What’s a Libertarian?

Posted on November 16, 2010 by LibertyInsight

Most Americans have a fairly firm grasp on what it means to be a Republican or a Democrat; but what the heck is a Libertarian? It’s a term you don’t hear often in the media or in the classroom, and libertarian ideas don’t translate well into sound bites. Because of that, I believe there are many misconceptions about libertarianism. The word libertarian has taken on a stigma of being weird or outside of the mainstream. Is it justified?

Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

What if Paul Krugman was a Personal Trainer?

Posted on November 12, 2010 by LibertyInsight

Trainers Michaels and Krugman square off

For the few remaining Americans who aren’t familiar with the TV show “The Biggest Loser,” it’s a reality show in which two teams of portly contestants are whipped back into shape over the course of the series by a pair of hard-nosed trainers. Never mind the irony of sitting on your couch watching obese people exercise, the appeal of the show, for many, is watching people working hard and supporting each other to achieve a dream that seems all but impossible.

In a way, America is a bit like these contestants. At one point we may have been fit and healthy, but lately we’ve let ourselves go a bit. We’ve gotten lazy and rested on our laurels. We’ve become addicted to sweets such as cheap credit, unfunded entitlements and borrowing from future generations. Why cook a healthy meal or save for your future when it’s easier, and oh so much tastier, to go to McDonald’s or let the government take care of you? And our collective waistlines have grown, literally and figuratively. The housing bubble crash of 2008 was sort of like a mini heart attack that woke us up to the fact that we can’t go on living like this. It’s time to get back in shape. But how?

Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | Tagged | Leave a comment

State of the Economy 2010 Revisited

Posted on November 12, 2010 by LibertyInsight

[This post is a reprint of a paper I wrote in October of 2010 for my friends. It’s a bit long for blog format. For a pdf of the original format of this paper click here.]

October 26,2010

Introduction

This paper is a follow-up to a paper I wrote last April titled, “The Precarious State of the US Economy and How to Protect Yourself from a Collapse of the US Dollar.” The original paper outlined the fundamental problems with our economy from the perspective of Austrian Economics. I discussed how the policies that our government and Federal Reserve are following would exacerbate the problems and lead to high inflation.

In this paper I want to highlight some new developments and answer some questions I’ve gotten, primarily about gold and silver. My purpose is not to give investment advice. My purpose is not to depress you before the holidays. My purpose is to alert you to the possibility of a rapidly falling dollar and suggest ways to protect your savings. I hope you’ll do your own research and decide for yourself.

In addition to the resources I recommended before, I would highly recommend watching “The Crash Course” by Chris Martenson. It’s a three hour presentation (broken into short chapters) that will blow your mind and allow you to see the future in a whole new light.

Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Investing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Precarious State of the US Economy and How to Protect Yourself from a Collapse of the US Dollar

Posted on November 12, 2010 by LibertyInsight

[This post is a reprint of a paper I wrote in April of 2010 to alert my friends to the major headwinds still facing our economy and to suggest ways to protect themselves from the posibility of a stagnant economy and a depreciating dollar. It’s a bit long for blog format. For a pdf of the original paper click here. I wrote a follow-up to this paper in October outlining some new economic developments which can be found here.] 

April 27, 2010

Introduction

If you’ve been watching the financial news channels or reading popular magazines lately you know that the economy is on the mend towards a speedy recovery. The cover of Newsweek for April 19th states, “America’s Back! The Remarkable Tale of Our Economic Turnaround.” The stock market has bounced back nicely from its lows a year ago. Our financial institutions have come back from the brink of collapse to post huge profits. GDP has begun to increase in recent months and the economy just started adding jobs instead of losing them.

But is it true?

Posted in Economy, Investing | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Welcome!

Posted on November 11, 2010 by LibertyInsight

Liberty Insight is a discussion of economic and social issues from a liberty-minded perspective. We aim to show why a free society- based on voluntary interactions- brings people together and improves the quality of life for all. We also aim to help people protect and build their wealth in extraordinary economic times.

Please spread the word by sharing posts you like on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, or your favorite online community. And don’t forget to subscribe on the right sidebar to get your weekly dose of liberty.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Welcome!