Donald Trump’s Sixth Sense and the Case of Sweden

By Anarcho-Viking


Remember when Donald Trump, during his campaign style rally in Florida, made an obscure reference to Sweden, as if a recent incident had taken place the night before?

Many people, including myself, shook their heads, and tried to figure out what the President actually meant? Trump’s comment went viral to the point where the Swedish foreign minister, Margot Wallstrom went out and demanded an explanation. Before the twitter attack storm on the President had calmed down, I received a message from my brother informing me that riots were taking place in Rinkeby, a suburb south of Stockholm with over a 90% immigrant population, as we were chatting.

Suddenly, Trump’s eerie remarks from the day before, returned to haunt my mind., and I was wondering whether or not “The God Emperor” was capable of travelling through time. An arrest warrant carried out by The Stockholm Police Department, in Rinkeby, had caused severe civil unrest and violence on the streets. This bizarre coincidence flipped the attention from Donald Trump to the Swedish authorities, who now had to explain themselves. We all know that governments are experts at covering up stories, but how could one possibly explain away a dozen cars set on fire, stores looted, rocks thrown at police, and private property destroyed? By the way, this wasn’t the first time. Riots had been plaguing the Stockholm suburbs before as well.

Continue reading “Donald Trump’s Sixth Sense and the Case of Sweden”

Aspiring Dictator John McCain Asserts Trump is Becoming a Dictator

By Kirk D.

Yesterday on Meet the Press, Never Trumper, John McCain took another dig at President Trump asserting that Trump is trying to become a dictator because of his recent attacks on the press.

McCain also defended the need for an “adversarial press” and that without it Americans will lose many of their “individual liberties.” The most ironic part about this entire interview is the fact that in 2008 McCain himself admitted on video that he aspires to be a dictator. Continue reading “Aspiring Dictator John McCain Asserts Trump is Becoming a Dictator”

Lonely Libertarian in the Trump Era

By Ryan Jones

Almost a month into Donald Trump’s presidency, it has been interesting to say the least. Many have given reasons for someone like Trump to win one of, if not the, single most powerful position an individual can have on planet Earth. Some say it was a snap back reaction to the 8 years of a progressive president, or the current economic climate of a shrinking middle class and growing inequality. Others say it was RACISM, white people were fed up after 8 years of a black president and the growing political correctness culture that has emerged over the past few decades. Many blame the woeful Hillary Clinton, Wikileaks, or Russia! Everyone has their theories, and it’s probably a gumbo of all of those.

In the libertarian community, Trump’s campaign had an interesting effect. You can say he exposed some divisions in the community. Some long time libertarians who preached anti-statism, anti-authoritarianism, and individualism began supporting Trump, if not outright, at least tepidly. They said he is much more preferable to Hillary Clinton (obviously) and will be good enough on some things that libertarians promote, such as taxes, regulations, and he has some of the anti-interventionist sentiments we should get behind. They were willing to forgive or disregard things like his comments on women, his anti-free trade, and his promotion of big infrastructure spending. Some others who preached the same anti-statism took a much more confrontational role, attacking Trump as a racist, misogynist future Hitler.  They joined the same mind-numbing chorus as the leftists, who were disgusted and deranged at even the notion of a Trump presidency. Libertarians were equally divided on immigration, the great “Closed vs Open borders debate.” Some libertarians were pro-open borders, feeling free movement of peaceful people should not be forcefully dealt with by the state, but through property rights. While others pointed to the fact we do not live in an Anarcho-capitalist world, governments control borders, and the belief that it would not be in America’s or liberty lovers’ best interest to import thousands of people from places where the cultures are diametrically opposed to Western Values. You could call this a battle between Left and Right libertarians. Trump was brash in his position, he would build a wall on the US/Mexico border, kick out the illegal immigrants, and ban entry from Muslim countries.

