The Trouble WithGM December 2009 $4.00 JlA people must rise themselves to Liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed." - Caleb C. Colton Fresh from the Liberty Editors' Conference in Las Vegas! Editors Speak Out! Liberty's editors spoke to standing room only crowds (yet again!) at our con­ ference held in conjunction with FreedomFest in Las Vegas. Now you can buy digital-quality recordings ... How the New Deal Inspired the Libertarian Bailout: The Good, the Bad, and the Movement: David Boaz gets our conference Downright Ugly: Doug Casey, Randal off to an electric start witn his caRtivating O'Toole, Jo Ann Skousen, and Jim Walsh exploration of the roots of today s libertarian reveal the ugly truth about the biggest, most movement. (CD 0901A) blatant transfer of wealth in U.S. I1Istory. Cui bono? Even if you aren't surprised, you11 be Liberty & Religion: Stephen Cox, Doug informed, fascInated, and appalled. Casey, Jo Ann Skousen, Andrew Ferguson, (CD 0909A) and Charles Murray discuss (and disagree about) God, church, state, morality, ana the Should We Abolish the Criminal Law?: individual. (CD 0902A) David Friedman makes a persuasive argument for one of the most provocative, How Urban Planners Caused the Housing seemingly impracticable ideas that you're Crisis: Randal O'Toole has a unique likely to hear. Our legal system has serious persrective on the cause of the economic problems, but can thIS be a solution? By the meltdown. Conventional wisdom aside; the end of the hour, you will be convinced the wealth of evidence he unveils leaves no doubt answer is "Yes!" (CD 0910A) that he's onto somethng. (CD 0903A) The Complete 2009 Liberty Conference: Market Failure Considered as an Argument Much more for less! Every minute of each of Against Government: David Friedman is these panels and presentations. Doug Casey, never better than when he's skewering half­ David Boaz, David Friedman, Steplien Cox, baked ideas. Here, he demolishes trendy Charles Murray, Randal O'Toole, Andrew claims that more government is the answer to Ferguson, Mark Skousen, Jim Walsh, and Jo today's problems. (CD 0904A) Ann Skousen lecture, discuss, debate, and Why Your Friends & Neighbors Support Big argue about almost everything under the sun. Government: Randal O'Toole, David Boaz, (Complete set only $59.95) and Stephen Cox take on one of the most Eerplexing questions in libertarianism: why aon't people support freedom? Their answers will surprIse you1 (CD 0905A) How Obama Is Using Transportation Funds to Turn the United States Into Europe: Randal O'Toole exposes one of Obama's biggest, most brazen, but least discussed rlans to circumvent your liberty. You'll be shocked by its audacity. (CD 0906A) Anarchy or Limited Government?: Doug Casey, David Friedman, and Mark Skousen mesmerize their audience in what may be the most heated debate ever held at a Liberty conference. (CD 0907A) Obama's First Six Months: Doug Casey, Stephen Cox, Randal O'Toole, and Jo Ann Skousen subject the new president and his administration to their penetrating analysis. Every lover of individual liberty must have this Information about the most powerful, and therefore most dangerous man in America. (CD 0908A) December 2009 Inside Liberty Volume 23, Number 11 4 Letters Preaching from the choir. 7 Reflections We muzzle idiots, join a jihad, flout the law, earn a living wage, deport the geeks, and register for death panels. Features 25 Killing the Big Three First they came for our cars, then for our way of life. Edmund Contoski explores the death of American carmakers. 27 Intellectual Property and Libertarianism Intellectual property, Stephan Kinsella argues, has no place in any truly libertarian definition of property rights. 31 Dear President Obama Don Crawford makes some common­ sense arguments about healthcare reform. 33 Robbing Hood and the Undeserving Rich Bob Marcus notes the uncanny parallels between America and Sherwood Forest. 35 Bridging the Two Libertarianisms What is an impure moral consequentialist? Carl S. Milsted, Jr., who is one, explains. 39 The Attack on Scientific Freedom Elizabeth Weiss recounts how a federal law makes a mockery of the separation of church and state. Reviews 47 Does Empire Work? Jamie McEwan comes to bury Rome, not to praise her. 48 Another Merry Romp After reading Dan Brown's overdue bestseller, Jo Ann Skousen wonders if there was a cover-up. 49 How We Went to War Andrew Ferguson observes how quagmires come to be. 51 Why Men Fight Gary Jason considers a war movie that evokes one of the deepest dilemmas of human life. 52 The Corn Syrup Inquisition For JoAnn Skousen, "The Informant!" is a flawed but interesting movie about a flawed but interesting character. 