Archive for January 2009
Mises and Peace
Ludwig von Mises, the founder of Austrian Economics, was more than just an economist. His ideal economic system of free markets and minimal government intervention arose from a vision of peace, freedom, and prosperity. Mises was one of the greatest intellectual proponents of libertarian ideals and maintains a strong following in contemporary academic circles. Ron Paul is one of the few American politicians to pay homage to Mises, but the vast majority of politicians fail to concern themselves with economic theory altogether. To learn more about Mises, visit the Mises Institute at mises.org. Here are some quotes from Mises relating to the codependency of peace and free markets:
“If you want to abolish war, you must eliminate its causes. What is needed is to restrict government activities to the preservation of life, health, and private property, and thereby to safeguard the working of the market. Sovereignty must not be used for inflicting harm on anyone, whether citizen or foreigner.”
“But what is needed for a satisfactory solution of the burning problem of international relations is neither a new office with more committees, secretaries, commissioners, reports, and regulations, nor a new body of armed executioners, but the radical overthrow of mentalities and domestic policies which must result in conflict.”
“The only means to lasting peace is to remove the root causes of war.”
A Year to Remember
Today marks the first day of what will hopefully be a year of progress and prosperity for America. As we reflect on the year past, we see a year that will certainly be remembered. The question Americans should ask themselves is, “will we learn from this year of disappointments, or will we continue down the slippery slope of surrendering our liberties to what has certainly become an oppressive and irresponsible federal government?”
Will we demand of our new president the “Change” he promised? Will we continue to tolerate an aggressive and impractical foreign policy? Will we continue to accept the paper debt that we now carry very little of in our wallets thanks to our critically suffering commerce in the stead of something of true value? Will we begin to involve ourselves in and strengthen our local governments, or will we continue to accept oppression handed down from our federal government? Will we continue to pay excessive tax money to our government so that it may continue to spend irresponsibly?
Our nation was founded by patriots. Let us be like them. Let us vote responsibly. Let us hold our representatives accountable. Let us demand reform from Republicans and Democrats, and if they will not see the err of their ways, let us remove power from them. No one is stopping us from voting for third party candidates, no one is stopping us from participating in demonstrations, and no one is stopping us from writing letters to those who represent us. Not yet. Like I said above (I believe 2008 will support my saying so), we are on a slippery slope. We have gotten into the business of electing officials that do not have our interests in mind; this year, in 2009, let’s get out of that business.
There is but one special interest that we should be working for, and that would solve just about all of our problems, and that is our liberty.
-Dr. Ron Paul
If we free ourselves that we might meet our potential as human beings our country will flourish. Let us heed the words of Dr. Paul before our government takes away our ability to pursue our own interests.
I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.
-Thomas Jefferson
This 2009, let us rebel, so that we may enter 2010 better than we are today. In 2009 let us rid ourselves of financial hardship by shedding the shackles of economic intervention on the part of our government. Let us reject our current militaristic foreign policy and promote peace around the globe. Let us demand that our government respect its constitution. In 2008 we were promised change. In 2009, let’s have it. The UM Constitutionalists wish you a very happy new year, and we wish that you would join us in our efforts to improve this nation.
