Liberty Magazine February 2000
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Let's Really Teach February 2000 $4.00 Creationis111 "The disease ofLiberty is catching. "-Thomas Jefferson At last. A scholarly journal dedicated to the study of Ayn Rand's thought and influence. The Journal ofAyn Rand Studies is the first scholarly publication to examine Ayn Rand: her life, her work, her times. Welcoming essays from every discipline, JARS is not aligned with any advocacy group, institute, or person. It welcomes scholarly writing from different traditions and different perspectives, facilitating Special respectful exchange of ideas on the legacy ofone of offer! the world s most enduring and controversial Ayn Rand: philosophers. The Russian JARS is edited by R. W. Bradford, libertarian Radical, by writer and publisher ofLiberty, Stephen Cox, Chris author ofmany books and articles on Ayn Rand, Isabel Paterson, and libertarianism;. and Matthew Chris Matthew Sciabarra, characterized by The .Sciabarra. Chronicle ofHigher Education as "Rand smost Subscribe for 3 vocal champion in academe." years at our regu The first issue promises to be a milestone in lar rate of$65 Rand scholarship: and receive a free Chris Matthew Sciabarra discusses the major historical sig hard bound copy nificance ofhis discovery and investigation ofAyn Rands transcript from the (reg. $55) with a University ofSt. Petersburg, answering the many mysteries surrounding Rands education. bookplate inscribed Stephen Cox examines the shifting perspectives, the ironies and parodies in Rands literary cele by the author. That's bration ofAmerican capitalism. He focuses on how Rand - the 'outsider"- succeeded in find like getting 3 years of ing new imaginative constructions ofthe 'inside"ofAmerican life. JARSfor just $101 Roger E. Bissell challenges Rand's interpretation ofthe nature ofmusical perception, and devel- ops a strong case for the underlying unity ?fthe arts. r - -_ -------- __ - __ - , Larry J. Sechrest revisits the debate over 'ininarchy"and "anarchy," arguing that the various Objectivist proposals for VOl" Please enter my charter subscription to the Journal ofAyn limited government fail to offer a convincing rebuttal to the 1 t.J. Rand Studies. I enclose my check in full payment. case for anarchy. D One Year: individuals $25, institutions $40 Robert L. Campbell shows how Randstheory ofknowl edge drew explicitly on the ideas and findings ofthe Cognitive C Two Years: individuals $45, institutions $70 Revolution, the mid-century change in American psychology C Special: Three Years individuals $65, with free autographed hardbound that overthrew behaviorism. copy ofAyn Rand: The Russian Radical, by Chris Matthew Sciabarra Gregory R. Johnson critiques Randsethics and political philosophy, rejecting her argument for classical liberalism, and name Send to: her conception ofhuman nature. Journal ofAyn Rand Studies Annual subscription: $25 individuals, $40 institutions address 1018 Water Street, Port Townsend, Two year Subscription: $45 individuals, $75 institutions WA 98368 Three year subscription: $65 individual, $100institutions city state zip ~---------- L __ ~ ~ ~~ February 2000 Inside Liberty Volume 14, Number 2 4 Letters Mightier than the sword. 5 Reflections Liberty's editors come to praise Alexander Cockburn, lambaste the Libertarian Party, proclaim amnesty for truants, celebrate GOP diversity, and explore the red planet. TheWTOWars 19 The Streets of Seattle Protesters waged war on private property and free trade, while police waged war on innocent bystanders, reports R. W. Bradford. 25 Inside the WTO The protesters didn't have a clue what they were protesting against, explains Bruce Ramsey. Features 29 Is It True What They Say About Hillsdale? The headline grabbing incest-suicide scandal is not the only problem at America's most famous conservative college, reports our Anonymous correspondent. 33 Your PC as Big Brother A new campaign to spy on you via the Internet has some surprising allies, reports Declan McCullagh. 35 Strongarm Suits Unable to get Congress to pass new gun laws, Clinton tries something new, reports Dave Kopel. 37 Let's Teach Creationism! Bart Kosko agrees with Fundamentalist Christians that creationism should be taught in the schools. But he thinks they won't like the results. 39 Two Cheers for the Fourteenth Amendment Roger Pilon responds to Gene Healy's attack on the amendment. 46 Roger & Me Roger Pilon is still wrong, retorts Gene Healy. The Fourteenth Amendment was born in sin, and has gone downhill since. Reviews 51 Kids, These Days! Jane Shaw finds much of value in an argument against allowing the next generation to raise itself. 52 It Once Began with Ayn Rand The fun of reading Jerome Tuccille has ended, observes Martin Morse Wooster. 