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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Actual Students for Liberty



Yesterday, Robert Wenzel ran a post regarding what he described as a Bizarre Attack on Lew Rockwell. 

I commented as follows:

Within the broadest spectrum of libertarian thinkers (when one includes the entire pseudo / thick contingent), there are only a handful that hold consistently to the NAP.

In Rothbard's time there was...Rothbard. Today there is Rockwell.

Certainly there are others - Hoppe, Block, Wenzel, etc. (you all know the names). But, and not taking away from any, the central focal point for the last 15 years – THE focal point during the internet age – is Rockwell.

He – and through his efforts, Rothbard – has had more influence than the entire pseudo / thick bunch combined.

“Bizarre Attack on Lew Rockwell”

There is nothing bizarre about it. They see Rockwell as the enemy. They have countless millions of dollars dedicated to their cause – kill the NAP, justify state intervention in the economy and in the military, more efficient government, smarter regulation, etc.

Rockwell symbolizes the NAP. He is the most visible spokesman. He is the manifestation of the idea they want to destroy.

Liberty.

I have been thinking about my approach regarding this recent explosion of articles toward thickening libertarianism beyond all recognition.  I am tired of being so negative; I have decided to look for the positive.  I have found something positive in the students for liberty; after all, they can’t be all bad.

No, not that Students for Liberty; I have some other students in mind – you know, the kind interested in actual liberty. 

The following seminars and conferences offer the finest scholarship on liberty within the tradition of Austrian economics; any of these would be of benefit to students who actually choose liberty, as opposed to some of the mish-mash being offered by others under the guise of libertarianism:

June 8-13 2014

The purpose of the Rothbard Graduate Seminar is to provide an intense study of Misesian and Rothbardian economic analytics, along with the substantive conclusions of that research in related fields.

Attendance is limited to a small number of exceptional students who are pursuing graduate degrees in economics, history, philosophy, law, political science, and business disciplines and who seek a career in academia or research.

July 20-26 2014

Rooted in the tradition of Carl Menger and Ludwig von Mises, as well as Murray Rothbard and F.A. Hayek, the Austrian School offers a rigorous and logical approach to economics that gives free markets their due and takes full account of the reality of human choice.

More than a field within economics, the Austrian School is an entirely different approach that dissents from the mainstream on method, theory, and policy. It views economic actors as unique, conscious, and freely choosing individuals, not as undifferentiated data to be manipulated mathematically or politically.

March 12-14 2015

The Austrian Economics Research Conference is the international, interdisciplinary meeting of the Austrian School, bringing together leading scholars doing research in this vibrant and influential intellectual tradition.

Can’t make it to Auburn?  Try this:


The Mises Academy (founded 2010) is the online teaching service of the Ludwig von Mises Institute (founded 1982), designed for students of all ages. Drawing on the Mises Institute’s expert faculty, and long experience in curriculum design and classroom administration, the Academy advances the scholarship and teaching of liberty using digital media. Classes have an economics focus, but cover history, philosophy, law, politics, literature, and more.

And if you want to design your own curriculum, go wherever your spirit leads you, get in touch with your inner child, and have all the flexibility you could ever ask for in education…all for free:


The most complete online offering of the literature of the Austrian School and libertarian ideas, including books, journal articles, and other writings, sorted by author or any method you choose.

For a student actually interested in liberty, I am not sure why one need look anywhere else.  One could spend a lifetime with only the free books and materials available at the site and never receive a better education in Austrian economics and liberty when compared to anywhere else in the world.

Don’t even want to read?  No problem.

There, I kept it positive!  It wasn’t easy.  On this topic, this will likely be the only time.

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