Category Archives: Property Rights

Yes, Open Borders Is Libertarian

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Dan Thompson

In a recent blog post, “libertarian” anarchist blogger Christopher Cantwell argues that, contrary to widespread perception, the libertarian position on immigration is not open borders, but rather severely restricted immigration. According to Cantwell, the libertarian is in favor of “privatizing” borders. Cantwell … Continue reading →

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Are Libertarians Hypocrites for Wanting the State to Enforce Anti-Gay Discrimination?

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Dan Thompson

Although Arizona’s controversial SB 1062 (the so-called “gay segregation bill”) appears to be dead for now, the liberal hand-wringing continues. As before, many of the criticisms of the law have no basis in reality (Salon’s Elias Isquith lazily conflates the … Continue reading →

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Freedom of Association vs. Coercion in the Case of the Homophobic Florist

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Dan Thompson

The Washington State Attorney General’s Office is suing a florist for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. According to the lawsuit, Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Wash., illegally discriminated against a customer on the basis of … Continue reading →

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Steven Landsburg Asks If Rape Should Be a Crime When the Victim is Unconscious

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Dan Thompson

In a recent blog post, University of Rochester economics professor Steven Landsburg poses three questions related to public policy. The first deals with censorship of pornography, the second with oil drilling and the third with rape when the victim is … Continue reading →

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Freedom in the 50 States…For Rich White Business Owners

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Dan Thompson

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has released its 2013 Freedom in the 50 States report, and this year North Dakota has taken the number one spot. So how did the state that just passed the nation’s strictest abortion law … Continue reading →

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Wired Opinion: We Should Be Allowed to Unlock Everything We Own

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Dan Thompson

As congress considers legislation to re-legalize cell phone unlocking, iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens argues at Wired.com that we should be allowed to unlock everything we own: “The issue goes beyond cellphone unlocking, because once we buy an object — any object — we … Continue reading →

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“Gun Rights” Are Just Property Rights

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Dan Thompson

With the current debate over “gun rights” vs. gun control, everyone seems to be missing the point: Instead of looking at guns as some “special” category of property, with greater or lesser protection than other types, we should instead treat … Continue reading →

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Atheists vs. Cajun Cuisine, and The State Against All

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Dan Thompson

Imagine you own a restaurant, and that as a dedicated patron of the performance arts you decide to give a discount to customers who come in with a program from a play, musical or opera. Nothing wrong with that, right? … Continue reading →

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