Category Archive: 6b.) Mises.org

Censorship through the Centuries: Free Speech Suppression by the Government and the Mainstream Media

The United States government, which prides itself in being the leading force in defending freedom throughout the world, has a history of putting a muzzle on news organizations and individuals throughout its history. From the early colonial period to the beginnings of the internet, the state has consistently silenced its critics, which seems to be its true nature. The Sedition Act of 1798 Signed into law by the Federalist Party president John Adams...

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How US States Could Pave the Way for Currency Competition

The fiat US dollar, while still the world's "reserve" currency, is being imperiled by reckless actions by monetary authorities. Other countries are taking notice—and action. Original Article: "How US States Could Pave the Way for Currency Competition"

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Myth #7: Deflation — Falling Prices — Is Unthinkable, and Would Cause a Catastrophic Depression

Recorded by the Mises Institute in the mid-1980s, The Mises Report provided radio commentary from leading non-interventionists, economists, and political scientists. In this program, we present another part of "Ten Great Economic Myths". This material was prepared by Murray N. Rothbard. The public memory is short. We forget that, from the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-18th century until the beginning of World...

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The BRICS Currency Project Picks Up Speed

On Friday, July 7, 2023, news broke in the financial market media that the “BRICS” (that is, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will implement their plan to create a new international currency for trading and financial transactions, and that this new currency will be “gold-backed”. Most recently, on June 2, 2023, the foreign ministers of the BRICS – as well as representatives from more than 12 countries – met in Cape Town, South...

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The Government vs. the People, Kamala Harris Version

It is no surprise to libertarians that what is in the interest of the government might not be in the interest of people in general. More often than not, the government’s interest is directly at odds with the interests of people in general. The countless wars waged by governments throughout history, for which common people paid ultimately with their lies, bear witness to this fact. Wars are also waged on the domestic populations that the government...

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The Dollar is Down

In this episode, Mark looks at the "minor issue" of the value of the dollar. While everything in the economy seems great—including stock markets, price inflation, unemployment, and consumer confidence—the value of the dollar index has fallen 12% during the rebound in stocks since last October. Be sure to follow Minor Issues at Mises.org/MinorIssues.

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Belgian Colonialism of the Congo: Facts and Fiction

Stories cannot substitute for historical facts even when people want these stories to be true. With the influence of Black Lives Matter, resurrecting the atrocities of Western colonialism has become fashionable. The death of George Floyd revived a torrent of anticolonialism sentiment in Western societies fueled by resounding demands for governments to atone for the sins of colonialism. Although the colonial legacy of Western powers is tainted by...

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Mercantilism: A Lesson for Our Times?

Mercantilism has had a "good press" in recent decades, in contrast to 19th-century opinion. In the days of Adam Smith and the classical economists, mercantilism was properly regarded as a blend of economic fallacy and state creation of special privilege. But in our century, the general view of mercantilism has changed drastically: Keynesians hail mercantilists as prefiguring their own economic insights; Marxists, constitutionally unable...

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Exposing the FBI Coverup of Biden Corruption

Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein is a co-host with Dave Smith of the popular podcast Part of the Problem, as well as his own podcast Run Your Mouth. He joins Bob to walk through the shocking and hilarious moves by Biden officials to downplay recent allegations of corruption. Find More from Robbie Including His Tour Dates: Mises.org/HAP404a $5.1M Payment to Biden Businesses: Mises.org/HAP404b Biden Attorneys on The Hunter WhatAspp...

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Outside the Universe?

Moral Progress in Dark Times: Universal Values for the 21st Century by Markus Gabriel, translated by Wieland Hoban Polity Press, 2022; xii + 281 pp. It would be easy to give this book a negative review, as it advocates a number of policies that from our standpoint are wrongheaded. Gabriel is especially alarmed by the dangers of “climate change” and also extols the spirit of cooperation that the German people displayed in acceding to the necessary...

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How Should We Regulate the Sun (Since Our Government Regulates Nearly Everything Else)?

Do we have a right to sunlight? How do we assert those rights? Murray Rothbard provides some answers. Original Article: "How Should We Regulate the Sun (Since Our Government Regulates Nearly Everything Else)?"

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The Tao and the Synergy of the Spontaneous Order

The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought indeed to teach the student of society a lesson in humility which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in men’s fatal striving to control society—a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals....

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Social Justice and the Free-Rider Problem

Free rider is a term related to the political commons and rent seeking. It is like rent seeking, except it is perhaps more nuanced and eventually discourages the effective use of public goods found in the political commons. When I was a young adult, my wife, Cyndi, and I went out with a group of people. My father warned me that if the group split the bill evenly, we could wind up paying for other people’s dinner. We were pressed for cash, so we...

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Contra Krugman’s Victory Lap on Inflation

On this episode of Good Money with Tho Bishop, Dr. Jonathan Newman joins to look at recent headlines on inflation. Tho and Jonathan discuss the larger costs of Fed policy on the real economy and how official government measures can be gamed with techniques such as "shrinkflation." Good Money listeners can order a special $5 book bundle that includes How To Think About the Economy and What Has Government Done to Our Money? with...

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The Anti-Human Green Agenda

On this episode of Radio Rothbard, Tho Bishop is joined by Mises Research Fellow Connor Mortell to talk about Connor's research project on energy policy. Tho and Connor push back against common narratives—even some promoted by libertarians—of fossil fuels and green energy and the necessity of keeping a human focus on energy policy. The Radio Rothbard mug is available in the Mises Store. Get yours at Mises.org/RothMug: PROMO CODE RothPod...

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A Chip Off the Old Block

Michael and Walter Block discuss the Ukrainian conflict, reparations, immigration, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. 3. A Chip Off the Old Block Video of 3. A Chip Off the Old Block

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Egalitarianism as a Revolt Against Safety

There are certain goods and services that egalitarians, as third parties, would prefer that no one enjoys rather than for some to have more than others. (The proviso “as third parties” is necessary since egalitarians will not do without these goods and services themselves, but they still see fit to comment on inequalities from afar.) One of these services is public safety, as shown in a series of articles written by ProPublica reporter Jeremy...

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Banks Create Money out of Thin Air. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

How can a bank “create money out of thin air”? We must enter the magical kingdom of “fractional-reserve banking,” where deposits are turned into loans, loans are turned into money, and so on, to find out. Original Article: "Banks Create Money out of Thin Air. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"

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States Can Curb Federal Power through “Soft Secession”

Former Mises Institute president Jeff Deist wrote on the concept of “soft secession” in September 2021. The article talks about how left-leaning states have an opportunity to embrace an abundance of progressive policies for their citizens—without leaving an open door for real violence to occur—through the pursuit of soft state secession. Some people in the left-thinking world are starting to get it. This soft secession principle applies to those...

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The Debt-Ceiling Debate Was Pure Theater

In recent months, Americans were treated to a particularly cheap political spectacle: negotiations over the debt ceiling. “Extreme right-wing Republicans have hijacked the debt ceiling process,” said Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. “The fight over the debt ceiling could sink the economy,” intoned National Public Radio. Florida representative Matt Gaetz said that when it comes to the debt ceiling, he sees no need to parlay with the Republicans’...

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