This battle had its share of wounded. Jeffery Tucker, a long time anarcho-capitalist and scholar in the libertarian movement veered more left into political correctness. Stephan Molyneux, the popular, long time anarcho-capitalist writer and podcaster completely abandoned libertarianism, become a Trump Supporter. Walter Block, arguably the most radical libertarian scholar on the planet, beloved by everyone, promoted Libertarians for Trump. There were many like me who just didn’t know how to feel. We loved the anti-PC nature of Trump. We enjoyed to see him piss of the establishment Republicans and to see voters reject them. It seemed like great libertarians like Lew Rockwell and Tom Woods wanted to believe Trump would be good for liberty. But his talk of “wiping out ISIS”, banning Muslims, building walls, cracking down on cities with high crime, trade wars, had an authoritarian strong man feel that made some libertarians uncomfortable. Count me among them. Continue reading “Lonely Libertarian in the Trump Era”

The Formula For The Trade Balance Is Backwards

By Scott Albright

You probably remember these lines from President Donald Trump starting about 19 months ago when he announced his running for the oval office:

“I’m gonna build a waaaall, I’m gonna be tough on Chiy-na”

(in his own idiosyncratic annunciations LOL).

To think that these lines along with the famous (or infamous, depending on whether you love or hate The Donald) “Make America Great Again” campaign logo could heavily aid in catapulting an unprecedented outsider to the White House is dumbfounding, to say the least. President Trump certainly is no fan of free trade although he may say otherwise. But as many Americans that voted for him may believe we have an unsustainable problem with trade deficits, how consistently do they apply this logic to their own individual trading and consumption patterns? If you buy your groceries at Wal-Mart and don’t grow any of the produce you eat or raise and eat livestock, you run a 100% trade deficit with your consumption of food. If you buy your own clothing at a department store and don’t sew or knit any of it, the same is true in this category of your consumer goods as well.

When President Trump says that we are going to build and buy American concerning labor and parts, just imagine if he used this same logic and took it to it’s conclusion and said “You, as American (individuals and households), are going to produce everything you consume.” Do you think that he would have attained over 61 million votes had he campaigned on this? Now my point here is to show the logical fallacy of his protectionism, although he certainly isn’t demanding we attempt such an impoverishing feat as individuals and households. But it does show the direction that you are going in. Continue reading “The Formula For The Trade Balance Is Backwards”

Lonely Libertarian in the Trump Era

crowd3

 

Almost a month into Donald Trump’s presidency, it has been interesting to say the least. Many have given reasons for someone like Trump to win one of, if not the, single most powerful position an individual can have on planet Earth. Some say it was a snap back reaction to the 8 years of a progressive president, or the current economic climate of a shrinking middle class and growing inequality. Others say it was RACISM, white people were fed up after 8 years of a black president and the growing political correctness culture that has emerged over the past few decades. Many blame the woeful Hillary Clinton, Wikileaks, or Russia! Everyone has their theories, and it’s probably a gumbo of all of those.

In the libertarian community, Trump’s campaign had an interesting effect. You can say he exposed some divisions in the community. Some long time libertarians who preached anti-statism, anti-authoritarianism, and individualism began supporting Trump, if not outright, at least tepidly. They said he is much more preferable to Hillary Clinton (obviously) and will be good enough on some things that libertarians promote, such as taxes, regulations, and he has some of the anti-interventionist sentiments we should get behind. They were willing to forgive or disregard things like his comments on women, his anti-free trade, and his promotion of big infrastructure spending. Some others who preached the same anti-statism took a much more confrontational role, attacking Trump as a racist, misogynist future Hitler.  They joined the same mind-numbing chorus as the leftists, who were disgusted and deranged at even the notion of a Trump presidency. Libertarians were equally divided on immigration, the great “Closed vs Open borders debate.” Some libertarians were pro-open borders, feeling free movement of peaceful people should not be forcefully dealt with by the state, but through property rights. While others pointed to the fact we do not live in an Anarcho-capitalist world, governments control borders, and the belief that it would not be in America’s or liberty lovers’ best interest to import thousands of people from places where the cultures are diametrically opposed to Western Values. You could call this a battle between Left and Right libertarians. Trump was brash in his position, he would build a wall on the US/Mexico border, kick out the illegal immigrants, and ban entry from Muslim countries.

