Libertarian Commentary #16-12D, By Nathan Barton
The bomb attacks on targets and civilians in Brussels continues to dominate the news, with Fox News reporting that the Caliphate (Islamic State, or ISIS) has claimed credit, although immediate challenges to the validity of the message have been posted. Fox News also reports that “reportedly” more explosive devices were found, and that the Belgian police claim that the type of devices found (using nails) as shrapnel “proves” that these are part of the same gang and plot. I realize that modern technology and security laws make nails very hard to buy and use (sarcasm here, folks) so surely this must be true. The impact of the bombing is reverberating around the world. In Denver (as reported by Newsweek), DIA had a partial lockdown as security forces reacted (overreacted, in the opinion of many) to a loose piece of luggage, apparently crawling or rolling towards a convenient explosion point. Continue reading
Bad schools, bad banks, and bad media
Libertarian Commentary #16-12E, by Nathan Barton
We all think of “institutions” as being at least essential, if not always good. Churches, schools, banks, the press, and so much else were taken for granted as GOOD things for centuries, but today we get enough information to be able to see them for the horrible things that they often are. Here are a few stories to help us understand why our libertarian future is going to be better off without the overwhelming domination of these institutions. Some version of them may exist, but they will be far different.
Is college good for you? Not for millions of people who have gone deeply into debt getting what seems more and more like a worthless piece of paper. The Foundation for Economic Education reports that barely half of student loans are being repaid today. Or paid on at all. (I know one person who owes $60,000 in loans, has for at least three years, and hasn’t paid back a PENNY. In part because he can’t get a job, and in part because the “business management” degree he got is worthless, and the private, on-line school he owes the $60K to has all the scholarly qualifications of your typical ghetto grade school.) Meanwhile, the colleges (and not just these internet horrors) keep jacking up their prices as they get more and more staff and more and more amenities. It is, more than ever, a scam, just as it has been for 40 years for all but a few professional and technical degree fields. No wonder the squatter in DC (and at least Bernie Sanders) are touting free college education: because that is exactly what 90% of them are worth. Continue reading →