If you have the stomach to follow political debate at all in the United States, you cannot avoid the constant references to the government’s “Founding Fathers” — the small group of political heroes who make up the grand pantheon of antique moral authorities invoked to justify almost every form of political action today.
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For my previous article introducing the topic of free-market justice, please click here.

The individualist-anarchist view of justice is based on a two-pronged approach: (1) eliminating the state; and (2) replacing it with voluntary associations in which defense is viewed as a commodity or service, like education. Defense associations would function in a manner similar to modern insurance companies. Beyond a basic coverage, customers would choose the particular level and type of service they desire, just as they currently choose the deductible on their car insurance and whether or not to cover collision damage.

Would such a system include trial by jury?
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Many voluntaryists have looked longingly toward Somalia for evidence of our ideas in practice. But it’s a little tough when that real-world example also happens to be the quintessential image of extreme poverty and feuding warlords for most people.

Nonetheless, sometimes an article appears that rightly points out that comparing Somalia to developed nations is a little intellectually dishonest. In fact, Somalia has improved by virtually every measure of standard of living without a state, or when compared to its neighbors that still have a state.
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I have a fundamental objection to the prison system that I rarely hear raised. Why does a man who steals a loaf of bread lose his freedom of speech? Why does a woman who vandalizes a car lose the freedom to associate with her children? These questions are a challenge to those who view rights as social constructs as well as those who believe they are inalienable. Stated in more general terms, how is it that aggressors lose virtually all freedom because of what might be a minor transgression?
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Peter Thiel, an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, was born in Germany in 1967. He cofounded PayPal (which was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion only one year after PayPal went public), he was an angel investor in Facebook, and he now sits on that extremely successful company’s board of directors. These are only a few of his spectacular achievements. (more…)

What does it mean to be an anarchist in a world where the state has its hand in every aspect of our lives? How can we actively work to make the world a freer place? We must withdraw our consent to be governed, but it doesn’t require a mass movement of resistance. We can do it, little by little, with the small choices we make every day. A very simple and easy way to get started is to begin using more open-source software.
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For part 1 of this article, introducing the theme of private currencies, click here.

Benjamin Tucker, the great 19th-century libertarian, argued that nothing was more important to freedom than destroying the monopolies created and maintained by the state. The most destructive monopoly and, therefore, the most important to destroy, was legal tender and the banking system. (more…)

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is exploding like a force of nature into the streets and around the globe. Libertarian anarchists are deeply conflicted in their responses to the protest, because the movement’s message is deeply flawed and often cacophonous.

One of the voices rising from the pavement is that of libertarian-leaning Chris Savvinidis, whose entire message can be summed up in three words: “End the Fed.”

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Arguably, the biggest hurdle to pass for anyone new to anarcho-capitalism is the ability of the free-market to arbitrate and enforce law. Indeed, I have met many diehard libertarian activists who are familiar with the concept of free-market anarchism, but have yet to wrap their heads around justice without the state. To be sure, it does take a fair amount of mental gymnastics and imagination. But if you’re willing to take the time to problem solve in your head I believe you will come to the same conclusion I, and so many others, already have.

These videos will walk you through the basics. If you have any questions or concerns about topics left out in these videos I encourage you to first play around with the problem in your head and see if you can figure it out on your own. Then, if you still have questions or concerns I warmly invite you to post them in the comment section below. Let’s get this topic worked out so that we can compete against the state in a meaningful and efficient manner – in the marketplace.

As many of us ex-Republicans (and ex-Democrats) on this website already know, becoming a libertarian wasn’t a comfortable transition. It’s always stressful to have your views challenged, especially if they aren’t fully developed, and it’s even more stressful when you realize that you were wrong. It seems like human beings will jump through any loophole in order to prove themselves correct despite overwhelming evidence against them.

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