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Iron Man Explodes July 2008 $4.00 ''Athenians will not sell their Liberty for all the gold either above or under ground. 1/ - Aristides July 2008 Inside Liberty Volume 22, Number 6 4 Letters Point, counterpoint. 5 Reflections We create a slush fund, slap down Big Technology, underestimate voters' intelligence, revise the 6th Commandment, love pretty words, make prisoner foie gras, earn a degree in ignorance, find the upside to disaster, recycle dirt, and can't afford not to speed. Features 17 Salesmen, Stalwarts, and Old Pols The Libertarian Party is set to nominate its presidential candidate. Bruce Ramsey handicaps the race. 19 Libertarian Like Me Several recent studies into the roles of tolerance and altruism in biological evolution suggest that evolved minds prefer liberty. Sandy Shaw explains. 23 The Housing Bubble and Bust Edmund Contoski documents the ultimate causes of the mortgage crisis, and warns of what is yet to come. 31 How to Think About Pollution Ronald Coase proved in 1960 that people misunderstand externalities. Almost 50 years later, policians, regulators, and voters still misunderstand. David Friedman sheds some light on the subject. 37 The American Revolution: Right or Wrong? To many Americans, declaring independence proceeded from self-evident premises. On the other side of the Atlantic, the issue was more complicated, even for people friendly to human freedom. Ronald Hmnowy explains. 43 Summer Books Summer is the.season of exploration, and there's nothing more fun to explore than a good book. Liberty's editors and contributors reveal some of their own discoveries. 49 Liberation Theology vs. McDonalds EI Salvador has survived the Cold War, the Football War, a weak economy, and the "export" of a third of its people. Doug Casey wonders what the future will bring. Reviews 53 When Theories Collide Ben Stein's dissertation on religion and science gets a very good grade from Jo Ann Skousen. 54 Should Ben Stein Be Expelled? Mark Rand, on the other hand, argues "Expelled" deserves an "F" for ignorance and mendacity. 56 Iron and Dynamite JoAnn Skousen maintains that Robert Downey, Jr. makes science cool. ~ 57 Dissent for Me, Not Thee Gary Jason investigates those institutions of higher education in which you can think what you want, so long as you don't let anybody know. 58 Too Smart for Its Own Good If you're arrogant, loveless, and without a clue, you must be really smart - or isn't that so? Jo Ann Skousen considers the question. 59 Notes on Contributors Fons et origo. 63 Terra Incognita Ecce homo. How to Letters Subscribe [ ] Justice on a Budget to keep their cost as low as is practical, I to In reference to Gary Jason's article propose requiring the loser to pay the le (uThe Ethics of Tort Reform," June), I gal cost of the winner, but only up to the agree that in tort cases where the plain amount that the loser actually paid. So, II LibertiJ] tiff loses, having the plaintiff pay the if the loser spent $10,000 and the winner legal fees of the defendant is better than spent $100,000, the loser is out $20,000 what we have now, especially for defen ($10,000 for his legal costs and $10,000 Liberty takes individual dants who are not at fault. But it still has for the winner's legal costs.) Yes, the a major flaw - runaway cost. This pre winner is down $90,000, but it was their freedom seriously ... and vents low-budget plaintiffs from seeking decision to outspend their opponent ten the status quo with more justice. A plaintiff may feel that he has to one. than one grain of salt! such a strong case that he can prove The goal is justice. This system will his case on a low budget. But, he has allow low-budget plaintiffs to have their Every issue of Liberty brings to figure into the "to sue or not to sue" day in court while being in complete you news you can't miss, equation that he may lose and will not control of what the effort will cost them, opinions you won't find only have to pay his legal cost but also if they lose. anywhere else, and the best the legal cost of the defendant. Though Clyde Garland libertarian writing in the world. the plaintiff can calculate his legal cost Bryan, Texas and do many things to keep it as low Jason responds: Mr. Garland's sugges You won't want to as possible, he has no control over how tion, that the loser be only required the miss a single issue! much the defendant will spend. legal charges of the other side up to his Since the losing