This battle had its share of wounded. Jeffery Tucker, a long time anarcho-capitalist and scholar in the libertarian movement veered more left into political correctness. Stephan Molyneux, the popular, long time anarcho-capitalist writer and podcaster completely abandoned libertarianism, become a Trump Supporter. Walter Block, arguably the most radical libertarian scholar on the planet, beloved by everyone, promoted Libertarians for Trump. There were many like me who just didn’t know how to feel. We loved the anti-PC nature of Trump. We enjoyed to see him piss of the establishment Republicans and to see voters reject them. It seemed like great libertarians like Lew Rockwell and Tom Woods wanted to believe Trump would be good for liberty. But his talk of “wiping out ISIS”, banning Muslims, building walls, cracking down on cities with high crime, trade wars, had an authoritarian strong man feel that made some libertarians uncomfortable. Count me among them.

Now here we are, 30 days into Trump’s presidency. So far, he’s followed through on what he promoted on his campaign. He’s signed executive order after executive order on a wide range of issues. He’s temporarily banned visas from being approved for Muslims entering the U.S from a list of nations, including people with dual citizenship and green cards. A clumsy act that caused thousands of people to be detained in Airports and pissed off American allies. He signed an order to repeal or not enforce key provisions in Obamacare. He is working to repeal parts of Dodd-Frank financial regulations. He’s threatened American companies who want to move jobs outside of the country. The EPA is being gutted. Trump signed the order to build a Wall on the US/Mexico border that will cost billions, and pay for it with a 20% tax on goods imported. He’s appointed a new Supreme Court Justice nominee to replace the late Justice Scalia, who, from most accounts, is a constitutional “originalist.” He has made friendly overtures to Russia, although clumsily.  Yet, he’s also killed an 8 year old girl in a failed top secret raid in Yemen ordered by him that cost the life a Navy Seal. He has also re-inflamed the war rhetoric between the United States and Iran after it was finally looking like peace between the nations was on the horizon, one of the very few good accomplishments by the Obama administration. Now Trump’s National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, is calling for new sanctions and has “put on Iran on notice.

So it is a mixed bag to say the least. For me, a libertarian, the “Trump experience” has been kind of lonely. For years, it felt like libertarians were united AGAINST the state, regardless of who is wearing the “smiley face on the lapel of the oligarchy,” as Lew Rockwell likes to say. Sure, we might debate of borders, abortion, minarchism vs anarchism, child rearing, or how to promote our ideas, but it felt like there was a sense of common goals.

Lately, it’s been hard to tell the difference between libertarians and run of the mill conservatives. Both take delight the ridiculous, cartoon-ish reaction of the left wing. Listen, the tears spilled by the left ever since Trump’s election should be satisfying to all libertarians and conservatives. Pointing out the hypocrisy of the progressives is daily routine under Trump. That said, it all seems pointless. The hypocrisy of the left is well known. And the constant pointing out of the left’s hypocrisy on free speech is becoming redundant. At this point, anti-free speech is their guiding principle, as they’ve proven over the years.

I guess my biggest fear is that libertarians let our guard down. Make no mistake, Donald Trump, a man who was just a regular rich guy a few weeks ago, now has the power to assassinate Americans without any due process, influence almost every level of the economy, has the mightiest military at his disposal, acquire almost anyone’s personal communications without warrant, and can rule unchecked by Congress. A man who has enjoyed power his entire life is now more powerful than any one individual. Does “absolute power corrupts absolutely” apply to Trump? We have historical record to show us how this should play out. Also we have to consider the people he has surrounded himself with for advice. War mongers and hardliners. The neocons live! Will he do some pro-market things? Absolutely, but my guess it will be more geared to benefit the crony capitalist class than people on main street.

