The Humble Libertarian original

This is an extremely well done video that showcases vintage Ronald Reagan applied to our current circumstances. Whatever you may think of his administration's deficits, "The Great Communicator's" words themselves are flawlessly delivered in this video and remind me of the ideas of F. A. Hayek in his Road to Serfdom . Every word of it is so true and so on point. Washington's planning is doomed to fail and a detriment to our liberty. Hat Tip: Memorandum Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Unable to find a job after this last election cycle (I work in politics, blah, I know), I recently took a factory job in my hometown, while I seek other employment. The situation is not ideal, but it does have one benefit. Working in a factory gives me the ability to better gauge the thoughts of average Americans regarding the politics of our day. I so often find myself surrounded by political junkies and policy wonks who know the ends and outs of ever political story, candidate, and issue, that is is a welcomed relief to spend time with folks who come to the political table from a very different angle. Within my first couple of weeks on the job, I was pleased to observe that the Ron Paul Revolution, of which I am a part, has made huge in-roads into the minds of blue-collar Americans. While on my lunch break, I couldn't help but overhear a number of ladies who were discussing our national debt, budgetary woes, and the general economic malaise of our day. To my delighted surpris...

With his second CPAC presidential straw poll victory in the past 2 years and massive grassroots support at the nation's biggest gathering of conservatives and libertarians, Congressman Ron Paul was in rare form over the weekend. Listen to his CPAC speech below, and heed his call to "defend liberty!" Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

The events in Egypt of late have captured the attention of the world, as many thousands of Egyptians take to the streets both in opposition to and in favor of the current regime. We watch from a distance hoping that events do not spiral further into violence, which will destroy lives and threaten the livelihoods of average Egyptians caught up in the political turmoil. I hope that Egyptians are able to work toward a more free and just society. Unfortunately, much of the blame for the unrest in Egypt and the resulting instability in the region rests with US foreign policy over the past several decades. The US government has sent more than $60 billion to the Egyptian regime since the Camp David Accords in 1978 to purchase stability, including more security for the state of Israel. We see now the folly of our interventionist foreign policy: not only has that stability fallen to pieces with the current unrest, but the years of propping up the corrupt regime in Egypt has led th...

In the following video update Congressman Ron Paul weighs in on the situation in Egypt. What should be our response? Are we wise to pursue our current policy in Egypt and elsewhere? View more Ron Paul updates at Campaign for Liberty Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Unemployment continues to plague our economy. In spite of constant claims that we have just turned the corner into recovery, the jobs reports remain grim with no real signs of improvement. While Keynesian economists and big government apologists scratch their heads about persistent unemployment in spite of unprecedented government “investment” in the economy, free market economists understand the problem perfectly well. In short, they understand that we are looking to the Federal Reserve to solve an unemployment crisis that the Fed itself largely created. For example, the Fed is supposed to maintain full employment as half of its “dual mandate”. But the Fed simply has the wrong tools to do this. In fact, its credit expansion and manipulation of interest rates cause harm when they are applied to “help” the economy. As we saw with the housing boom and bust, Fed-created inflation cannot be sustained without harmful consequences. The Fed’s artificial boom led to the unemployment we’...

In the following video Texas Congressman Ron Paul offers his opinion on raising the national debt ceiling, congressional accountability and the FED. Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Last week the 112th Congress was sworn in. I am pleased that I will be chairing the Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee, which has oversight of the Federal Reserve. Obviously, this position will facilitate my efforts to ensure the Fed provides the American people with more information about what they have been doing with and to our money. Not surprisingly, since my chairmanship was announced, apologists for the Fed have been recycling the old canard about how increased transparency threatens the Fed’s so-called political independence. By independence, they are referring to the Fed’s ability to greatly impact the economy with virtually no meaningful oversight... Read the rest of Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk. Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Below is a great interview of the father/son duo from Wednesday's swearing in. In the video the two Pauls discuss their positions regarding the debt and spending choices the new Congress faces. Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Where does Ron Paul stand on spending cuts? Find more from Ron Paul at Campaign for Liberty Daryl Luna , Regular Columnist, T H L Articles | Author's Page

