Zen and the Art of /.*/

The so-called “freedom of religion,” which is supposedly protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (emphasis mine)

is also, quite clearly the freedom FROM religion, if that is what the individual seeks.

A recent Time article, Can Atheists Be Parents? explains that:

Hans Hoppe: The Economics of World Government

Lew Rockwell recently posted a great (mis-titled) talk given by the brilliant Austrian Economist and Anarcho-Capitalist Social Theorist Hans Hoppe. With great clarity and wit, Hoppe explains many crucial aspects of the Rothbardian libertarian society.

The Stateless Society, by Stefan Molyneux (read on YouTube)

Text of the article from LewRockwell.com

Just came across this recently. I’m not terribly familiar with this guy and by accounts online, he appears to be pretty controversial, but this is a pretty good article. Granted, it is little more than a re-presentation of Rothbard’s conception of a libertarian society, but it is an interesting, concise, and compelling presentation. Worth the watch.

The New American Century

Definitely another red-pill movie. Not for the credulous, the faint of heart, or those who can’t stomach the view from inside the rabbit hole.

Yesterday, I referenced an article over at Strike the Root, that hilariously, though aptly, characterized Keynesian economics as Mathmetical Masturbation.

In a stroke of luck that can only be attributed to divine intervention (perhaps the mysterious workings of the late great Almighty Lord Keynes himself), “Lilburne” today published an article at Mises.org entitled The Second Coming of Keynes [sic].

In classic sycophantic adoration of Keynes’ paraphilia, Krugman recently lamented the fact that Obama’s stimulus projects were under budget, asserting that their only real purpose was to blow the money.

Great article over at Strike the Root about Austrian economics and those damned Keynesians: Hail the Austrians, by Mark Davis

He tells a great little story about being in a calculus class with a bunch of natural sciences students and a bunch of business school students. The business school students were complaining that the economics problems were never assigned.

Those familiar with Libertarian thought are surely also familiar with the notion that secession–from any form of association–is a fundamental right that applies to any subset of a society all the way down to the individual.

Many see state secession from the union as the ultimate solution to the problems of the United States government. But, as soon as one starts to consider this course of action, one shudders to think of the wrath that would likely be rained down upon the poor souls brave enough to try it.

The Fed Under Fire

When Ron Paul’s bill to audit the Federal Reserve (HR 1207) began to accumulate more and more co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle, I was somewhat skeptical, thinking that most co-sponsors were merely signing on to look supportive of Washington’s nebulous notions of “accountability” and “transparency.”

To National Socialism (also known as Nazism), of course. The future looks bleak. We are far down the path to serfdom. This way lies misery.

“Headed to National Socialism,” by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

From the article: “…the principles of intervention are universal. The Nazi regime represented not a unique evil in history but rather a now-conventional combination of two dangerous ideological trends: nationalism and socialism. We know both all too well.”

In a contemplative mood on this Independence Day, I took a short break from my work to ruminate on the meaning of the day. I find myself sorely conflicted about the continued observance of this holiday.