Freedom Home Page of the Week Archive Winter = 2002

you are=20 here: Free-Market.Net = > Freedom Network = > Page = of the=20 Week > Archive =20

Freedom=20 Home Page of the Week
Directory by=20 Topic | Recommend a = Home=20 Page=20

click this banner to visit our sponsor | = click here=20 for sponsorship information

September 5, 2002
LifeSharers=20

Organs are abundant. Everybody has them, after all = -- and=20 enough people die, of one cause or another, to provide = organs for=20 those who will die without a transplant. = Unfortunately,=20 getting hearts, lungs and livers from their late donors to = living=20 recipients has proven to be a difficult process. Last year, = more=20 than 6,000 Americans died while waiting for organs that = never came.=20 The waiting list grows five times as fast as the rate of = organ=20 donation, and about half of the patients awaiting transplant = die=20 before an organ becomes available.=20

Why? Well, in a word, "government."=20

We know that organ transplants save lives. We know that = the=20 market is the most efficient and equitable provider and = distributor=20 of goods and services, including organs and transplant = surgery.=20 Government, however, can't resist the temptation to meddle.=20

There's no market incentive to donate organs. People = aren't=20 allowed to sell theirs (even when they're dead and don't = need them=20 any more, they can't dictate that their organs be sold and = the=20 proceeds distributed to their heirs). Patients aren't = allowed to buy=20 them.=20

Because there is no market incentive, a lot of people = don't=20 bother to fill out an organ donor card or make their wishes = known to=20 their families. Their valuable organs, which might have = saved lives,=20 go into the ground with them. Our bureaucrats, it seems, = would=20 rather have a "charitable" organ donation regime that = doesn't work=20 than a market mechanism that does.=20

LifeSharers is out to change that. No, = they aren't=20 buying or selling organs, but they are offering an = incentive=20 for donors. LifeSharers members agree to donate their organs = when=20 they die, with the requirement that other LifeSharers = members who=20 need transplants get first preference in receiving those = organs.=20

It's as simple as that, really. Membership is free. The = incentive=20 is that, if you someday need a transplant, your previous = commitment=20 to donate your organs will move you up the waiting list, = past those=20 who made no such commitment. If the idea catches on, lives = will be=20 saved as people decide to become donors and organs become = more=20 available.=20

LifeSharers is in its early phase, with only a few = members (I'm=20 one of them). They've already attracted the attention and=20 endorsement of some very respected libertarians and they're = seeking=20 support for their common sense idea from organ procurement=20 organizations and ethics bodies.=20

Drop by LifeSharers today -- and, if you find their idea = as=20 intriguing and forward-looking as I do, become a member.=20

For other perspectives on the issue of organ transplant, = check=20 out Organ Keeper, OrganSelling.Com or two of my own = articles ("Let's put organs on the free market" = and a reprise of it) on the subject.=20

August 29th, 2002
Movementarian=20

Reviewing a satire site is difficult -- I mean, what can = you say=20 other than "it bites" or "it's hilarious?"=20

Movementarian is hilarious.=20

Everyone loves satire -- provided that it's aimed at the = right=20 targets. The folks at Movementarian spare no one, but their = sense of=20 humor is often aimed at the type of numbskulls libertarians = love to=20 hate: assorted government agencies, crisis-mongers and those = who=20 demand largesse at the public's expense.=20

Reader beware: Movementarian doesn't shy from coarse, = even, some=20 might say, vulgar material. If that's not your cup of tea, = then=20 don't click on the link (unless, of course, you want to do = so with=20 friends present so that you can publicly display your = disapproval;=20 that's always an option).=20

Like I said, it's difficult to review a satire site. = About the=20 only way to really convey the site's flavor is to quote some = headlines:=20

Manatee tastes just like chicken
Environmentalists = fail to=20 protect entrepreneurs, earth melts
McDonald's introduces = new=20 McGetalife sandwich=20

All welcome breaks from the real headlines of the day, = except=20 when one pauses to reflect how ridiculous the real headlines = can=20 get. Which, I guess, is the point.=20

Enjoy!=20

August 21, 2002
Understanding Economics=20

Libertarians, as a group, are a fractious bunch. Put two = of us in=20 a room, mention an issue, and three opinions on it will = emerge, all=20 of them completely incompatible with each other. Once the = discussion=20 gets past the elementary ("freedom good -- slavery bad!"), = we're a=20 diverse bunch.=20