53 Break On Through to the Other Side A famous economist crosses the sexual border. Janice Presser comes along for the trip. 55 Everyday Nationalism Sometimes, nationalism is so prosaic that you can't recognize it. Thankfully, it is in decline, says Martin Tyrrell. 58 High Hopes Lawrence Kudlow's writing recalls the style and opti- mism of the late Buckminster Fuller, according to Richard Kostelanetz. 60 Booknotes The Fountainhead revised; baseball law reviled. 61 Notes on Contributors Who we are. 62 Terra Incognita Roadmap to unreality. How to [~==========================Le~tt===:==er===:==s============~) It's about blankety-blank time sciousness of American political thought. Subscribe R. W. Bradford's suggestion that The war on Americans ripping apart the Libertarians tackle drug legalization fabric of our country called the War on ("An Opportunity for the Libertarian Drugs is a main reason thatmany are to Party," December) as a wedge issue in becoming members of the Libertarian the upcoming presidential follies is a Party, as it is the only political party with II welcome approach. Largely because it is this plank. I can think of no better way to Liberti]] about damn time. salvage what is left of individual free This Drug War, fomented by the dom from unjust persecution and incar Demopublicans and the Republicrats, is ceration than ending this ill-conceived Liberty takes individual costing far more than money (although war on "drugs," and in having our presi plenty of that for sure). Weare losing our dential candidate touting the message. freedom seriously ... and constitution and the voters necessary to Robert Grayson the status quo with more maintain that document. The crimes of Aiea, Hawaii than one grain of salt! the drug war are costing many lives. Our police are now armed and trained by the Drugs will stunt our growth military; leaving us on the verge of I read with great interest R. W. Every issue of Liberty brings Bradford's argument for the Libertarian you news you can't miss, becoming a police state. The Mexican Border is the new Berlin Wall. Illegal Party using marijuana legalization as a opinions you won't find wedge issue. Unfortunately, I believe anywhere else, and the best drugs are creating gargantuan, tax-free that if the LP follows Brandord's advice, libertarian writing in the world. profits for the world's criminal lords. The enforcers of the laws against drugs have it will be in even more trouble member become thugs. ship wise than it already is. You won't want to There is no doubt in my mind that The drug issue is probab.ly the least miss asingle issue! your quest is needed and that it may suc effective reason that the average person ceed. And, like the slavery issue, unless would have for joining and voting for dealt with it may rent the fabric of our the LP. I remember all too vividly when I Act Today! flag by creating a new civil war. Please first joined the party 11 years ago that Liberty offers you the best in continue on a course that has great prom any time I tried to talk about it to some individualist thinking and writ ise for our future. one I thought might actually join during ing. So don't hesitate. You have Allan Erickson one ofour county party's events, the eas nothing to lose, and the fruits Eugene, are. iest and fastest way for 'my sales pitch to of Liberty to gain! be destroyed was for someone to say Dead right "Oh yeah, you're the bunch that wants Use the coupon below or call: I don't care if a corpse runs as the to legalize all the drugs, aren't you?" Libertarian candidate on the drug issue, I believe that promoting the LP sim he's got myvote. I believe that far more 1-800-854-6991 ply as the "pro-drug" party will be a dis people than you realize would turn out aster for the LP because, while most to vote on this issue on a national level. I r-------,Please enter my subscription tolerant people will understand why we also feel that Clinton got a large number I to Liberty immediately! I of votes for his faux candidness about his are pro-legalization once they have been if o 12 issues (One Full Year) $29.50 marijuana use. exposed to our platform, the first thing that they hear about us is that drugs 10 24 issues (Two Full Years) $56.00 I Mike Plylar should be legalized, they simply will I Add $5 per year for foreign subscriptions. I Kremmling, Colo. refuse to listen further. Rx for success Kevin L. Padfield I name I I enthusiastically endorse the idea of Kokomo, Ind~ a pr~sidential candidate running upon I address I the plank of drug legalization, or at least Anti-AIF Platform marijuana legalization. R.W. Bradford suggests that the wedge issue of legalization of marijuana I city state zip I I can't think of a better stance to gain a beachhead and foothold in the con- I 0 I enclose my check (payable to Liberty) I continued on page 38 I D Chargemy D VISA D MasterCard I I signature I account # expires I Send to: Liberty, Dept.