Article: What Is To Be Done? — A Comment on Angelo Codevilla’s “Ruling Class”

Anti-Statism, Articles, Democracy, Education, History, Libertarian Theory, Non-Fiction Reviews, The Right
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In his paper “America’s Ruling Class – and the Perils of Revolution” Professor Angelo Codevilla offers an excellent analysis of the causes and forms of government encroachment into the basic traditional liberties of Americans, and a very good sketch of the reasons why big government ideology succeeded in imposing its tenets upon the country, despite overwhelming opposition by Americans. The problem America faces, according to him, is nothing less than a complete usurpation of power by an alienated elite: the ideologues of big government and the politicians that work in concert to subvert the structure of the American constitution, and to rule over the great majority of Americans against their will. Professor Codevilla paints a very grim (and very true) picture of the complete breakdown of the constitutional form of government in America, under the assault of the modern statist ideology, delivered in a bipartisan manner, and garnered with political corruption. But he fails to provide prescriptions radical enough to deal with the problem, perhaps because he too is a member of that big-government-worshiping elite.

Ivan Jankovic is a graduate student of Political Science at the University of Windsor, Canada. Originally from Serbia, he has published in the fields of Austrian economics, public choice, and classical liberal philosophy.

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Don’t Vote

Anti-Statism, Statism
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Slave Suggestion Box (anti-voting)A relative in Singapore called and said “Happy Election Day.” Somewhat in jest. I have relatives and friends begging me to vote this time–Republican of course–“to kick those Marxists out of office.” Yes, to replace them with the Republicans, who a few years ago started two wars, added Medicare Prescription socialism, and began the Bankster Bailouts. Yeah.

Last year I took my 6-year old with me to the polls and let him watch me cast a blank ballot. But a friend on Facebook recently admonished me:

Any participation in the voting process, even casting a blank ballot in protest, is acknowledging, perpetuating, and giving legitimacy to the state and its system.

Withdraw from the state. Don’t vote at all. Embrace agorism. Spread freedom like a virus.

And of course the anti-voting position is common among many anarchist libertarians.1 I’m still not completely convinced that it’s immoral or unlibertarian to vote–especially just casting a blank ballot–but I’m leaning in that direction; and I certainly think there is no duty to vote. One libertarian I know thinks that while it’s problematic to vote for a candidate for a given office, it’s less problematic to vote on a ballot measure or law itself (like legalizing drugs or lowering taxes). Not sure, but I don’t think I’m going to vote today.

  1. See Wendy McElroy’s various articles and resources, such as Why I Would Not Vote Against Hitler, The Good Intentions Paving Company, Act Responsibly: Don’t Vote!, Anti-voting Resources; also John Roscoe and Ned Roscoe, Don’t Vote: 20 Practical Reasons; Carl Watner, Non-Voting; George H. Smith, The Ethics of Voting; John Pugsley, Harry, Don’t Run!. But see  R.W. Bradford, Voting Is No Sin. ↩

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The Halloween Theory of the State

Anti-Statism, The Basics
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Some people in society will always be bullies, tricksters, frauds, and terrorists.

The classical theory of the state has it that government is instituted to protect good citizens from the depredations of the Bully and Trickster class, and is made up of fine, upstanding leaders — heroes all! — in pursuit of this noble aim.

The Trick-or-Treat, or Halloween, Theory of the State has it that the state is made up of those bullies, tricksters, frauds and terrorists. By organizing into politically governing bodies, and accepting our bribes (taxes, not candy), their behavior becomes less obviously anti-social than otherwise (as is the case with tricksters participating in Halloween’s “trick-or-treats” tradition). The big conceit is …

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Announcing the C4SIF

Anti-Statism, IP Law
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I have just founded the Center for the Study of Innovative Freedom (C4SIF). The inaugural message announcing it is reproduced below:

C4SIF

Welcome to the website for the Center for the Study of Innovative Freedom (C4SIF), a new center formed to build public awareness of the manner in which laws and policies impede innovation, creativity, communication, learning, knowledge, emulation, and information sharing. As noted in the sidebar, the Center opposes state intellectual property (IP) law as contrary to private property rights, and in particular seeks abolition of patent and copyright and other state laws, policies, and practices that distort or impede innovation. We intend to provide news commentary and analysis and scholarly resources from our unique pro-property, pro-market, pro-innovation, anti-IP perspective.

Our Advisory Panel comprises most of the leading radical, pro-market, anti-IP thinkers in the world. Our home, for now, and main activities, will be centered around this Site. Key anti-IP publications are collected on our Resources page; on our blog we intend to carry regular news and analysis, including that of many of the members of the Advisory Panel. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or suggestions.

—Stephan Kinsella

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