercion to treat psychiatric patients was a form of torture. He left a legacy of freedom in a profession that has all but abandoned liberty.

All too often, people accept the state-sponsored "solution" to a perceived problem as the logical choice. But this "solution" really is a non sequitur.

We will win. But how long will it take, and at what price victory?

McAdams discusses what a Ron Paul doctrine for economics and foreign policy would look like. It would be laissez-faire at home, self-determination for political minorities up to and including secession, free trade, and a strictly noninterventionist military approach. 

Is this trend toward soft secession necessarily illiberal? Is the potential for creating more states or political subdivisions, even if smaller and less sclerotic, moving us further from an idealized Hoppean private community model?

Professor Bradley Birzer from Hillsdale College joins the show to dissect Russell Kirk's famous 1981 essay condemning libertarians.

Mark Thornton provides a historical perspective on the growth of libertarianism, showing the limitations of the political path to liberty and the importance of the radical form of libertarianism.

If property held by the government is "stolen property," is it acceptable for random citizens to “liberate” this property for their own use?

Is it justifiable to accept money from government? Almost always, say Jonathan Gress and Walter Block--but not for everyone.