 True Liberal Democracy
by Tibor R. Machan
When one objects to government’s meddling in people’s lives, often one gets the response that, after all, so long as government’s decisions are reached democratically, there’s nothing wrong with such meddling. This assumes that democracy is a benign way to arrive at policies that go contrary to what individuals want, even violate their unalienable rights. Why would such an assumption be accepted with little resistance. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)
Hail to the Fourth
by Tibor R. Machan
One reason I consider the Declaration of Independence such a marvelous document is that it states better than anything else the fundamental principles of a free society. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)
Another Assault on Liberty
by Tibor R. Machan
Back when Robert Nozick wrote his path breaking libertarian academic treatise, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (Basic Books, 1974), the philosopher Thomas Nagel wrote a review essays highly critical of Nozick’s work. In an essay, "Libertarianism Without Foundations," Nagel had a lot to say about how Nozick allegedly failed to provide adequate support for his libertarian position. But one point Nagel made quite apart from whether Nozick’s position had adequate foundations stood out for me. Here is the passage that stuck in my mind: (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (4 messages)
How to Go Green
by Tibor R. Machan
Some influential, even powerful, public policy pundits, like former VP Al Gore and columnist Thomas L. Friedman (of The World is Flat fame), have gone on a crusade to champion what they vaguely call "green." Among the measures they promote is high taxes on gasoline, so as to wean drivers from fossil fuel and encourage some alternatives like solar energy and wind. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (8 messages)
Bill Gates, Please Shut up Already
by Tibor R. Machan
No doubt he is a genius when it comes to software and innumerable gadgets and such; I am really pleased he got into computers big time. I certainly got a lot from that in my own line of work.
But Bill Gates really needs to shut about some other things he is confused about. Like his claim the other day, when he announced his impending retirement and turn to full time philanthropy, that he "needs to give back to the community." Why? Did he steal something from people? Did they lend him something he needs to return? What on earth was he talking about?
(Read more...)
Discuss this Article (11 messages)
MSNBC’s Propaganda News
by Tibor R. Machan
Here is what the "news" story on MSNBC’s Web site said on Monday morning, June 12th: (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (7 messages)
Altruism's Bad Influence
by Tibor R. Machan
Putting it plainly, altruism is very popular, at least as far as what people verbally champion. It’s not so popular in action because, well, it is impossible to practice consistently. As the poet W. H. Auden put it, "We are here on earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I don't know." (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (2 messages)
The Enron Case in Focus
by Tibor R. Machan
After the jury came back with a guilty verdict against the two major players in the massive Enron fraud case, Kenneth L. Lay and Jeffrey K. Skilling, there could have been cheers going up around the country concerning how well justice is pursued in a relatively free market, capitalist society. For that is one of the major lessons here. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (1 message)
Why Philosophy Matters
by Tibor R. Machan
So you think this column is motivated by my vested interest in having philosophy taken seriously? OK, that’s part of it. But then so what? Some things are in my interest and this alone would suffice to justify championing them. In this case there is also the fact that all of us have a stake in the issue at hand. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (3 messages)
What’s a Self-Made Individual?
by Tibor R. Machan
Whenever erudite critics of America’s social and political philosophy wish to make fun of it all, they mention the "self-made individual" (or, in older terminology, "man"). Recently one such critic recalled some quip that said, "How many people does it take to make a self-made man?" The point being, self-made individuals do not exist at all, everyone, in fact, develops by relying on innumerable others. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (5 messages)
Do "liberals" Care for Liberty?
by Tibor R. Machan
I assume most of those who read this column have heard modern liberals proclaim their the deep concern civil liberties and due process. Among them many tell us they are upset about how President George W. Bush and most of those on his team are willing to sacrifice these so as to carry on with "the war on terror." (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (24 messages)
Galbraith's Obit Distortions
by Tibor R. Machan
Not even the obituaries can be trusted now. Having been told of the death of John Kenneth Galbraith, the famed socialist economist—who taught at Harvard University for most of his life and was once John Kennedy’s ambassador to India—I read his obituary in The New York Times (both print and on line) and on several Web s... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (2 messages)
The Target: Objectivity
by Tibor R. Machan
No one in his right mind thinks that objectivity is easy. It’s especially hard when it comes to self-assessment. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (3 messages)
How to Fight Terrorism Peacefully
by Tibor R. Machan
It isn’t often that I will relinquish my chance of sounding off on a vital topic to someone else but this time I find it just the thing to do.
