Socialism

All Socialisms Are Antisocial

by Richard M. Ebeling May 16, 2019

Those who have seen the 1982 Steven Spielberg movie Poltergeist may remember the scene when the little girl touches the snowy screen of her family’s television and says, “They’re here,” meaning the evil ghostly forces bringing death and destruction. Well, they are here: socialism, nationalism, protectionism, and political paternalism. The ghosts of collectivisms past have returned, and their harmful ...

Pull That Veil Away!

by Leonard Read April 24, 2019

Combatting statism is not, as many assume, a project in propaganda; it is, instead, a probing operation. The problem is not one of merely getting others to grasp the little we already know; it is far more a matter of discovering that which we ourselves do not yet understand. A major area of exploration, of course, is to find new ...

The Dangers of the New Democratic Socialism

by Richard M. Ebeling April 3, 2019

In the ancient world, there was often a philosophy of life that the events surrounding man and the world he lived in went in circles and cycles. It certainly seems that way with the recent revival of the case for democratic socialism. After seeming to have been relegated to the dustbin of history following the collapse of Soviet-style socialism ...

Political Contests Are Between Competing Socialisms

by Richard M. Ebeling March 15, 2019

Another election cycle has begun, even though it is less than a half a year since the November 2018 congressional elections. Donald Trump seems unlikely to face a serious challenger for his re-nomination as the Republican candidate for president (unless explosive revelations place his public standing in serious doubt in the coming months). But the Democratic field already has ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Horrors of the Original New Deal

by Future of Freedom Foundation February 20, 2019

With the New Green Deal a hot topic, we thought it would be time again to take stock again of the the original New Deal meant for this country. FFF president Jacob Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss. Go to the podcast.

The Nightmare Fairyland of the Green New Dealers

by Richard M. Ebeling February 19, 2019

When a small child runs around waving their arms saying, “I’m a bird, I’m a bird,” we often will say what a creative imagination they have. If an adult runs around doing the same, we usually say that that person needs help because they are clearly out of touch with reality. Anyone who takes the time to read the ...

The Green New Deal Is a Bad Deal

by Christine Smith February 18, 2019

As Democrats proclaim their Green New Deal as the solution to just about everything ailing the country and the world, one point bears emphasis: the irony of using "New Deal" in its title, as if Americans are supposed to get excited about the prospect of another federal government "deal" forced upon us. Those with economic wisdom do not view ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Horrors of Socialism

by Future of Freedom Foundation February 13, 2019

With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushing a New Green Deal, the time might be ripe to examine the track history of socialist societies. Jacob G. Hornberger and Richard Ebeling discuss. Go to the podcast.

The Downsides and Dangers of Mission Making

by Richard M. Ebeling January 30, 2019

We are all familiar with the phrase, “He is on a mission.” When said, the connotation may be positive or negative, but either way it is presumed that the person in question is pursuing a greater purpose from a higher source or authority than in normal, everyday life. There are some who are now calling for us to be ...

The Libertarian Angle: The Socialism of AOC

by Future of Freedom Foundation January 24, 2019

With the ascent of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, socialism is experiencing a resurgence in the United States. What does this mean for libertarianism and what does it mean for a free society? FFF president Jacob G. Hornberger and Professor Richard M. Ebeling discuss. Go to the podcast.

The Green New Dealers and the New Socialism

by Richard M. Ebeling January 23, 2019

The philosopher George Santayana is credited with the phrase “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Never was that truer than today in the face of the reborn belief in some notion of a “democratic” socialism and its companying idea of government-directed planning and redistribution. It’s as if the entire experience of the 20th century ...

We Have a Farm Bill

by Laurence M. Vance January 11, 2019

We have a farm bill — finally. The previous farm bill (The Agricultural Act of 2014) expired on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. Although this left several agricultural, environmental, conservation, and nutrition programs in limbo, they were kept alive through continuing appropriations bills. Every five years, Congress passes a farm bill that sets national agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry policy and appropriates ...