Author: Libertarians of Montgomery

Lessons of the Haitian Migrant Cat Scare

Despite scaremongering to the contrary, Haitian immigrants don’t eat cats, and have much lower crime rates than native-born Americans. There are some broader lessons to be learned from this episode.

The cat-eating hysteria is  even worse than the usual scenario of nativists holding an entire immigrant group responsible for the unrepresentative actions of a few members. Here, it appears the accusation was just totally false. But it is still an example of the more general problem of focusing on dramatic stories rather than more systematic data.

https://reason.com/volokh/2024/09/12/lessons-of-the-haitian-migrant-cat-scare/

The Rise of the Plantation State

Being continuously asked to give and not to take away, to intervene and not to harm, state rulers will use up all their discretionary power just to remain in command. They have to promise more to outbid their political competitors. The state will thus need more and more economic power. It will fuse political and economic power into “state capitalism.” It will stealthily nationalize the economy, through regulation and cronyism rather than via the Marxist route. Eventually, it will have no choice but to abolish electoral competition and the other checks and balances in order to effectively pursue the happiness of the people–and the power of the rulers.

The Rise of the Plantation State

When Biden’s ‘Bubble Wrap’ Burst

Will the liars and hacks who covered up Biden’s cognitive decline face any consequences?

Meanwhile, Trump’s own considerable lying, most consequentially about the integrity of the 2020 election, will also befoul the political atmosphere, driving the headline presidential race further downward into a spiral of hyperbolic bilge.

https://reason.com/2024/09/03/when-bidens-bubble-wrap-burst/

‘Transparency’ Mandate Would Burden Small Brewers and Distilleries

It’s hard to oppose “transparency,” “common sense,” and “informed choices.” But labeling mandates always fall heaviest on the smallest of businesses. 

It is very easy for seemingly “commonsense” transparency reform to give way to more alarmist and intense health warnings on booze and, eventually, more draconian restrictions on alcohol sales and higher booze taxes.

https://reason.com/2024/08/24/transparency-mandate-would-burden-small-brewers-and-distilleries/

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing to express my wholehearted support for Chase Oliver in the upcoming election. As a candidate, Chase embodies the principles of integrity, transparency, and genuine care for our country. His fresh perspective and innovative ideas are exactly what we need to bring positive change to our local government.

Chase’s commitment to individual liberties, fiscal responsibility, and fostering a vibrant economy is commendable. He has consistently shown that he listens to the concerns of everyday citizens, and his approach to problem-solving is both practical and forward-thinking. Unlike many career politicians, Chase is driven by a passion for serving the people rather than by personal gain or political expediency.

In a time when trust in our political system is waning, Chase Oliver stands out as a beacon of hope. His dedication to creating a more inclusive and responsive government resonates with me, and I believe he is the best candidate to represent our interests.

I urge my fellow citizens to support Chase Oliver. There is an opportunity to meet him on Sunday, August 25th, at noon at the Rotary Shelter in Mound Park in Miamisburg. I will be there and encourage you to join me. Let’s come together to elect a leader who will prioritize our country’s well-being and work tirelessly to ensure a brighter future for all.

Sincerely,
Michelle MacCutcheon
Lebanon, Ohio

Reprinted with permission

Make Going to The Doctor More Like Going to the Vet

No muss. No fuss. No complicated paperwork. No uncertainty. Taking the dog to the vet was more like taking the car to the shop than a doctor’s visit. We went in, they told us what our options would cost, and we chose. 

Make Going to The Doctor More Like Going to the Vet

Why the 2024 Election Misses the Mark on America’s Most Critical Issue

The two dominant parties are off in la-la land, unaware of the colossal growth of the welfare state, the regulatory state, and the warfare state. They generally mistake the symptoms for the causes and sometimes confuse the problems with the solutions. 

Why the 2024 Election Misses the Mark on America’s Most Critical Issue

Cuban Food Shortages: Another Red Flag

Aside from raising our moral hackles, price controls have demonstrable effects on wellbeing: price controls increase poverty and hunger. Contrary to the utopian dreams of policymakers, price controls distort market activity in perverse ways. They are meant to lower prices on goods and make it easier for people to acquire them; and they might help some people and score political points — both are temporary — but they cause shortages instead.

Cuban Food Shortages: Another Red Flag

Slavery Was a Global Phenomenon

American slavery was horrible—and far from unique.

Pointing out how abusive white people were is not going to get black Americans any more capital. Most problems in the modern black community don’t have anything to do with historical ethnic conflict 160 years ago… Racism didn’t increase between 1960 and the modern era. You’re looking at the impacts of the Great Society, the welfare programs.

https://reason.com/2024/08/07/was-slavery-in-the-u-s-worse-than-the-rest-of-the-world/