Government 1B: Lesson 65 The standard claim about Sweden is that it shows society can prosper without a free market and with extensive government intervention. But the fact of the matter is, economists and politicians who use this claim have not studied the history of Sweden and know next to nothing about its culture, people, … Continue reading Sweden as an Example of the Free Market and the Protestant Work Ethic
Describe the models of society laid out by Althusius and Hobbes. We are living in the shadow of a once great empire that built its foundation upon the words, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit … Continue reading Althusius vs Hobbes | Protecting the Rights “endowed by our Creator”
Government 1B: Lesson 50 What is the origin of money? For most, money is represented by the crisp new paper bills that are kept in wallets, the tap of a debit card, or the transfer of an email. For a few, money is remembered as precious metal coins that bore the stamp of the king, … Continue reading The Creation of Money and a Fiat Currency
Government 1B: Lesson 45 The "benefit principle" has been used to justify progressive income taxation. What is the benefit principle? Are there any problems with it? The benefit principle attempts to create taxation similar to market pricing, where individuals should be taxed in accordance with the benefits they receive from the government. While sounding nice … Continue reading Washington Monument Syndrome | Government manipulation tactics
Government 1B: Lesson 40 Save the Trees or Save the Oceans The market and the environment have been hot topics for decades, and it is once again affecting our daily lives though not in a way you might have expected. Paper bags or plastic bags? Save the trees or save the ocean? This is the … Continue reading Save the Trees or Save the Oceans | The Effects of Government Intervention
Government 1B: Lesson 35 What are some of the factors that have contributed to rising health-care costs in the United States? It is no secret that WWI & WWII changed the lives of millions and generations to follow. Not only were countless lives lost, but every sphere of life was dramatically affected and permanently changed. … Continue reading The Effects of WWII and the Invention of Healthcare
Government 1B: Lesson 20 Here's why an elderly lady can stand out on her lawn and shout at people "You are not allowed to look at my flowers!" and not be labelled as the town's crazy old lady. Public goods have been used as a government tactic for decades, and we certainly have many examples … Continue reading My Flower Garden is not a Public Good
Government 1B: Lesson 15 Does the state have the right to redistribute wealth from some people to others? Why or why not? The quickest way to answer this question is by saying no, absolutely not. But I assume you will want a little more detail and reasoning behind this answer, so I will elaborate. The … Continue reading Moral Manipulation and Magna Carta
In this essay I discuss the arguments of government, consent, and slavery put forth by the three philosophers below. John Lock (1632 to 1704): an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". Lysander Spooner (1808 to 1876): an American individualist anarchist, also an abolitionist, entrepreneur, … Continue reading Voting is not Consent and we are still Slaves
Government 1B: Lesson 5 In the first week of the Rob Paul Curriculum Government 1B, the issue of Natural Rights Theories was discussed. The phrase, natural rights, has been thrown around the political arena for years and most people, including myself, do not have a good understanding of what that means or where it comes from. … Continue reading Locke & Rothbard on Self-Ownership & Private Property
louisa neudorf 