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Cartoons
Danish Cartoons of Mohammed:
February 9, 2006:
Jyllands Posten Denmark is a
newspaper, whose editors and cartoonists have understood the
seriousness of the Islamist fanatics' threat to our essential
liberties. In support of their plight against militant intolerance,
The Rational Argumentator has reprinted their cartoons. Only when it
becomes safe to depict and satirize Mohammed as we please will we have
a free society.
See The Autonomist's section of commentary
and further images pertaining to the Danish cartoons and the Islamist
fanatics' reaction to them. The "Blasphemous
Danish Cartoons" thread chronicles both the ludicrous and
the horrific facets of the fundamentalist savages.
Economics
Mises and Hayek: Champions of Economic Liberty:
February 7, 2006:
G. Stolyarov II discusses the role of
two illustrious twentieth-century economists-- Ludwig von Mises and
Friedrich Hayek-- in defending the free market and proving the
futility of government economic regulation.
The Gas-Line Quagmire in Iraq:
February 7, 2006:
Dr. Robert Murphy criticizes the
economic ignorance of the popular media's coverage of massive gas
shortages in post-war Iraq-- which are caused by government price
controls rather than any fictitious "problems with the free market."
Why Rothbard Makes Sense:
February 12, 2006:
Dr. Robert P. Murphy discusses the
life of Murray Rothbard-- a remarkable economist, historian,
filosofer, political activist, and defender of free markets--who
managed to accomplish impressive cross-disciplinary feats in an age of
hyper-specialization.
Filosofy
The Evil of Islamist Intolerance:
February 7, 2006:
G. Stolyarov II issues an urgent call
to condemn the Islamic fundamentalist savages who are willing to kill
over a few cartoons that displease them. This short article defends
the Danish cartoonists' freedom of speech to satirize and criticize
the ideas of Islam-- which deserve to be dethroned from their current
sacrosanct status.
A Different Look at Betty Friedan's Legacy:
February 12, 2006:
Contrary to mainstream eulogizing on
the recent death of Betty Friedan, Wendy McElroy contends that Friedan
did not fairly represent the views of women, was elitist and demeaning
toward homemakers, and was crucial to the unfortunate social
devaluation of that vital profession.
Music
Rodney Rawlings: Gerri:
February 7, 2006:
This composition by Rodney Rawlings
is a tribute to his wife Gerri. It embodies Mr. Rawlings's ideas about
the importance of original, well-formed melody.
Politics
Toss Out the New Orleans "Toxic Soup" Myth:
February 7, 2006:
Michael Fumento debunks
environmentalist fears that Hurricane Katrina has contaminated the
waters around New Orleans with highly toxic substances. Quite the
contrary, multiple thorough examinations have shown that no such
contamination exists; the environmentalists are merely engaged in
their usual scaremongering.
Making the Minions Marionettes:
February 7, 2006:
Governments in Britain and Canada
have actively considered implementing a mandatory GPS system in every
car to force it to stay within arbitrary state-mandated speed limits.
This, writes Selwyn Duke, is but one more indicator of a disturbing
trend in leftist politics: the desire to punish and restrict
everybody's freedom because of the misdeeds of a few.
Religion, Science, and Blarney:
February 12, 2006:
Paul Driessen writes that the recent
Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) in favor of environmentalist
policies is not representative of the Evangelical Christian community
and only offers mass suffering in the form of raised costs for
consumers and an enormous hindrance to economic progress and
prosperity.
When Hatred Burns Unseen:
February 12, 2006:
Why have officials refrained from
calling the recent string of Alabama church burnings "hate-crimes"?
Because, writes Selwyn Duke, a "hate-crime" can only be committed
against politically-favored minorities-- and Christians are neither.
This shows the hypocrisy behind the entire designation of
"hate-crimes," a concept meant to advance leftist agendas by stifling
anything deviating from the politically fashionable.
A Corporation Does the Right Thing... For the
Right Reasons:
February 12, 2006:
Tom DeWeese commends BB&T
Corporation's courageous refusal to lend money to developers who have
benefited from government invocation of eminent domain. This type of
free-market leadership is essential to denying evil government
policies the money they need to thrive and spread.
"Just
as a man who will eat anything so long as and only if it is green will
fail to differentiate lettuce from poison ivy, so will the
traditionalist fail to separate good from evil."
~ G. Stolyarov II