Of course, from the outside, we don't often appear that = way,=20 especially when it comes to economics. Although = "libertarian," in=20 Europe, has traditionally been a word used to describe = socialist=20 anarchists, in the United States it is generally understood = to mean=20 "capitalist" in the economic realm.=20

Surprise. Not all libertarians are capitalist in the = commonly=20 understood sense of the word. While Austrian/neo-classical = (and, to=20 a lesser degree, monetarist) economics tend to appeal to = most=20 libertarians, there is a growing bloc of libertarians who = subscribe=20 to the ideas of Henry George (1839-97). Disciples of = George's ideas=20 refer to themselves as Georgists, geoists or = geo-libertarians. The=20 pre-eminent organization through which they reach out with = their=20 program is the Henry George Institute.=20

"Understanding Economics" is the home = site of a=20 free course -- including all necessary materials -- in = George's=20 ideas. I'm not going to go into them in great detail here. = That is,=20 after all, the purpose of the site and the course. A brief = synopsis=20 is in order, though, and the Institute's statement of = purpose offers=20 one:=20

"... that all persons have a right to the use of the = earth and=20 that all have a right to the fruits of their labor. To = implement=20 these rights it is proposed that the rent of land be taken = by the=20 community as public revenue, and that all taxes on labor and = the=20 fruits of labor be abolished."=20

I'm also not going to argue the merits of geo-libertarian = ideas=20 here. The material offered in the "Understanding Economics" = course=20 should be sufficient for you to form your own opinion of = those=20 ideas. My job is just to point out that it exists and that = it offers=20 a different, but still arguably libertarian, perspective = that=20 readers should find interesting and engaging.=20

Have at it!=20

August 14, 2002
IlanaMercer.Com=20

[Guest column by Tom Knapp]=20

Ilana Mercer is destined to be famous for more than the = requisite=20 fifteen minutes.=20

Many of you have read Mercer's work in various = publications and=20 on various sites -- at the moment she's doing a weekly = column for WorldNetDaily -- but it's nice to have = one place=20 to go to immerse one's self in the clarity of her thought.=20

Don't take my meaning incorrectly: you'll almost = certainly find=20 something in Ilana Mercer's writings with which you = vehemently=20 disagree. As she says in one recent piece, "libertarians are = peering=20 at each other from behind ideological parapets" a lot these = days.=20

It's not our disagreements that bind us together, though. = It's=20 our agreements. And Mercer's work pierces the issues with = refreshing=20 directness and uncommonly fine turns of phrase. In a = political=20 culture where groups tend to promote female writers on some = kind of=20 "affirmative action" basis rather on the merit of their = ideas or the=20 quality of their writing -- Ann Coulter's drivel is a prime = example=20 -- Mercer stands out as the exception: an inspired and = talented=20 individual who takes the issues seriously, examines them=20 thoughtfully and dissects them with flair and precision.=20

I pick my favorites sites based, for the most part, on = content.=20 IlanaMercer.Com is replete with content, offering a variety = of her=20 articles on a broad array of issues. It is also well = designed,=20 easily navigable and not overwhelmed with extraneous stuff. = "Just=20 the facts, ma'am," per Joe Friday.=20

Enjoy.=20

August 7, 2002
FoundingFathers.info=20

I was at Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood last weekend, = and the=20 place has a "Founding Fathers" theme running throughout the=20 architecture: A giant mural featuring scenes from the early = years of=20 the nation; statues of Jefferson, Washington, etc. Putting = aside the=20 strangeness of seeing all this patriotism while walking = among the=20 graves of the greatest socialist propagandists in the U.S.=20 (Hollywood actors and screenwriters), I was still able to = work up a=20 little pride. It's easy to forget that, by the standards of = history,=20 our country was a glorious experiment: A nation created not = by the=20 whims of conquest and monarchy, but strictly according to = principles=20 of freedom and equality. Unheard of.=20

And, yeah, it failed. Even a constitution as carefully = worded as=20 ours couldn't withstand 2 centuries of power-grabbing by the = Lincolns, FDRs and LBJs of our world. But we can still gain=20 inspiration from the original intentions of the founders.=20

