What Libertarianism Can Do For The Poor

What Libertarianism Can Do For The Poor

Government intervention in our economy is currently taking a massive toll on living standards, especially for the poor, who do not have high disposable incomes and spend the majority of their cash on basic essentials. They take the brunt of rises in the cost of living. We can create a richer society where the costs of living fall, and living standards rise faster.

Here’s how we will do it.

Cheap Accommodation

The cost of housing has skyrocketed over the last five decades and with it the cost of …

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The Death of Castro

The Death of Castro

The death of Castro requires special comment as social media has been awash, over the last couple of days, with celebrations of the man who has presided over a country where doctors are paid $25 a month, teacher $15, and the best paid professions are taxi driver and prostitute. A nation where people need vouchers to buy food.

But what can you say to someone who loves Big Brother?

Some of his champions naively blame the U.S. embargo on Cuba for these conditions but, while the embargo …

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Misanthropic Myths about 3rd World Poverty debunked!

Misanthropic Myths about 3rd World Poverty debunked!

One of the most persistent myths about 3rd World Poverty is that if underdeveloped nations are allowed economic advancement and become wealthy it will be some kind of unmitigated environmental disaster. Is that so?

Wealthy countries can afford to clean up their water supplies after fouling them and treat their sewage properly. They can replant their forests, put recycling infrastructure into place, and farm sustainably. Countries without wealth can’t do that. In places like Bangladesh people must scramble to make a living with no long-term …

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We Shouldn’t Even Need a Basic Income to Meet Everyones Needs!

We Shouldn’t Even Need a Basic Income to Meet Everyones Needs!

Over the past couple of years the popularity of the proposal for a basic income, paid to everyone in the country regardless of their income and occupation (or lack of one) has become increasingly popular. For people on lower incomes it would be in the form of a “negative income tax”; for people on higher incomes it would take the form of a tax deduction; and for people in between they would get a graded combination of both.

It’s easy to see the appeal.

It would make sure that …

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The Collapse of Venezuela

The Collapse of Venezuela

The collapse of socialism in Venezuela is significant although I doubt it will change the hearts and minds of the left here at home as we are subjected to the usual litany of excuses: “western imperialism,” “oil prices,” “trade sanctions,” and most predictably: “That wasn’t real socialism…”

Whenever and wherever socialism invariably collapses, bad governments are blamed, bad politicians, or nasty dictators…

Hugo Chavez was different. He was not a savage dictator. He really believed in socialism and tried to do everything within his power for his people.

He still …

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Libertarian Press Release and Manifesto

Libertarian Press Release and Manifesto

The Scottish Libertarian Party today (27/4/16) announce the launch of their Electoral manifesto for the upcoming Scottish Elections on the 5th May.

Alan Findlay, Party leader, said of the release:

“I’m very proud that The Scottish Libertarian party today announce the launch of their manifesto in their first national election. We are a new party dedicated to reversing the slow death of free speech in Scotland, and the only party dedicated to fiscal responsibility and a reduction of the tax burden, returning Scotland to real economic growth.”

Some …

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Why Scottish Libertarians Matter

Why Scottish Libertarians Matter

Ain’t it great to have a choice?

So who will it be at the ballot box this year? One of the big-government liberals on the left, or one of the big-government conservatives on the right? The liberals want to be your mammy. The Conservatives what to be your daddy. Is there anyone who wants to treat you like an adult?

Enter The Scottish Libertarian Party who will be standing 4 candidates in The Scottish Elections this year.

We are against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and adventurism …

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Why Mechanisation Does Not Cause Unemployment…

Why Mechanisation Does Not Cause Unemployment…

While nominally the adoption of machines can result in job losses; across the economy itself mechanisation does not cause unemployment but in fact frees people up to do more productive work and provides a breadth of benefits that improve the living standards of everyone.

Mechanisation has often been misconstrued to provoke unemployment but this is a fallacy that has been slain time and time again by economists. If it were true, then surely by this point in technical advancement there would hardly be a job left …

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Capitalism Yes! Conservatism NO!

Capitalism Yes! Conservatism NO!

Free Markets have taken on a bad rap in Scotland where capitalism is about as popular as a beef burger at vegan potluck, but that is only because our public perception of capitalism has largely been handed to us by the Tories – a corporatist party who have never in our lifetimes made the moral or utilitarian case for capitalism.

The fact is The Conservatives have never really been for free markets. Even The Thatcher Administration massively increased the size of the state, particularly when it …

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Living Wage : The Road to Hell… is paved with good intentions.

Living Wage : The Road to Hell… is paved with good intentions.

Why The Scottish Libertarian Party are not endorsing The Living Wage

Often people are incredulous as to why anyone would oppose the living wage. It seems to make sense, right? A fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay?

Why would The Scottish Libertarian Party choose not to endorse this law? Why would any Libertarian – someone who believes in personal freedom – oppose that?

Actually there are some fairly nuanced and well considered reasons for opposing the living wage that may surprise you – here are five …

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