Murray Rothbard addresses all the critical questions. Do libertarians believe that individuals are isolated, acting without influence? Are we libertines? Naive rationalists? Utopians? Do we promote selfishness? Before judging and evaluating libertarianism, it is vitally important to find out prec ... Read more

Atlanta Journal Constitution: "They came in droves -- high school students, retirees, young moms, the unemployed -- all for a shot at a job at a new Wal-Mart on Memorial Drive in central DeKalb County. In just two days, and with virtually no advertising or even any signs, a staggering 7,500 peop ... Read more

In discussion of gold as a monetary institution I often hear that the supply cannot expand fast enough to accomodate economic growth. But why should this be true? (For a related discussion, see Bob Murphy's response to David Frum's articles on the gold standard.). The idea that economic ... Read more

Although Congressional procrastination on the alternative minimum tax means filing delays for some taxpayers (blogged here ), the IRS is sticking to its usual schedule for most of us who plan to e-file. Beginning today, we can electronically submit our 1040s to the IRS ... if, of course, ... Read more

U.S. stock futures lower on American Express, Merrill fears " U.S. stock futures on Friday slipped after the previous session's rate-cut-hope fueled advance, with write-offs for American Express and, possibly, Merrill Lynch, providing food for bears." Gold for February delivery ... Read more

You might be a redneck if you've ever gone ditch surfing I never saw this when I lived down South, but it looks like fun. HT: Neal Boortz. ... Read more

High Tech and High Comfort Are In from Realtor Magazine Online , reports that forecasters looking ahead in 2008 are seeing greener homes, high-tech comfort and a still-flat market. David Pratt, a principal in the Lorax Partnership consulting firm and president of the Baltimore chapte ... Read more

Here is a reader question about debt collectors we received this week: Back in 03, I purchased a computer for $1500.  A week later the same computer was advertised at $499.00 (what a difference huh?) so i tried to get in touch with any sales rep to bring the price down.  I got no ... Read more

Tired of reading yours truly on evils of the FairTax? Here is Bruce Bartlett's newest analysis of the tax that's anything but fair: " Why the FairTax Won't Work ." Mr. Bartlett has written a very exhaustive and very thorough critique of the FairTax. Since presidential wannabe Mike Huckabee bac ... Read more

I came across this rave review in a letter dated July 18, 1959 from Murray Rothbard to the Volker Fund: In a forthcoming review of Henry Hazlitt's The Failure of the "New Economics" in National Review , I write that this is the best book on economics to be published since Mise ... Read more