United Liberty
Liberalism
A libertarian ethnography
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 3:14pm | posted by Michael Orion Powell
Recently I was prompted by an anthropology student at the University of Washington to answer several questions about libertarianism. The exchange was great, and provided a means to clarify several things that have been otherwise muddled.
Basic Questions:
1. How do you define a libertarian?
To me a libertarian is someone who believes in a limited government, which provides basic needs that most people believe to be necessary but does not try to stuff ideology down the citizens’ throats, the freedom of the individual to become whatever it is they want to be and a free market that allows great deals of mobility and ingenuity.
2. What influenced you to become and/or remain libertarian?
I love this country (for the ideals it was founded on, not because of nationalism, regionalism or nativism), and when I entered college, it became very clear that other students and professors didn’t. A bit of a blanket statement, I know, but it’s relatively true. I found myself defending slanderous left-wing statements about this country’s history, and in that process I realized I was libertarian. Liberty is the foundation of American society and government, and even if they don’t call themselves such, I think most Americans who love their country and find it exceptional are libertarians to a certain extent.
Beyond Defeat: Conservative Renewal (hopefully)
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 6:47am | posted by Austin Wilkes
With only one month until the election and an Obama win looking more solid with every passing day, it is hopefully becoming clear to Republicans that their future success does not lie on the road they are currently taking. The road of big government “conservatism” has worn thin and Americans have had enough.
Gallup: Democrats hold favorable view of socialism
Sat, 02/06/2010 - 10:11am | posted by Jason Pye
According to Gallup survey, 36 percent of Americans have a favorable view of socialism. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 53 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of so-called “liberals” have a positive view of this economic system that emphasizes collectivism over the individual.
The survey also shows:
- 95% of Americans have a positive view of small business
- 86% have a positive view of free enterprise
- 84% hold a positive view of entrepreneurs
- 61% have a positive view of capitalism, 33% hold an unfavorable view
- 49% hold a negative view of big business
- 51% have a unfavorable view of the federal government, 46% have a favorable view
If voters would actually identify what Democrats were doing as socialism, they wouldn’t have control of Congress at the end of the year. I wonder if we’ll start hearing “socialism” and “socialist” more often during campaign season.
Hide and Go Seek Communism
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 11:13am | posted by Alina Stefanescu Coryell
Communism once had a certain stoicism and suicidal bent than made its diehards appear sexy to over-stimulated American idealists. But times are a changing, liberalism lost its youth, and sardonic kisses between Communist leaders no longer decorate the Berlin wall.
Mark Fisher covers the “On The Idea of Communism” conference at The Birkbeck Institute, where you can watch free videos shots of Zizek, Terry Eagleton, Alain Badoiu, Judith Balso, Alessandro Russo, Jacques Rancieres, and Antonion Negri chase communism to its most current revelation.
Sen. Susan Collins: A Democrat in Conservative Clothing
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 7:25am | posted by David Carlson
Susan Collins, a “Republican” Senator from Maine, is one of only a handful GOP Senators who might approve the massive spending bill the Democrats and Obama Administration has been pushing the past couple weeks. My major question: Is she a Republican? After looking at her stances on issues, she seems to be in favor of big government.
Barney Frank: Plenty of rich people that we can tax
Tue, 10/21/2008 - 11:25pm | posted by Austin Wilkes
Love him or hate him Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee speaks his mind with much greater candor than most politicians on Capitol Hill. But the last thing the economy needs is “a healthy dose of Keynesianism” as he stated. Does he not remember when he was in his thirties how John Maynard Keynes’ theories were proven to result in stagflation?