It is rare that I would advocate anyone following the example of The San Francisco Chronicle , but their editorial board's refusal to endorse in California's senate race commands our consideration. Claiming that "Californians are left with a deeply unsatisfying choice for the U.S. Senate this year," The Chronicle on Sunday refused to throw their support behind Barbara Boxer or Carly Fiorina, claiming that Boxer lacks the effectiveness in advocating the liberal causes the editors advocate and Fiorina stands in the way of those very causes. While the paper reasons from flawed premises which differ greatly from my own, they are right to notice that it is unwise to throw support behind candidates that do not share or cannot effectively implement one's values. Too often we are told to choose the lesser of two evils and support one of the major party candidates even if neither represent the values we desire in a candidate, but this urging is misguided and d...

By Daryl Luna, Editor at: *In Defense of the Constitution* Can you be opposed to our current wars as well as the influence of the military-industrial complex and still be pro-troops and strong on national defense? Of course, you can! But you wouldn't know it, listening to many of the talking heads who claim to carry the mantel of conservatism but are really just neocons or neocon-influenced. Opposition to preventable, unconstitutional war is nothing new to libertarians and conservatives who made up the Old Right . In the past, adherence to a strict non-interventionist foreign policy was a distinguishing mark of the Old Right, and any self-respecting libertarian/conservative was quick to be weary of war and what Murray Rothbard labeled "the warfare state." Moreover, war was only to be fought according to a strict set of principles. Just War Theory conditions, constitutional parameters, and true defensive needs had to be met in order for those past champions of h...

It is no secret that printed news sources have been struggling for years and are on their way out as cable and online news now take over the market. A new report from Rasmussen sheds a little light on the public's feelings regarding this reality and also points to the ridiculous measures being considered by our government. Rasmussen notes: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering several ways to help the struggling newspaper industry, but Americans strongly reject several proposed taxes to keep privately-owned newspapers going . A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 84% oppose a three percent (3%) tax on monthly cell phone bills to help newspapers and traditional journalism. Similarly, 76% oppose a proposed five percent tax on the purchase of consumer electronic items such as computers, iPads and Kindles to help support newspapers and traditional journalism. Seventy-four percent (74%) oppose the proposal to tax web sites like the Drudge Repor...

Three important lessons for conservatives, libertarians, and Republicans. Dobson's switch from Grayson to Paul is a defining moment and can teach us all a thing or two... Photo by Gage Skidmore Daryl Luna | Articles | Author's Page Regular Columnist Earlier this week T H L reported that Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson has officially taken his support away from Trey Grayson and endorsed Rand Paul in the Kentucky Senate race. The implications of this act are vast and reveal a great deal about Dobson, Paul, and the GOP establishment. After listening to Dr. Dobson's change-of-heart explanation it is evident that he was lied to by Republican Party leadership. In a shameless act of political desperation, leadership within the GOP flat out lied to secure the Dobson endorsement for Grayson. In short, Dobson was falsely told that Rand Paul is, among other things, not pro-life. This led to an understandable opposition to Rand's campaign by the famed social-con...

By Daryl Luna, Editor at: *In Defense of the Constitution* An alarming movement is afoot in New York. Already New Yorkers are told what they can eat and how they can defend themselves (among other things). Now they may lose total control of their bodies. Legislation is being proposed that will create mandatory "organ donor" status for all residents of the Empire State. On the surface, this may not seem like a big deal. One may ask , "What's wrong with everyone being an organ donor?" But the issue is more than one of organ donor status; the mandatory nature of the legislation is what makes this bill so appalling. The decision to donate part of one's body is a personal one in which the government has no legitimate role. Aside from violating the decisions regarding one's own body, this law could easily violate religious liberty. A number of religions and religious sects have adherents who refuse to separate organs from the body based on religious...

