We’re a dairy state that calls itself America’s Dairyland while banning sales of natural, unpasteurized milk to adults. This ban, and ones like it across America, are harder to justify each day. See, Advocates Say Raw Milk Is Worth The Risk: NPR. Even an critic of raw milk consumption, like FDA bureaucrat David Acheson would…
Liberty
Liberty
Reason.tv: New Threats to Freedom
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Reason.tv, there’s a half-hour video of a panel discussion about a recently-published anthology, New Threats to Freedom. That title sounds ominous, but it needn’t be, as discussions about liberty forfend the prospect of a more restrictive and regulated society. The panel discussion makes me eager to read the book — available from Amazon,…
Holiday, Liberty
Citizens, Not Subjects
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a fine story at the Washington Post (free registration req’d) entitled, “Jefferson Changed ‘Subjects’ to ‘Citizens’ in Declaration of Independence.” It’s long been known that Jefferson made changes as he worked on his draft of the Declaration, as anyone would. ONly in one case, however, did he erase a word entirely, and substitute a…
Law, Liberty
Reason.tv: “Citizenship and the Pursuit of Happiness”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over an Independence Day holiday, I can think of no more inspiring story than that of people who have become American citizens. Enjoy. “Reason.tv caught up with immigrants to learn why they moved to a country that defines itself as a multicultural melting pot. Citizenship: The Pursuit of Happiness was produced and edited by Dan…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Can Government Tell You What You Must Eat? Is There No Limit to Federal Power Under The Commerce Clause?
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a lot of commentary about the Kagan nomination, although public interest seems tepid. I’ve not mentioned anything about her nomination, mostly because I have no strong view. I believe she’s surely adequately qualified in education, experience, and intellect. She’s no one’s ideal nominee, but absent a showing of official misconduct, the president’s qualified nominees…
Freedom of Speech, Liberty, Politics
Our Robust Heritage: “The Feuding Founding Fathers”
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve contended consistently that robust, polemical commentary is part of the American political tradition, and that it always has been. (On the left side of FREE WHITEWATER, there’s a link to a few examples from different times in our long history.) Ron Chernow, author of Alexander Hamilton and Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller,…
Law, Liberty
Reason: Libertarians Respond to [Victory for Individual Rights in] McDonald v. City of Chicago
by JOHN ADAMS •
Law, Liberty
Ilya Shapiro on McDonald v. City of Chicago: “The Court Restores a Fundamental Right”
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Cato@Liberty, Ilya Shapiro offers his early assessment of a United States Supreme Court case correctly applying the Second Amendment to the states. See, Ilya Shapiro on McDonald v. City of Chicago: “The Court Restores a Fundamental Right.” He’s right to note how close this decision was, and how unfortunate and unsettling it is…
Law, Libertarians, Liberty
Cathy Young on Racism, Civil Rights, and Libertarians
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s been a controversy over remarks that Rand Paul, a Republican candidate for U.S. senate made, about the 1964 Civil Rights Act. While on an MSNBC program, Paul (the son of libertarian-leaning Republican Ron Paul) implied that he supported the right of private private businesses to decide whom to serve. (The 1964 Act prohibits the…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Huffington Post: Making the Business Case for Dairy Farmer Civil Disobedience
by JOHN ADAMS •
The war against raw milk sales in a dairy state, a war whose generals are big business interests, is underway in Wisconsin. I’ve written about previously about Governor Doyle’s veto of a bill allowing modest raw milk sales, and about regulatory badgering of dairies that offer raw milk for sale. (Some raw milk may be…
Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Culinary Freedom
by JOHN ADAMS •
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Politics
Institute for Justice: Protecting Grassroots Activism
by JOHN ADAMS •
Freedom of speech and assembly are rights the United States Constitution, and the Wisconsin Constitution, readily recognize. Activism — persuading someone to a cause — should be free in a free society. Better put, we could not be a free society if conditions were otherwise. And yet, that simple truth runs against the schemes of…
Libertarians, Liberty
Bob Barr’s Keynote Address to the 2010 Libertarian National Convention
by JOHN ADAMS •
2008 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr spoke to this weekend’s 2010 LP Convention. He posted his address online at his website. Here are excerpts from his address: Keynote Address Before The National Convention of the Libertarian Party Delivered By Bob Barr, 2008 Libertarian Party Nominee for President of the United States At St. Louis,…
Free Markets, Liberty
“Tracy Foster is Free Enterprise”
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are many inspirational videos available online, but few more so than one of the entries to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “I am Free Enterprise” video contest. A video about small-business owner Tracy Foster, who makes a line of stylish camera bags, is now a finalist in the Chamber’s contest. (I wrote about the…