“libertarianism” on The Daily Caller

Earlier this week, Chris Bedford, national vice-chairman of Young Americans for Freedom, explained why his organization had chosen to expel Ron Paul from YAF’s national advisory board. Bedford makes repeated reference to the guiding “Sharon Statement” drafted by Williams F. Buckley and other conservative leaders in 1960, and states the case for why its principles cannot be reconciled with Paul’s opposition to aggressive U.S. militarism. (more)

In September of 1960 — “a time of moral and political crisis” — nearly 100 of America’s top conservative and libertarian activists gathered at the home of William F. Buckley Jr. in Sharon, Connecticut. There, they laid out the timeless truths and principles that would govern the nation’s first conservative/libertarian activist group — Young Americans for Freedom. (more)

Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, got the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) crowd’s biggest and most animated reaction of any speaker at the event – and took the stage saying: “I’m glad to see the revolution is continuing.” Paul applauded new House freshmen GOP members for blocking the extension of the PATRIOT Act. (more)

Every year our phones get smarter, our cars safer, and our medical treatments more advanced. Inventors and entrepreneurs are constantly pushing back the limits of possibility to improve technology and make our lives better. But there is one important technology which is falling behind: government. The last major breakthrough was in 1787, and we’ve seen only slow, irregular progress since. Things improve in some areas, decline in others, and generally drift along without any noticeable trend. (more)

In the late 1970’s, with interest rates, inflation and taxes at back-breaking levels, a broad array of politicians and interest groups with a shared conviction that excess spending, taxes and regulation must be turned around coalesced into a “conservative movement” that elected Ronald Reagan and set into motion a fundamental shift in American politics. That coalition included a lot of different interests who did not necessarily agree on all issues, but for whom the imperative to save the economy was the rightful priority of the day. (more)

Ron Paul told NPR last Sunday that he’s considering another presidential run. That might seem like the logical extension of his recent ascent to subcommittee chairmanship in the House and informal recognition as “grandfather” of the Tea Party movement that swept Congress last November. But the GOP electorate is still as inhospitable to libertarians as it ever was, and in another White House bid, he’d stand no chance. (more)

Retiring New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg, one of the Federal Reserve’s most stalwart Republican supporters, showed up for a meeting at the central bank in November bearing a surprising gift: a box of End the Fed books. As he handed out the 2009 best seller by Representative Ron Paul, a longtime Fed critic, Gregg told the gathering it would be worth reading to see what the other side is plotting. (more)

Probably the reason why I am a libertarian, deep down, is that I hate bullies. I despise people who feel they must inflict their particular brand of crap on those who are minding their own business. I loathe arbitrary rules. I loathe those who revel in such arbitrary rules even more. If I am not messing with you, don’t mess with me. Why do so many people have a problem with this concept? Why must some people have other people bend to their will? What is this deep need by a large portion of the population? (more)

Since last Monday’s New York gubernatorial debate, I’ve been disappointed to read that a few reporters said I was using “cheat sheets” during the debate. The New York Post said my remarks were “ghostwritten.” Former Mayor Ed Koch said my lines were written by my campaign advisor, “Roger What’s-his-name.” Sadly, these comments are both sexist and untrue. (more)

The House Republicans’ Pledge to America might just be too little, too late. I have marveled for a year now at how easily the Republicans have let Democrats get away with calling them “obstructionists” and accusing them of having no ideas or solutions of their own, only criticisms of the Democratic agenda. (more)

I have to take issue with my former Cato colleague Dan Mitchell and Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Chapman, two people who I agree with on many issues. Like them I want to see the cost of government curtailed and agree that we shouldn’t live at the expense of future generations. We would no doubt disagree on the priorities for government — I believe in a greater welfare role — but even so, on the issue of reducing government we are on the same side. (more)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said he plans to introduce legislation next year to force an audit of U.S. holdings of gold. (more)

While many conservatives and libertarians argue similar points of interest, they oftentimes are arguing the same message. Last night on Freedom Watch, Judge Napolitano had former CIA Operative Wayne Simmons and antiwar activist Justin Raimondo debate the Afghan War. Raimondo, a self-proclaimed libertarian, emphatically missed the points presented by Simmons. (more)

It’s often repeated in stories about me or my race for U.S. Senate that I am a “libertarian.” In my mind, the word “libertarian” has become an emotionally charged, and often misunderstood, word in our current political climate. But, I would argue very strongly that the vast coalition of Americans — including independents, moderates, Republicans, conservatives and “Tea Party” activists — share many libertarian points of view, as do I. (more)

Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul told The Daily Caller in June that if he doesn’t run again for president in 2012, there’s someone else with similar libertarian-leaning views he could see himself supporting: former Republican New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. (more)

Martin Luther tacked 95 theses to a wooden door. Our Founding Fathers wrote a list of grievances to King George. (more)

Nothing seems to scare the populist Left more than the people.  Protest the Obama administration’s big spending, pervasive centralizing, expansive regulating policies, and you must be an enemy of all that is good and true.  Attend a Tea Party rally and you’re probably a racist and certainly not a Christian. (more)

According to a Zogby survey (buried by the mainstream media as an irrelevant news item), self-identified Democrats and Progressives score badly on a simple test of economic understanding. This, according to the May issue of Econ Journal Watch (which I read only because it was the swimsuit issue), was no surprise to the cognitive few remaining among us. (more)

The debates raging over what policies will pull the U.S. economy out of its Great Recession replicate one that occurred during the Great Depression. Thanks to the efforts of Richard Ebeling, a professor of economics at Northwood University, we have compelling and concise documentary evidence. He has unearthed letters to the Times of London from the two sides that mirror today’s debates. (more)

When I read the wonderful debate between Kerry Howley, Todd Seavey and Daniel McCarthey about whether or not libertarians have an obligation to stake out opposition to social and cultural oppression, rather than only to governmental oppression, I was fascinated. Hooked. All three were articulate and I commend to you the link, again. (more)