A Mixed Hand for Liberty's Last Stand
Claremont's New Libertarian Magazine Makes Greatest Hits -- and Spectacular Misses
Ross Sevy
Last Updated: 3/6/10 Section: Campus
Recently the Claremont Colleges have been fortunate enough to get a new journal of opinion:, Liberty's Last Stand. And of course the campus welcomess another perspective to the ongoing campus debate. The journal started off with a bang, condeming both left, for spending and bailouts, and right, for its efforts in national security. Liberty's Last Stand also put forth several ideas the libertarians feel would be good for America, California, and even Claremont McKenna College. Some were impressive, some were interesting, but some seemed a bit less reasonable.
There were several articles that were particularly enlightening to read in Liberty's Last Stand. Among them was one attacking Keynesean economic polices entitled, "The Great American Boondoggle," which went after the current administration for having unrealistic expectations of its Stimulus Bill. Another intriguing article, entitled "Reclaiming Libertarianism," made a strong case for individuals to be more philanthropic with their spending, playing off of the sterotype that libertarians are misanthropes. There was also a strong argument against the creation of a "nanny state" in California in an article entitled, "Nanny Knows Best!" in which Karthik Reddy refers to California's recent actions, banning trans fats and cigarettes, as "paternalistic."
Other articles, however, brought to light discussions I never thought I would hear. After all, how often does one see an argument for polygamy? In "The Polyamorous Predicament," Ariel Katz made an inspiring argument for the freedom of individuals to make contracts with whomever they want. Perhaps even more interesting was an argument against the War on Drugs. The article, "A War Not Worth Winning," used environmental, economic, and several other reasons as to why we should not try to keep drugs out of America. The author unfortunately did not address the moral implications of allowing unrestricted drug use. For example, who is supposed to care for the families of those who develop drug problems from opening this floodgate? Are we just supposed to say, "Well they made their own bed, now they must lie in it?" Or should we be taxed for more social programs to help the families of the addicted because of amoral political decisions?
There were several articles that were particularly enlightening to read in Liberty's Last Stand. Among them was one attacking Keynesean economic polices entitled, "The Great American Boondoggle," which went after the current administration for having unrealistic expectations of its Stimulus Bill. Another intriguing article, entitled "Reclaiming Libertarianism," made a strong case for individuals to be more philanthropic with their spending, playing off of the sterotype that libertarians are misanthropes. There was also a strong argument against the creation of a "nanny state" in California in an article entitled, "Nanny Knows Best!" in which Karthik Reddy refers to California's recent actions, banning trans fats and cigarettes, as "paternalistic."
Other articles, however, brought to light discussions I never thought I would hear. After all, how often does one see an argument for polygamy? In "The Polyamorous Predicament," Ariel Katz made an inspiring argument for the freedom of individuals to make contracts with whomever they want. Perhaps even more interesting was an argument against the War on Drugs. The article, "A War Not Worth Winning," used environmental, economic, and several other reasons as to why we should not try to keep drugs out of America. The author unfortunately did not address the moral implications of allowing unrestricted drug use. For example, who is supposed to care for the families of those who develop drug problems from opening this floodgate? Are we just supposed to say, "Well they made their own bed, now they must lie in it?" Or should we be taxed for more social programs to help the families of the addicted because of amoral political decisions?
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