The New Libertarianism

The Ludwig von Mises Institute says (reviewer David Gordon): ..".this remarkable book began as an academic thesis written in 1972, and submitted the next year for a graduate degree...The book is much more than an academic thesis, though; it is a distinguished addition to libertarian thought." The late 1960s and early 1970s marked the first wave of the libertarian movement. Ayn Rand's Objectivism had shaken mainstream philosophy with its core ideas. But Rand was a staunch advocate of limited government, a stance which distanced her from many of her own admirers and students, who saw the State not as the protector but the enemy of human society. At the same time, the political and economic thoughts of Dr. Murray Rothbard clarified the route libertarianism must take. Rand and Rothbard, two forces seemingly at odds, personally and ideologically. J. Michael Oliver, then editor of the nationally circulated objectivist-libertarian journal, "The New Banner," argued that it was a false division. Written in 1972 as an academic work but not published until now. "The New Libertarianism: Anarcho-Capitalism" inexorably links objectivist principles with anarcho-capitalism, and argues that libertarianism, both then and now, must be founded upon the bedrock of Rand's philosophy if it is to remain vital.

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.

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.

First published in October, 1980, the "Manifesto" is one of the most concise treatises on Counter-Economics and Agorism available to the public. Also included in this edition are critiques of the work by Murray N. Rothbard, Ph.D., Robert LeFevre, and Erwin S. Strauss.

Property -- Morality and the state -- Libertarianism : a classic argument revisited -- Property as a moral phenomenon -- Property as a constraint on the state -- Property and the creation of value -- Aid -- Markets -- Morality and markets -- Luck and opportunity -- Wealth, disability and happiness -- The epistemology of popularity and incentives -- History -- Justice and the wealth of nations I -- Justice and the wealth of nations II -- Reparations, history and Nietzsche -- Theory and practice -- Dilemmas of political correctness -- Utopia and the real world

A classic that for over two decades has been hailed as the best general work on libertarianism available. Rothbard begins with a quick overview of its historical roots, and then goes on to define libertarianism as resting "upon one single axiom: that no man or group of men shall aggress upon the person or property of anyone else." He writes a withering critique of the chief violator of liberty: the State. Rothbard then provides penetrating libertarian solutions for many of today's most pressing problems, including poverty, war, threats to civil liberties, the education crisis, and more.

This engagingly written introduction examines modern libertarianism and its answers to today's most pressing issues—the economy, war, health care, and more. As government grows by leaps and bounds, libertarianism is receiving more attention than ever. Written from a contemporary perspective by an attorney and law professor who is also an award-winning journalist, Libertarianism Today provides an engaging introduction to the movement's ideas and people, serving as a jumping-off point for readers who want to know more. Beginning with the general libertarian principle that one person cannot initiate force against another, even if that person is part of the government, the book examines the implications of this principle for a wide range of contemporary issues: war, health care, personal liberties, economic policy, monetary policy, and intellectual property rights. It introduces the people behind the libertarian movement and explores the strategies—including education, activism, and litigation—libertarians are pursuing to advance their ideas. By laying out the current state of the movement, author J. H. Huebert shows how, even as it gets more mainstream-media exposure than ever, today's libertarian movement has only become more radically opposed to the Washington DC status quo.