My friend Alex Alexiev, who is now vice president at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D. C., has been promoting an idea related to the effort to repel terrorism that simply hasn’t received the attention that it deserves. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (14 messages)
Teaching versus Preaching
by Tibor R. Machan
After having taught college for nearly forty years, I can report that a great many teachers use their class rooms to preach, not to teach. (The same is reportedly the case in secondary schooling but I am not qualified to speak to that.)
... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (21 messages)
Roberts Court Statist to Core
by Tibor R. Machan
Of course, when someone in a house doesn't want others to come in, including cops without a warrant, this must be honored. As William Pitt The Elder, Lord Chatham (1708-1778) stated the principle, "The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail—its roof may shake—the win... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (8 messages)
Freedom and Ethics-Again
by Tibor R. Machan
This is a point that just cannot be stressed too often: Human beings both need to be free to choose and also ought to do the right thing. But to do the right thing is exactly why they need to be free to choose. If they are slaves or oppressed, they cannot choose to do the right thing. They lack sovereignty, self-rule, ... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (0 messages)
Hype Versus Truth
by Tibor R. Machan
Let’s admit it, most of us indulge in hype. If you’ve ever said, walking in from a cold outdoors, "My hands are freezing," you’ve done hype. Hype is just exaggeration—hyperbole. It has its point, namely, to call attention to something you regard important, like your cold hands and to plea for sympathy, perhaps. (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (6 messages)
Entertainment & Business
by Tibor R. Machan
As I was channel surfing late the other night, having just woken up from my second nap, I went past one broadcast channel on which I saw and heard the following sentence uttered by a young woman: “He was a businessman so he would do anything to turn a profit.” I caught a glimpse of the name and it w... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (8 messages)
So, Here We Go Again!
by Tibor R. Machan
The lawsuit against a Kentucky school district over a Confederate flag prom dress, set to go to trial in August, is yet another illustration of what trouble is caused by public or government schooling. When Jacqueline Duty reportedly alleges that the Russell Independent Board of Education denied her right to free speec... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (2 messages)
Machan's Musings - Liberty & Journalism
by Tibor R. Machan
What journalists should and should not do as professionals can vary, depending on where they do their work, what topic they are dealing with, how often they publish, etc. and so forth. But there are objective standards of journalism—what students are supposed to learn about in journalistic ethics courses. It is no... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (6 messages)
Machan's Musings-Controversy: Private vs. Public
by Tibor R. Machan
If you read even just a couple of magazines or newspapers, or check in with some blogs, the presence of controversies cannot escape you. Consider, just for starters, what gets written in National Review versus, say, The Nation, The New Republic, Commentary, or Reason Magazine, say on environmental issues or... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (1 message)
Machan's Musings - Defending Larry Flynt & the Danish Cartoons
by Tibor R. Machan
Maybe you have forgotten, but there’s a guy in America, named Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler’s, who was lionized in The People v. Larry Flynt, a 1996 movie, despite publishing one of the filthiest, nastiest, and slickest magazines on earth. Why? Because he wouldn’t give in to censors and kept defending his right to ... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (0 messages)
Machan's Musings - Respecting Another's Ideas
by Tibor R. Machan
It’s often said that people of one faith or set of convictions respect the ideas of those with whom they disagree. Say, you are a Roman Catholic, I a Lutheran or Muslim. Do we really respect each other’s beliefs? It may appear so because in some regions and historical periods of the world when large num... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (1 message)
Machan's Musings-Revisiting Objectivity
by Tibor R. Machan
In ordinary terms, to achieve objectivity one needs to check one's own likes and dislikes and guard against their influence and also check for influences coming from outside, such as flattery on the psychological front, or obstruction of visibility on the perceptual. To avoid bias one needs discipline and ... (Read more...)
Discuss this Article (8 messages)
|
