Lawrence W. Reed

Although Lawrence W. Reed has long been one of my most-admired heroes, I was almost turned off by the title.
Good or bad or even rotten, every individual is entitled to liberty.
But I read this little book in its entirety, sitting outside under blue skies and enjoying a nice breeze.
The kind of day, in fact, even bad, even rotten people would enjoy. As long as they had the liberty to do so.
When I first saw the title, I immediately thought of this quote from John Adams: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Though I certainly will not generalize about the people of these United States, it is clear and obvious that the people of the governments, especially the central government, have not been either moral or religious. Look at how corrupt and degenerate they are, seemingly getting worse each generation.
But what about the people, even if we don't want to generalize?
First, one of Adams's errors is to equate "moral" and "religious." Many atheists and agnostics and people of other religions can be moral, and frequently more so than the most ardent and vocal of the unofficial U.S. religion.
(Despite all the official restrictions, prohibitions, and proscriptions, several of the states of the young Union actually gave tax moneys to particular churches!)
But Lawrence Reed does not say, in this excellent short read, that people must be religious to be worthy of liberty. What he says, much more intelligently and wisely than did John Adams, is that a people, and the individuals within a society, must have and must show character.
He cites an example of a Georgia high school that returned -- without any officials asking! -- its championship because the school, early in the season, accidentally allowed in the game -- for 45 seconds! -- a player who was not academically qualified to play.
(Telling a friend about this incident, he reminded me of the time the iconic Florida coach Bobby Bowden was confronted by some NCAA officials who told him he had to suspend for three games a couple of players. Bowden replied, "Too late! I've already suspended them for five games.")
Shortly after the debacle of the Bill Clinton presidency, some school systems instituted a program called "Character Counts."
Such programs, especially those aimed at young people, coupled with this book, published by the excellent Jameson Books, could, if spread widely enough, create such an environment of that morality and character that even old-party politicians might be more inclined toward human rights and individual liberty.
"Are We Good Enough for Liberty?" is short and inexpensive. It would be a great contribution by some business or some civic club or some philanthropist, some individual or group wanting freedom and a better society, to buy in bulk to distribute to students and, heck, grown-ups too.
Also included is the wonderful, even iconic, "I, Pencil," which is a short story by Leonard Read that should be shared among all young people, AND their parents and grand-parents.… (lisätietoja)

Great little book on true liberty and the problem of bureaucracy and government!

I loved this! Resonated greatly with me! A collection of brief and to the point writings on the problems of being governed and why we need to learn how to govern ourselves and interact voluntarily. While pointing out some of the negatives we are surrounded by, the author goes into more positive and solution oriented areas and why we should be more responsible for ourselves and not have the state be the middle man between ourselves and our neighbors. "If you don't govern yourself, someone else will govern you, " Lawrence Reed.… (lisätietoja)

A pretty good compendium of articles on the myths conservative students are going to encounter in college from their leftist professors and peers. Stuff like "Jesus was a socialist," "free markets are bad for the poor," and "the rich don't pay their fair share." Each progressive myth is quickly recapped and then swiftly rebutted. Most essays are just four pages long, so the book can be quickly dipped into and out of. The conservative-libertarian and free market arguments here are standard and pretty good. This will give a conservative student ammunition to fight back with (when such things are allowed) and help buttress their arguments and beliefs. It's probably not ever going to convince any leftist to change their mind, it is mostly meant as instructions to the choir, but it may pick off a few moderates.… (lisätietoja)

Elég sokszor olvastam a nagy gazdasági világválságról, többnyire mindig ugyanazt a néhány mondatos leírást. Érdekes egy olyan elemzést olvasni ami más nézőpontot mutat be, és megkérdőjelezi az általánosan elfogadott nézeteket.

Az esszé elég jól végigveszi a válság előzményeit, a válság időszakát, talán a válság végének leírása volt egy kissé elnagyolt.

Az író nyilvánvalóan elfogult. Amennyire Roosevelt-párti az általánosan elfogadott nézet, annyira Roosevelt-ellenes a könyv. Ennek ellenére érdemes elolvasni a leírást, még ha a következtetésekkel nem is ért mindig egyet az olvasó, a könnyen ellenőrizhető tények önmagában is egy cáfolják az általánosan elterjedt jóságos és bölcs Roosevelt képet, sokkal inkább mutatnak egy diktatúrára hajlamos elnököt.… (lisätietoja)