American political institutions presuppose certain convictions about human nature, the worth and prerogatives of persons, the meaning of life, the distinction between right and wrong, and the destiny of the individual. The Colonists came to their understanding of these matters as heirs of the intellectual and religious heritage of Christendom—the culture whose shaping forces ‘sprang from ancient Israel, Greece, and Rome.
What is libertarianism? In his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia, Robert Nozick famously defines libertarianism as a social philosophy committed to …
This is a guest post written by Todd Lewis, who graduated from Malone University with a degree in history and …
By Edmund Opitz. —- Is there anything in the basic makeup of the men and women we know, or those …
The War on Drugs was instigated by the U.S. federal government in 1970, but the policy of drug prohibition has …
Some people may think that Resurrection Sunday is unrelated to the important themes we discuss regularly on LibertarianChristians.com, The Libertarian …
“Conservatism is the antidote to tyranny. It’s the only one. It’s based on thousands of years of human experience. There …
By Edmund Opitz, author of The Libertarian Theology of Freedom and Religion and Capitalism: Allies, Not Enemies. This essay was …
This article is #21 – and the final article – of a weekly series highlighting the former memes of Bureaucrash, …
This article is #19 of a weekly series highlighting the former memes of Bureaucrash, an organization once headed by my …
Statists are anti-progress. Statists claim their policies are for the common good. For some this claim is just a front to get more power, but for others it is a genuine goal. Nevertheless, even the most well-intentioned statists, who believe that granting government the power to control individual actions will result in a better outcome, violate rights and cause harm.
The current Social Security (aka “socialist insecurity”) system is designed as a pay-as-you-go system, in which current workers’ tax dollars pay for the benefits of retirees. And the system is in serious trouble. With increased life expectancy and a declining birth rate, there are fewer workers to support a greater number of retirees. In 1950, there were 16 workers paying for the benefits of one retiree. Today, there are about three workers per retiree, and by 2025 there will only be two. According to the Social Security Administration itself, if unreformed, Social Security will begin running a deficit by 2017, and by 2060 Social Security and Medicare combined will make up 71 percent of the federal budget.
“Progress” is an abused word these days, especially by bureaucrats and the special interest groups that cater to them. Yet such groups, in the name of progress and social justice, support government intervention through intervention in the market, minimum or living wages, and universal healthcare. We find neither progress nor justice in government actions that advance one group at the expense of another.
When confronted with a problem most people today turn to the government—but in reality, it’s often the government that created the problem and its continued involvement only exacerbates the problem. Politics distorts free market signals, quashes rights, and, quite bluntly, kills individuals.
Thanks in large part to misinformation, protectionist legislation passed with the support of Big Labor and other rent-seeking groups, and rhetoric accompanying these actions, immigration has become a divisive topic. As was seen between East and West Berlin decades ago and between the United States and Mexico today, this controversy sometimes results in the construction of physical barriers to prevent the free movement of individuals. Yet, fortunately there are some reasonable voices in this discussion, helping to point out how immigration restrictions further entrench governments and negate individual rights, in addition to severely hampering the economy.
When you were born, your parents or guardians gave you a name. At the same time (assuming you were born in a hospital), the government assigned you a number. Government actors view individuals as just that: faceless numbers.
This article is #10 of a weekly series highlighting the former memes of Bureaucrash, an organization once headed by my …
By Edmund Opitz Lord Northcliffe, the publisher of the London Times, came to this country a few years after World …
By Edmund Opitz The two major terms in my title are subject to extravagant misunderstanding and occasional abuse. Some of …
Perhaps the most valid justification of government is its defense of citizens against foreign aggressors. But when governments wage war, a thin line separates defense and offense. And even in a defensive war, governments typically deprive their own citizens of many liberties. Historically, war has done more than anything else to enhance the power of governments and to diminish the liberties of the people. Classical liberals have always recognized the dangers of war and supported policies, such as free international trade, that reduce the likelihood of war.
I’d like to describe some of the elements of my religious heritage, personal history, and intellectual development that have brought me thus far. If you are reading this and are unsure of whether or not libertarianism is compatible with the Christian faith, well, this is how I got this way and I hope it explains what it means to me, personally, to be a libertarian and a Christian.
This video doesn’t really have anything to do with Christian libertarian stuff, but it is an interesting comment on how …
In March of 2006, the freedom movement lost one of its great advocates – Harry Browne. He was the Libertarian …
Sign up and receive updates any day we publish a new article or podcast episode!
