In 1989, nations in Eastern Europe rebelled against the communist dictatorships that controlled their lives. In Self Defense, an organization that promoted individual rights, sent my article, “New Democracies Need Ideas More Than Money,” in response to calls for American financial aid to the budding democracies. Click here to read the article.
This article was published in the February 1988 issue of The Freeman. $ $ $ Proponents of government regulation often overlook the many ways in which the free market itself polices producers, without the need for government involvement. Let us make a quick survey of these ways, in the hope that it will help us…
The following article was published in the Spring 2009 issue of The Objective Standard. $ $ $ Houston, Texas, my hometown, is one of only two American cities with a population greater than one hundred thousand that has not imposed zoning laws on its citizens. (The other city is Pasadena, Texas, a suburb of Houston.)…
This article was published in the September 1990 issue of The Freeman. In recent years, growing health awareness has led to a rising demand for fish and other seafood. Despite this, American fishermen are finding it difficult to earn a living. As is often the case, the industry has become increasingly politicized. The free market…
The following article was published in the Spring 2010 issue of The Objective Standard. $ $ $ For centuries, few have questioned the idea that waterways—streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans—are or should be “public property.” The doctrine of “public trust,” with roots in both Roman and English common law, holds that these resources should not…
Nearly everyone lusts for power. In and of itself, the lust for power is morally neutral. The type of power that one seeks determines whether it is good or bad, moral or evil. When we think of examples of power lusters, dictators, gang leaders, and bullies often come to mind. Such individuals seek power over…
This article was published in the June 1987 issue of The Freeman. $ $ $ During the 1970s Houston’s population grew by an average of 36,000 per year. This pace accelerated during the early 1980s as oil prices skyrocketed and Houston’s economy boomed. Jobs and opportunities were plentiful, which combined with the subtropical climate to…