All of this is my way of introducing you to the fantastic = website=20 of my friend Chris Whitten: FoundingFathers.info.=20 This is the place to go to rekindle your revolutionary fire. = Everything you could want to know about the Founders can = either be=20 found on this site or directed to by this site. And, for the = flag-lovers, there is also a lot of interesting history = about our flags, the=20 one that we all know and the ones less familiar. The site is = also=20 full of links to the modern: movies, books, t-shirts, etc., = which=20 makes the ideas of the founders seem alive in a way that = strolling=20 through a cemetery somehow doesn't. This site is highly = recommended.=20

July 31, 2002
EnterpriseEconomy.com= =20

EnterpriseEconomy.com= =20 is the latest website in The Freedom Network: the = unstoppable,=20 freedom-loving juggernaut that brings you Free-Market.Net,=20 Libertarian.org, ifeminists, and several others of the best=20 libertarian-oriented sites. This is the most = economics-centered of=20 the FN sites, offering market-based perspectives on the news = of the=20 day.=20

As with all the FN sites, EnterpriseEconomy shares the = massive=20 Free-Market.Net database to get you where you want to go on = the web.=20 But, before you start surfing offsite, you'll want to read = the=20 fantastic original content. The editorials by = editor-in-chief (and=20 former economics reporter for Investor's Business Daily) = Charles=20 Oliver and Managing Editor J.D. Tuccille are interesting, = topical,=20 and very informative. In their latest, our columnists offer=20 perspectives on government overreaching (Oliver) = and mis-directed blame (Tuccille)=20 in light of the recent corporate scandals. And with the = market being=20 what it is these days, no investor should go without the = latest Analysis=20 by Brian Wesbury, the man the Wall Street Journal called = "The #1=20 U.S. Economic Forecaster."=20

Add the membership program and always-lively discussion = forums=20 that are staples of the Freedom Network, and = EnterpriseEconomy=20 should be a useful site for anyone interested in real-world=20 economics. As an employee, I may be biased, but that doesn't = mean=20 I'm wrong. Check it out for yourself.=20

July 23, 2002
The=20 Hysterical Liberal Eight Ball=20

...brought to you by Buttafly.com,=20 "Where Smart People Go To Procrastinate."=20

July 16, 2002
The=20 Rational View=20

The=20 Rational View offers a philosophical perspective on = current=20 events, specifically from an Objectivist viewpoint. The site = is=20 frequently updated, and the columns are short and concise, = which=20 makes this site a surprising rarity: a sort of philosophical = news=20 site, dealing with today's headlines from a pure = philosophical=20 perspective based on natural rights, capitalism and, of = course, Ayn=20 Rand's own brand of "selfishness."=20

The Rational View is the project of editor Wayne Dunn, = and most=20 of the articles published on the site are written by him = (though the=20 site is young, and submissions are accepted.) But where some = Objectivist sites can be off-putting in their dogmatic = approach,=20 even if you agree with them, Mr. Dunn's writing is light, = easy and=20 friendly. Which is not to say that it's not serious. Since = the way=20 people perceive reality will greatly effect the way they'll = act in=20 civil society, as well as the way they'll vote and the = policies=20 they'll champion, philosophy is perhaps the most serious and = important subject there is. If only everyone thought about = today's=20 issues from a rational view...=20

July 9, 2002
Popshot=20 Magazine=20

Popshot=20 Magazine is a indie/punk rock music magazine with a = libertarian,=20 free-market perspective. And, as pointed out in a very = persuasive argument,=20 the values of punk rock and capitalism are a completely = natural,=20 though unfamiliar, match.=20

The site is bifurcated down the middle, with columns on = politics=20 on the left side and music reviews, interviews, etc., on the = right.=20 The political articles are all enjoyable and, being = libertarian in a=20 punk-rock, pull-no-punches way, they offer some of the = clearest=20 thinking on current issues that you can find. A recent = column on the=20 recent Pledge=20 of Allegiance debacle is a perfect example, claiming = that "It's=20 difficult... to locate some sympathy for either side in this = case",=20 being that pledging allegiance to a flag is both "archaic" = and=20 "silly", and yet "the really annoying element to this whole=20 shennanigan is this jerk who thought this a suitable issue = to take=20 to court."=20

But, even if you're primarily interested in the site for = the=20 politics, I personally, highly recommend the music section. = I=20 haven't heard of every group that Popshot covers, but many = of the=20 ones that I have heard of are bands that rarely get radio = play, and=20 I am usually the only person I know who has heard of them. = Listen,=20 any website that favorably reviews Essex=20 Green, The=20 Magnetic Fields, and The=20 Divine Comedy (all more "pop" than "punk rock", but = definitely=20 "indie") is gonna get high marks in my book. Combine that = with=20 libertarian politics and it starts to get eerie. With this = kind of=20 convergence in tastes, I for one will definitely be reading=20 Popshot's music recommendations before my next CD purchase.=20

