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Liberty Magazine October 2009.Pdf Mime Type Our Fragile Economy October 2009 $4.00 0' 0' ~ a 00 a I'­ ~ ~g I'-~ o ::J 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 with his ca~tivating 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 perspective 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 J?erplexing questions in libertarianism: why aon't people support freedom? Their answers will surprIse you1 (CD 0905A) How Obama Is Using Transportation Funds to Tum the United States Into Europe: Randal O'Toole exposes one of Obama's biggest, most brazen, but least discussed plans to circumvent your liberty. You11 be shocked by its audacity. (CD 0906A) Anarch-y 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) October 2009 Inside Liberty Volume 23, Number 9 4 Letters Liberty's readers fire back. 9 Reflections We lose healthcare in the mail, ask the right question, spread the poverty, do the math, let them eat cake, wear super-strength beer goggles, set off some military-grade fireworks, and need more cocaine. Features 23 Starving the States Bruce Ramsey examines that rarest of phenomena: state spending cuts. 27 The System Is Broken Jon Harrison investigates the fragile health of our society and wonders whether it's too late to do anything to heal it. 33 Much Ruin in a Nation Lanny Ebenstein considers the long-term prospects of the American economy. 39 Ayn's World Stephen Cox heralds a new biography that puts Ayn Rand where she always wanted to be: at the center of her own universe. Reviews 47 The Other Side ofThailand What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Bangkok? Paul Karl Lukacs explores what's in a reputation. 49 Through Other Eyes Gary Jason ponders the relationship between madness and creativity. 50 How Much Do You Really Need? Jo Ann Skousen views a film that asks, "Who owns my body?", and gives the wrong answer. 51 A Cry for Justice A new film, Gary Jason discovers, makes a compelling case for freedom. The Return of John Dillinger Like the authors of the Patriot Act and the TARP bailout, J. Edgar Hoover wasn't one to waste a good crisis - and John Dillinger was a very good crisis. 52 What Dillinger Wrought JoAnn Skousen 53 The Villain as Hero Jon Harrison 54 Dillinger's Last Movie JoAnn Skousen 48 Notes on Contributors The apples of our eye. 55 Terra Incognita Reality intrudes. About [ Letters ] YOur Freedom's Just Another Word pages of disclosures will in any way im­ for Raping All the Poor prove the industry or change the simple For 31 years, I have believed in free fact that people do not read documents trade and liberty for all. The terms lib­ when they want to believe they are get­ Subscription erty and freedom have now become the ting rich. politically correct way to say rape the My fear is that increased future poor. I have always voted Libertarian. regulation will be so broad that even Q.: When does my subscription ex­ Now I look around and all I see are rich, formerly simple transactions will pire~ greedy businessmen who fail to pay a be burdened by federal disclosures. A: Please look to the right ofyour name living wage to th.ose underlings that Imagine a simple sale of a free and clear on your mailing label. There you helped them get rich. I have changed home from father to son with seller fi­ will find (except in some cases when nancing. Will such a transaction now receiving your first issue) the number my voting status to Democrat. Please become subject to the regulation of a ofissues left in your subscription, immediately cancel my subscription to myriad of federal agencies? What of followed by the word "left," as in "3 Liberty magazine. LEFT." Michelle Faulk a $20,000 loan between you and your Hillsboro, OR friend? Perhaps even such a formerly simple loan will require registration Q.: I've moved. How do I change the Embracing Failure with the SEC or some other federal address to which my magazines are In the August issue, Leland Yeager agency. I have no faith in our govern­ send appears to argue (liThe Contagious ment to craft IIsmart" regulations. A: Write us at the postal or email ad­ Crisis") for government action in the We already have plenty of regula­ dresses below. Be sure to include financial markets because of the recent tions. Increasing the number of rules your previous address, your new crisis, calling for more financial regula­ may alter the game, but it won't change address, and a telephone number or tion and stating that "Only a libertarian the players. No regulation can change email address where we can reach more hardcore than I am would reject human emotions and desires. History you ifwe have questions. It's best to them outright." I reject them outright; has shownthatwe cannot outlaw greed. send us your current label and your so I must be a radical. new address. Allow 6-8 weeks to Perhaps we should embrace it as a fun­ Prior to and during the financial begin receiving Liberty at your new damental human characteristic. Rather crisis there were dozens of federal stat­ address. than attempting to bail out industries utes regulating the mortgage industry. Among them are the Truth in Lending and companies we should embrace 0.: I'm receiving duplicate copies of Act, the Real Estate Settlement and failure, liquidation, and bankruptcy, as Liberty. What should I do? ProceduresAct, the Fair DebtCollection this will lead to rebirth and a more hon­ A: Clip the mailing labels from both Act, etc. Each of these federal statutes est economic system. copies and send them to the postal promulgated thousands of pages offed­ Mark K. Funke address below. We'll make sure you Seattle, WA eral regulations. This is why even prior receive all the issues you've paid for. to the financial crisis a typical residen­ Yeager responds: Mr. Funke takes my tial mortgage was accompanied by at confession that I am not a hardest-core 0.: How can I buy gift subscriptions least 50 pages of regulatory disclosures. libertarian as an opportunity to adver­ for friends and family? I don't believe that upping this to 200 tise himself as just such a libertarian. By A: Call the toll-free number below. We'll be happy to assist you. Letters to the editor Liberty invit~s reader~ to comment on articles that have appeared in our pages. We 0.: Is Liberty on theWeb? reserve the rIght to edIt for length and clarity. All letters are assumed to be intend­ A: Yes. Selected articles from each is­ ~d for publication unless otherwise stated. Succinct letters are preferred. Please sue are published online. Visit our Include your address and phone number so that we can verify your identity. website at libertyunbound.com. Send email to:[email protected] Or send mail to: Liberty, P.O. Box 20527, Reno, NV 89515. To subscribe, renew, or ask questions about your subscription E-mail: [email protected] Write: Liberty Circulation, P.O. Box 20527, Reno, NY 89515 Call toll-&ee: (800) 854-6991 during regular West Coast business hours Outside the U.S., call: (775) 828-9140 implication, he imputes to me a faith in true we are not ones to compromise, horrendous regulation that I disavow but what can you expect when our dis­ How to on pages 40-42.
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