54 Orphans on the Silk Road The politics aren't right, says Gary Jason, but "The Children of Huang Shiff has an amazing beauty. 50 Notes on Contributors Those who can, write. 55 Terra Incognita Much of a muchness. About [ Letters J YOur Quagmire It's quite true that these men wanted to In the October Letters section, "change the face of the Middle East" Jacques Delacroix makes some state­ by first smashing Hussein's Iraq, then ments that don't conform to known doing the same to Iran and Syria. The Subscription facts. In his response to a letter from fiasco that succeeded the march to L.A. Rollins, Delacroix states that there Baghdad - six years of occupation and were no plans to establish permanent counterinsurgency warfare - is what Q: When does my subscription ex­ American military bases in Iraq. In fact, prevented steps two and three from be­ pire? during the negotiations for a U.S.-Iraqi ing carried out. A: Please look to the right ofyour name security pact, the Bush administration The motives ofthese menwerenever on your mailing label. There you publicly aired, of course. The American will find (except in some cases when sought the establishment of some 50 people have never been moved to fight receiving your first issue) the number long-term bases for U.S. forces (it did ofissues left in your subscription, not seek a "permanent" presence, be­ wars overseas except by fear or ideal­ followed by the word "left," as in "3 cause such is not done in international ism. So Saddam's supposed weapons of LEFT." treaty-making). The Iraqi negotiators, mass destruction (fear) and fine words however, refused to agree to this. about establishing a free and democrat­ Q: I've moved. How do I change the The Bush administration also grant­ ic Iraq (idealism) were the tools used to address to which my magazines are ed no-bid contracts to Western oil firms obtain congressional and public sup­ sent? to service the Iraqi oilfields. These were port for the campaign. A: Write us at the postal or email ad­ withdrawnwhen objections were raised Why Bush gave the go-ahead is not dresses below. Be sure to include both in and outside Iraq. entirely clear to this day. But it's hard your previous address, your new These facts havebeenreported in the to imagine that America would have in­ address, and a telephone number or mainstream media, and I was surprised vaded and occupied Iraq for years had email address where we can reach to learn that Delacroix apparently had that country been a mere desert with­ you ifwe have questions. It's best to not heard of them. out oil. Oil had to have been a factor in send us your current label and your Delacroix is on more solid ground Bush's decision - which is not to say new address. Allow 6-8 weeks to when he states that the Bush admin­ that it was the only or even the primary begin receiving Liberty at your new istration "invaded Iraq largely to try motive for the invasion. address. and rearrange the political map of the In any case, the men who really Middle East." But rearrange the map made the war held two hardcore be­ Q: I'm receiving duplicate copies of to what end? Delacroix implies that the liefs: first, that American and Israeli Liberty. What should I do? United States fought the war simply to interests are essentially identical, and A: Clip the mailing labels from both turn Iraq into a democracy. Such a be­ second, thatthe United States musthave copies and send them to the postal lief is simplistic if not naive. unimpeded access to the oil and gas re­ address below. We'll make sure you It's well known that from the outset sources of the Persian Gulf and Central receive all the issues you've paid for. of the Bush administration some of its Asia. That does not make them the key figures - Vice President Cheney, evil tools of corporations, as Delacroix Q: How can I buy gift subscriptions Paul Wolfowitz, and others - were urg­ rightly points out. They were motivat­ for friends and family? ing Bush to get rid of Saddam Hussein. ed by what they saw as America's vital A: Call the toll-free number below. We'll be happy to assist you. 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