Libertarian History

On Wall Street, in the culture of high tech, in American government: Libertarianism—the simple but radical idea that the only purpose of government is to protect its citizens and their property against direct violence and threat— has become an extremely influential strain of thought. But while many books talk about libertarian ideas, none until now has explored the history of this uniquely American movement—where and who it came from, how it evolved, and what impact it has had on our country. In this revelatory book, based on original research and interviews with more than 100 key sources, Brian Doherty traces the evolution of the movement through the unconventional life stories of its most influential leaders— Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, and Milton Friedman—and through the personal battles, character flaws, love affairs, and historical events that altered its course. And by doing so, he provides a fascinating new perspective on American history—from the New Deal through the culture wars of the 1960s to today's most divisive political issues. Neither an exposé nor a political polemic, this entertaining historical narrative will enlighten anyone interested in American politics.

Rev. ed. of: Libertarian: A primer. New York: Free Press, 1997.

A tiny American town's plans for radical self-government overlooked one hairy detail: no one told the bears. Once upon a time, a group of libertarians got together and hatched the Free Town Project, a plan to take over an American town and completely eliminate its government. In 2004, they set their sights on Grafton, NH, a barely populated settlement with one paved road. When they descended on Grafton, public funding for pretty much everything shrank: the fire department, the library, the schoolhouse. State and federal laws became meek suggestions, scarcely heard in the town's thick wilderness. The anything-goes atmosphere soon caught the attention of Grafton's neighbors: the bears. Freedom-loving citizens ignored hunting laws and regulations on food disposal. They built a tent city in an effort to get off the grid. The bears smelled food and opportunity. A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear is the sometimes funny, sometimes terrifying tale of what happens when a government disappears into the woods. Complete with gunplay, adventure, and backstabbing politicians, this is the ultimate story of a quintessential American experiment -- to live free or die, perhaps from a bear.

Readers looking for a guide to classical liberal thought will benefit from this extensive and well-considered essay, compiled by a leading authority in the field. For more than 25 years, Tom Palmer has lived his life according to a very simple ideal: Liberty is for everyone. Academics debate the finer points of political theory, but liberty belongs to us all, and everyone can benefit from it. Realizing Freedom is a testament to that ideal. A tireless educator, Palmer has traveled the world to bring the message of freedom to people on every continent. At home, he’s been an incisive commentator on current affairs as well as an original thinker in political philosophy. The essays in this volume are drawn from two and a half decades of work, and they reflect the many levels on which Palmer has promoted individual liberty.

A revised, updated, and retitled edition of David Boaz’s classic book Libertarianism: A Primer, which was praised as uniting “history, philosophy, economics and law—spiced with just the right anecdotes—to bring alive a vital tradition of American political thought that deserves to be honored today” (Richard A. Epstein, University of Chicago). Libertarianism—the philosophy of personal and economic freedom—has deep roots in Western civilization and in American history, and it’s growing stronger. Two long wars, chronic deficits, the financial crisis, the costly drug war, the campaigns of Ron Paul and Rand Paul, the growth of executive power under Presidents Bush and Obama, and the revelations about NSA abuses have pushed millions more Americans in a libertarian direction. Libertarianism: A Primer, by David Boaz, the longtime executive vice president of the Cato Institute, continues to be the best available guide to the history, ideas, and growth of this increasingly important political movement—and now it has been updated throughout and with a new title: The Libertarian Mind. Boaz has updated the book with new information on the threat of government surveillance; the policies that led up to and stemmed from the 2008 financial crisis; corruption in Washington; and the unsustainable welfare state. The Libertarian Mind is the ultimate resource for the current, burgeoning libertarian movement.

A lively history of American libertarianism and its decay into dangerous fantasy. In 2010 in South Fulton, Tennessee, each household paid the local fire department a yearly fee of $75.00. That year, Gene Cranick's house accidentally caught fire. But the fire department refused to come because Cranick had forgotten to pay his yearly fee, leaving his home in ashes. Observers across the political spectrum agreed—some with horror and some with enthusiasm—that this revealed the true face of libertarianism. But libertarianism did not always require callous indifference to the misfortunes of others. Modern libertarianism began with Friedrich Hayek’s admirable corrective to the Depression-era vogue for central economic planning. It resisted oppressive state power. It showed how capitalism could improve life for everyone. Yet today, it's a toxic blend of anarchism, disdain for the weak, and rationalization for environmental catastrophe. Libertarians today accept new, radical arguments—which crumble under scrutiny—that justify dishonest business practices and Covid deniers who refuse to wear masks in the name of “freedom.” Andrew Koppelman’s book traces libertarianism's evolution from Hayek’s moderate pro-market ideas to the romantic fabulism of Murray Rothbard, Robert Nozick, and Ayn Rand, and Charles Koch’s promotion of climate change denial. Burning Down the House is the definitive history of an ideological movement that has reshaped American politics.

Libertarianism is both a philosophy and a political view. The key concepts defining Libertarianism are: Individual Rights as inherent to human beings, not granted by government; a Spontaneous Order through which people conduct their daily interactions and through which society is organized independent of central (government) direction; the Rule of Law which dictates that everyone is free to do as they please so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others; a Divided and Limited Government, checked by written constitution; Free Markets in which price and exchange is agreed upon mutually by individuals; Virtue of Production whereby the productive labour of the individual and any translation of that labour into earnings belongs, by right, to the individual who should not have to sacrifice those earnings to taxes; and Peace which has, throughout history, most commonly been disrupted by the interests of the ruling class or centralized government.

Supermodel (that's her on the cover) and Superwriter Lin Xun bares all in this book about history and the never-ending fight for liberty. She exposes anti-freedom schemes, including these shockers: (1) that the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" was the origin of the Nazi salute and Nazi behavior; (2) that the military salute was the origin of the Nazi salute (via the military salute's use in the original Pledge of Allegiance) and; (3) Swastikas represented crossed "S" letter shapes for "socialist" under Hitler (three of the many astounding discoveries by avant-garde Political Scientist Dr. Rex Curry. The government calls Dr. Curry "the man who knows too much"). Each book is personally handled, wrapped, and mailed by Lin Xun (in the nude). Or by the publisher, depending on who's available. In this book, Lin spanks history's bottom, leaving red hand prints. Like a true patriot fashionista, she uses the flag as her own personal butt floss. The flag never objected. With a message from the socialist Kim Jong-un, the book "Libertarian History" introduces readers to Anarchaeology, Misanthropology, and the Socialist Crusades, the Latest Socialist Dark Age, and the Modern Socialist Inquisitions, which resulted in the Wholecaust (of which the Holocaust was a part). Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and other socialists are exposed along with the influence of socialists in the United States upon those criminals. Author Lin Xun is part of the Pointer Institute for Media Studies, as well as the Dead Writer's Club ("DWC" -an author's group). Lin and the Pointer Institute provide remedial education to journalists about history, economics, government, and more. They untangle those twelve years of brainwashing that cripples news reporters. In their fight against media incompetency, the DWC joined with the Pointer Institute in 2016 to shut down the Tampa Tribune Newspaper. As part of the Dead Writers Club (DWC), Lin has collaborated with the authors Micky Barnetti and Matt Crypto. Another volume by the Dead Writers Club is "Drug Detection Dog Training -Libertarian Lawyers Fight Police State USA." It is also available where fine books are sold. Lin says: "Students in government schools (socialist schools) should not drink the Kool-Aid every morning." For those who have, Lin's book contains the antidote. In her star-spangled writing, Lin shows you how to save yourself from the cult of the omnipotent state! [dramatic musical flourish]