We as libertarians need to be compass constantly pointing to freedom and liberty. I cant recall ever seeing so many libertarians defend the actions of a sitting president. It’s easy to get roped into it (even myself), since the mainstream media has made it their official duty to de-legitimize Trump, and spread blatant lies. It’s easy to feel like you need to point out their bullshit. Yet, while we enjoy calling out the leftists on their hypocrisy and derangement, we cannot let our guard down against the state mechanisms that give them power. In 4 years, there will be another election and we need to make sure the Office of the Presidenct is less powerful than it is today. We must de-legitimize the presidency and the government, not with lies and propaganda like the left, but with the truth. While it’s nice to get a few concessions that we like today, as Malcolm X once said, “If they give it to you, it can be taken away!”  It’s like a slave asking his Master to allow him to play the fiddle after work is done. Sure, it’s nice if the master allows that, but by conceding that freedom to his master, he is legitimizing his control over his natural rights as an individual. Libertarians have always understood this. Murray Rothbard described the state perfectly in Anatomy of the State:

“.. the King alone cannot rule; he must have a sizable group of followers who enjoy the prerequisites of rule, for example, the members of the State apparatus, such as the full-time bureaucracy or the established nobility. But this still secures only a minority of eager supporters, and even the essential purchasing of support by subsidies and other grants of privilege still does not obtain the consent of the majority. For this essential acceptance, the majority must be persuaded by ideology that their government is good, wise and, at least, inevitable, and certainly better than other conceivable alternatives.”

Here’s to remembering who our enemy is, the state. Yes, the left is our enemy, but the only power they have is through the state. We must work to de-legitimize and reject its power, every step of the way. The libertarian path can be a lonely one. Hopefully we can get back to working towards that common goal.

Ryan Jones

Source: The Afro Libertarian

Episode 1 – The Inaugural Actual Anarchy Podcast (43:34)

 

Hey, we’re back! Allow ourselves to…introduce….ourselves… Robert and Daniel here from the Read Rothbard Podcast which will be transitioning to audiobooks of Murray Rothbard books and articles going foward. So let us be the first to welcome you to the inaugural episode of the Actual Anarchy Podcast (New name, same game).

As I just said, this is the inaugural Actual Anarchy Podcast launching, fittingly, on inauguration day of new President, Donald J. Trump. Old boss, same as the new boss?

In some ways, probably; though he was the change candidate. The F-you to the status quo. But, is the status quo the right thing? Most people aren’t happy, no matter who wins.

Is there a better way? Yes, Virginia, there is.

Continue reading “Episode 1 – The Inaugural Actual Anarchy Podcast (43:34)”

The Read Rothbard Podcast – Episode 30 – Sh!tiocracy: A Documentary? (1:20:49)

We discuss the narrative that Idiocracy is currently viewed as a prescient documentary that foretold today’s events regarding Trump being elected President. We argue that this may be true, but not in the way that they think. It is the echo-chamber of social media that allowed people to be blindsided to the Trump-phenomenon and the current attack on “fake news” is only going to double-down on the problem and compound it. This is a pretty fun one that feels like we really hit our stride.

Also, apparently I was not quite right about the water being the only thing that expands. A few more things do…but it’s RARE PEOPLE!

Gallium is a liquid at 85.6 degrees Fahrenheit and expands as it freezes, according to Chemicool. The four other elements that expand when they freeze are silicon, bismuth, antimony and germanium. However, gallium is the only element out of those five that has a melting point near room temperature.

For Show Notes and more, please visit: http://www.readrothbard.com/Episode-30

Presented by Read Rothbard:

Read Rothbard is comprised of a small group of voluntaryists who are fans of Murray N. Rothbard. We curate content on the www.ReadRothbard.com site including books, lectures, articles, speeches, and we make a weekly podcast based on his free-market approach to economics. Our focus is on education and how advancement in technology improves the living standards of the average person.

The Read Rothbard Podcast is all about Maximum Freedom. We look at movies and current events from a Rothbardian Anarchist perspective. If it’s voluntary, we’re cool with it. If it’s not, then it violated the Non-Aggression Principle and Property Rights – the core tenants of Libertarian Theory – and hence – human freedom.

Website: http://www.ReadRothbard.com
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/t…
Google Play Music: https://play.google.com/music/m/Ii45f…
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readrothbardclub
Twitter: https://twitter.com/read_rothbard
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/gp/145447582@N…
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ReadRothbard

Murray Rothbard, Murray N Rothbard, Read Rothbard, Anarchy, Anarchism, Free-Market, Anarcho-Capitalism, News and Events, Podcast, Laissez-Faire, Voluntaryist, Voluntaryism, Non-Aggression Principle, NAP, Libertarian, Libertarianism, Economics, Austrian Economics,