July 3, 2002
Pink=20 Pistols=20

The Pink=20 Pistols are one of those groups who deserve attention if = only=20 for the stereotypes that they discredit. A gay second = amendment=20 group? Has the world suddenly gone sane? Finally, a = gay-empowerment=20 group actually interested in empowering gays, literally! = Getting=20 guns into the hands of law-abiding people who need them, = proper=20 training for those new gunowners, and keeping the government = from=20 further infringing on our gun rights are all within the = scope of=20 this excellent group's activities.=20

The Pink Pistols are focused on action rather than words, = and=20 their website is a useful resource for gay and straight gun=20 activists across the country. An activist needs to know who = his=20 enemies are, and the Pink Pistols keep an exhaustive list of = Anti-Gun=20 Companies & People just for that purpose. There is = also=20 information on starting a local=20 chapter, attending the upcoming Pink=20 Pistols Summer 2002 Competitive Shoot, and much more. = With the=20 Pink Pistols, no longer do we have to live with the = stereotype of=20 gunowners as being separatists with beer bellies who live in = cabins=20 in the woods, not that there's anything wrong with that.=20

June 25, 2002
The=20 Constitution Society=20

If you ever need a reminder of just how shaky the ground = that our=20 society stands on is, all you need is to pick up a copy of = the=20 supposed "law of the land", the Constitution. Reading this = document,=20 which has never been repealed and is still cynically paid = homage to=20 by our elected officials, can be like reading a wild-eyed = utopian=20 manifesto from outer space. Maybe it did come from outer = space.=20 Sometimes it seems as if there are as many aliens walking = among us=20 as there are people who understand the principles of our=20 constitutional republic.=20

The=20 Constitution Society hopes to change this sorry state of = affairs=20 through research and education, and their website is an = excellent=20 start. If you've ever been inclined to think of the web as a = giant=20 library, their "Liberty Library of Constitutional Classics" = will=20 thrill you. I've rarely seen a larger or more organized = collection=20 of webbed books and articles on a single site. Absolutely = everything=20 you could care to know about consitutionalism, from Basic=20 Principles to coverage of Abuses=20 and Usurpations to a fun list=20 of public officials and personalities who avow = constitutional=20 principles. (The list of judges warns "We have found no = judges=20 anywhere who are consistently faithful to the Constitution, = but it=20 seemed appropriate to include the least unfaithful of those=20 available")=20

Being a reader of Free-Market.Net, you probably already=20 appreciate the intellectual foundations of our republic. = But, these=20 days, it is not hard for those constitutionalist muscles to = atrophy.=20 Bookmarking and returning to the Constution Society is a = good way to=20 keep from forgetting. And sending others there is a good = way,=20 through gradual education, to help return the country to = freedom.=20

Freedom=20 Home Page of the Week
Directory by=20 Topic | Recommend a = Home=20 Page

=20

3DEric
edited by Eric C. = Johnson=20

You can easily unsubscribe=20 yourself through this Web page at any time.=20

Archived Winners

= Spring=20 2002=20

= Winter=20 2001-2002=20

Fa= ll=20 2001=20

= Summer=20 2001=20

= Spring=20 2001=20

= Winter=20 2000-2001=20

Fa= ll=20 2000=20

= Summer=20 2000=20

= Spring=20 2000=20

= Winter=20 1999-2000=20

Fa= ll=20 1999=20

= Summer=20 1999=20

= Spring=20 1999=20

= Winter=20 1998-1999=20

Fa= ll=20 1998=20

= Summer=20 1998=20

= Spring=20 1998=20

= Winter=20 1997-1998=20

Fa= ll=20 1997=20

= Summer=20 1997=20

= Spring=20 1997=20

= Winter=20 1996-1997=20

Fa= ll=20 1996=20

= Summer=20 1996=20

= Spring=20 1996=20

Recommend a=20 home page

Free-Market.Net: The Freedom=20 Network is a service of The = Henry Hazlitt=20 Foundation. Contributions are tax-deductible
under section = 501(c)(3). Click here to = make a=20 donation.. E-mail our staff at feedback@free-market.net.=20