By Daryl Luna, Editor at: *In Defense of the Constitution* Libertarians are those weird little guys who lurk in their parents’ basement—spouting out conspiracy theories, smoking funny things, and reading books many have never even heard of, right? Well...some libertarians are those odd little guys and gals. But even more libertarians are average men and women, grandpas and grandmas, artists, business professionals, blue-collar workers, teachers, students, and people from all walks of life. Libertarians are everywhere you look. Some openly identify as such; others need to be alerted to the fact. I am convinced that the average person on the street is open to libertarian principles. And many of them are libertarian to one degree or another. Perhaps it would take some explanation and flushing out of the issues for folks to identify as libertarian, but liberty is a popular idea. Most people want liberty and the government out of their business, however many do not realize that this...

Get your t-shirt here . By Daryl Luna, Editor at: *In Defense of the Constitution* So often when arguing against statist programs and privacy violations I hear many of the same contentions: "It doesn't bother me, personally." "I don't mind it, so why should I care?" "I am too busy to do it myself, so I'm glad to let the government handle it for me." "I have nothing to hide." "As long as someone's not breaking the law, they have nothing to fear." The list goes on and on, but the gist of each is a lack of concern for liberty violations based on personal opinion. However, one's personal feelings should never guide policy and never trump the protection of liberty. Yes, personal feelings are at play in any matter. They inform our decision making processes and are important in a number of ways. But in the ultimate scheme of things, principle--not preference--should be the deciding factor in all we do. In order to flush out...

By Daryl Luna, Editor at: In Defense of the Constitution Whether at Tea Party events or in general political discourse, I often hear a great desire for term limits voiced by people frustrated with our out-of-control government. They hope that the implementation of congressional term limits would go a long way toward solving our political ills. I, however, am not convinced. In fact, I believe that we already have a system of term limits in place; we just don't use it. It's called elections. Every politician has his day in court each election cycle. Sadly, we often neglect carrying out the sentence most politicians deserve- a trip back home. Instead, time after time, we reward those who trample our liberties and ally themselves with powerful special interests by sending them back into office to continue their misdeeds. Indeed, the electorate is very much a part of the problem. Failing to punish unconstitutional action, we have encouraged a system of legal looting and constitution...

By Daryl Luna, Editor at: In Defense of the Constitution The “Great Recession” has hit almost every sector of the economy. Times are tough, people are out of work, and paying the bills is no easy task for most. Therefore, many are falling increasingly behind on their mortgages, paying for homes that are worth substantially less than when they were first purchased. In light of this, Washington Post columnist Brett Arends advises readers behind on their mortgages to stop making payments altogether in his recent article . Mr. Arends contends that you should neglect your payments, offering that “No, you shouldn't feel bad about it, and you shouldn't feel guilty. The lenders would do the same to you—in a heartbeat.” Likewise, he claims that you should not worry about meeting your obligations because “the economy is fundamentally amoral.” Needless-to-say, I am fundamentally opposed to Mr. Arends’ opinion. I understand the hardship, and I do not want people to suffer in ...

By Daryl Luna, Editor of: In Defense of the Constitution Libertarians are often viewed as pie in the sky idealists, who sit around all day promoting ideas that could never take hold. There is some validity to this if one merely takes the musings of libertarians at face value, but that is not how they should be taken. Just because we think that large parts of the government should be abolished or privatized, just because we want to do away with bloated entitlements, and just because our positions are principled and consistent, that doesn't mean that we are not realistic about how to achieve our goals. Most libertarians are both rational and realistic, realizing that incremental progress must be made toward our views of a free society, and that this progress will not come overnight. Here is an example of reasonableness in the thought of a libertarian: I, personally, would love to do away with Medicare, but it's not my desire to purge the masses from Medicare rolls overnight. I be...