side ends up paying own expenses, is interesting, but I am the winning side's legal cost, they both neither persuaded that it is necessary to Act Today! have a great incentive to have no check keep costs down, nor that it would be Liberty offers you the best in on spending, since each side is expect just. individualist thinking and ing the other side to pay their legal costs, To the first point: what incentive is writing. So don't hesitate. You and since, unfortunately, the more you there for me to keep my legal fees down have nothing to lose, and the spend, the better chance you have of fruits of Liberty to gain! winning. To give both sides an iricentive continued on page 62 Use the coupon below or call: 1-800-854-6991 From the Editor This is the issue in which Liberty runs its annual feature, "The Books ofSum p-------Please enter my subscription .. mer." As you'll see, it's as interesting as usual. One thing to notice is that "Summer .to Liberty immediately! Books" is the product ofa number ofpeople, but it's not the product ofa commit o One Year - $29.50 tee; it's the product ofa group ofindividuals. There's a difference between the two. o Two Years - $56.00 A big difference. (u.s. prices only. To Mexico and Canada, subscrip It's probable that the King James translation ofthe Bible is the only beautiful tions are $39.50 per year; to other countries, $59.00.) thing that ever resulted from a committee. Committees expect people to agree, whether they have reason to do so or not. Committees operate on the principle that name no tree shall grow too high. The result is that every tree grows low, and looks the address same. Liberty, by contrast, is a place where individuals say what they want to say. I city state zip doubt very much that anyone will go out and read all the books recommended by the authors of"Summer Books." I know I won't. But I have no doubt that readers phone number will turn up at the bookstore to buy two or three ofthese interesting books. I know o I enclose my check (payable to Liberty) I will. That's the way it should be, and that's the way it is, in this place. Liberty is a Charge my: o VISA 0 MasterCard 0 Discover place where you can look around and see what other intelligent people are saying, on their own behalf, based on their own thought and experience. Take it or leave it. But as Heine said, "The tips ofthe mountains see each other." signature For Liberty, account # expires Send to: Liberty, Dept. L, <;;:,:-. t;:.-,. .. P.O._-----_Box 1181, Port Townsend, WA 98368 .. Stephen Cox Paul keeps pulling On April 22, in the council, the hoteliers have begun collecting their new slush Pennsylvania primary, Ron Paul won 160/0 of the Republican fund this year, with estimated revenues at $30.4 million this vote. It was double the highest percentage he had won previ fiscal year, rising to $37 million by fiscal year 2013. ously in a primary election - 80/0 in the District of Columbia. In the meantime, city taxpayers will still continue to pick up a $4.3 million subsidy for the downtown Convention I don'tknow thatitmeantPaul was gaining in any big way: Center to provide "competitive" below-cost rental rates to the Republican turnout in Pennsylvania was low because the major conferences and trade shows, as well as $8.8 million a Republican race was already decided, and the big fight was year for the costs of the hotel industry's business association. between Hillary and Obama. My guess is that the 16% shows - Vince Vasquez once again that Paul supporters, though they are in a minor ity, are more deeply committed than the average McCain Born to run - By mid-April, nothing was going well in supporter. the Clinton campaign. Hillary Clinton had been using Bruce That was also the case in the caucus states, where Paul Springsteensongs, including "LandofHope and Dreams" and came in with 25% in Montana, 220/0 in Washington state, and "The Rising," to boost her campaign appearances. And then 21 % in North Dakota. Paul supporters did better because the liberal icon musician rocker announced he was endorsing more of them showed up - and now and then I hear of Paul Obama. supporters showing up at follow-on meetings as well. Just Being a good Democrat, Springsteen allowed her the use the other day I heard a rumble from an elected Republican of "Glory Days" for the remainder of her campaign: "Glory days, well theyl1 pass you by ..." - Ross Levatter in Washington state about the surprising strength of the Paul people in his district.