Liberty
The left’s ‘hamburger problem’ explored
Kyle Smith details at National Review Online an ongoing problem for the political left. Progressives have a problem: They ladle unto every decision, even the most mundane and trifling one,…
John Stuart Mill
British philosopher and political economist (1806–1873)
Liberty
A Brexit foe worries about the end of an era
John Micklethwait ponders the potential end of a 37-year-old Thatcherian revolution and shares his insights with Bloomberg Businessweek readers. Thatcher may have called herself a Conservative, but her inspiration was…
Liberty
Walter Williams pans multiculturalism
Walter Williams‘ latest column at Human Events examines the impact of multiculturalism. German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that multiculturalism has “utterly failed,” adding that it was an illusion to think…
Education
A defense of literature
Northwestern University professor Gary Saul Morson offers Commentary readers excellent observations about the value of teaching literature. We all live in a prison house of self. We naturally see the…
Liberty
Atlantic profiles chief ‘nudger’
Georgetown instructor David Cole might not see what’s so unsettling about libertarian paternalism, but his profile of Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein in the latest issue of The Atlantic…
Liberty
Producing in order to consume
Writing in the latest Forbes magazine, RealClearMarkets.com editor John Tamny contends “economic growth is easy.” The full article is not yet posted online, but you’ll get the sense of Tamny’s…
Elections & Public Integrity
An interesting take on flip-flopping politicians
Start to read Seth Mandel‘s Commentary blog entry on political “evolution,” and you’re likely to expect the following takeaway: President Obama deserves at least as much attention as Republican rival …
Liberty
That gigantic tax rate red herring
The information that Romney’s tax rate is around 15% is a gigantic red herring that Team Obama will no doubt use to get silly people to think he’s “on their…
Liberty
Cornering some anagrammatic insights
After writing Monday?s Daily Journal column on political anagrams, I got to thinking how the names of some of my National Review colleagues might be rearranged in interesting ways. If…
Liberty
Liberalism’s competing strains
Michael Knox Beran also tackles liberalism in National Review‘s cover story. He makes the case that among modern-day liberals the classical liberalism of Jefferson and Jackson has lost the fight…
Liberty
Ultimate limits
I’m nearing the end of Thomas Sowell‘s Applied Economics (just in time for the publication of his new book about the housing boom and bust) and particularly enjoyed the following…
Liberty
Duke prof responds to “intellectual diversity” challenge
“We try to hire the best, smartest people available,” Brandon [Robert Brandon, chair of the philosophy department] said of his philosophy hires. “If, as John Stuart Mill said, stupid people…