The Humble Libertarian original

By: Wes Messamore One of America’s most beloved entertainers, Andy Griffith, died earlier this week on Tuesday morning at the age of 86. Funny, moving, charming, a great singer , and with a persona as American as apple pie, his leading role as Sheriff Andy Taylor in the classic 1960s “Andy Griffith Show” made him an American pop icon. As a television program about a small town heriff, The Andy Griffith Show afforded a ton of opportunities for commentary and lessons about civics. Check out this very appropriately named YouTube video, entitled by its uploader, “Andy Griffith vs. The Patriot Act,” in which Sheriff Andy’s son, Opie, secretly records a suspect saying incriminating things and excitedly brings the audio to his “Pa,” the sheriff. Over his son’s objections, Andy refuses to listen, erases the tape, and gives his son a lecture on due process and the right of privacy: Read the rest of my commentary on this at The Silver Underground . Wes Messamore , Editor in...

By: Wes Messamore The difference between independent films and Hollywood films is essentially the same as the difference between the products created by any big, publicly-traded corporation and any upstart, risk-taking, entrepreneurial small business. A publicly-traded corporation (like the ones Hollywood film studios are all owned by) ultimately exists for one purpose, and that is to maximize profits for shareholders– not only that, but all of the rumor and innuendo that drives stock prices creates incentives for fast profits now. And while generating those fast profits, big corporations are also averse to major risks that will lose their shareholders’ investment (unless of course, you’re JPMorgan Chase & Co., in which case the taxpayer will always bail you out). If profit’s your primary motive, you’re going to produce a different kind of product than a small upstart business. The small business needs to make a profit as well in order to be viable and sustainable, but the prof...

By: Wes Messamore Despite the widespread perception of Hollywood as dominated by progressive “liberals,” there are many recurring themes in Hollywood movies that are extremely anti-government and libertarian. There is certainly some truth to the characterization of Hollywood as “left wing,” insofar as many big name actors tend to be vocally active in support of the Democratic Party, its candidates, and its political platform, yet without fail, the movie capitol of the world continues to crank out movies with libertarian themes and messages, no doubt because these resonate with American movie audiences, and whatever their government may be doing, the voting habits of most Americans (who are perennially kicking out the party in power and rewarding the libertarian rhetoric of the party out of power with their votes) suggests that they have vaguely libertarian instincts and perspectives. Let’s examine some of these libertarian themes in Hollywood movies: Read the rest of my article a...