Collected Links for Select Topics
This document brings together some of my more timeless articles on select topics. For essays on Harry Potter, see the web page devoted to my book, Values of Harry Potter. For my complete catalog of articles, see my current blog, my AriArmstrong.com archives, my FreeColorado.com archives, and my pre-2008 archives.
Abortion Rights
Anti-Abortion 'Personhood' Tries for Round Three
November 21, 2011
I covered a media conference announcing the proposed 2012 language for a "personhood" ballot language. Complete video of the conference is embedded.
Alcohol
Free Colorado's Beer and Liquor Markets
June 6, 2011
This talk summarizes the case for repealing the restrictions on beer and liquor sales. Currently Colorado law prevents most grocers from selling regular-strength beer, wine, and hard liquor.
Art
Rand, Aristotle, and the 'Flayed Ox'
July 21, 2011
Rembrandt's "Flayed Ox" can also prompt us to take life seriously, contra Rand's criticism.
Climate Change
Warming Prophets Create Climate of Smear
September 28, 2011
"[T]he real debate is between the views of 'human-dominated climate change' and 'nature-dominated climate change.'"
Colorado History
Walter Walker Opposed Grand Junction's Socialists
April 28, 2011
In the early 1900s, Daily Sentinel "editor Walter Walker waged rhetorical war against the city's socialists."
Corporations
Corporations Aren't People, So Stop Taxing Them
August 8, 2011
True, corporations aren't people. So we should stop taxing them as though they were. (Corporations are composed of individuals, each of whom retains his rights.
Drug War
Stop the Hatchet Job on Medical Marijuana Shops
July 8, 2011
Updates on the war on drugs, with special focus on efforts to close down a medical marijuana shop in Palisade.
Economics
Why Spending More for Local Goods Harms the Economy
May 27, 2011
This article criticizes a "buy local" campaign, invoking the works of Bastiat.
Education
Free Market Arguments Against Vouchers
October 13, 2011
Vouchers are not free-market reforms, and they create a number of problems.
Another Look at Education Tax Credits
August 19, 2011
"Because tax credits fundamentally presume the government's authority to forcibly transfer wealth for education, I do not believe they are worth the investment of resources necessary to achieve them."
Do CO Vouchers Pass the Constitutional and Moral Test?
July 19, 2011
Colorado's Constitution prohibits tax funding of schools operated by religious institutions. In any case, vouchers forcibly transfer wealth.
Free Speech
Gessler Emerges as the Free Speech Secretary of State
December 13, 2011
Colorado's onerous campaign finance laws violate free speech. Yet, within the boundaries possible to him, Secretary of State Scott Gessler attempted to mitigate the harms of those laws.
Reviewing CO's Campaign Laws
December 8, 2011
In talks at Liberty On the Rocks, Diana Hsieh and I review the onerous restrictions of Colorado's campaign finance laws. Diana also explains and supports rules proposed by Secretary of State Scott Gessler.
Left and Right Assault Free Speech
July 28, 2011
Restrictions on pornography and political speech violate individual rights.
Letter About Speech-Chilling Campaign Laws
July 2, 2011
My letter summarizes the case for reforming the campaign finance laws.
Making the First Amendment Part of the Conversation
May 16, 2011
Colorado's campaign finance laws violate freedom of speech. This article links to several others on the topic.
Health Policy
Health Insurance and Personal Responsibility
September 24, 2011
"Free-market reforms make it easier for people to live and pursue a healthy and autonomous life." This article for Pajamas Media responds to the aftermath of a GOP debate in which Wolf Blitzer asked Ron Paul if "society" should let people without health insurance die.
The Left
Elizabeth Warren's 'Social Contract' an Ideological Fantasy
September 28, 2011
In this article for Pajamas Media, I explain why Warren's attack on economic liberty is unfounded.
The Saul Alinsky Connection: Obama's Unprincipled Class Warfare Threatens the Nation
September 16, 2011
Obama implements Rules for Radicals.
Nation Needs Shared Liberty, Not Sacrifice
September 2, 2011
This article reviews Obama's appeal to sacrifice and the meaning of sacrifice. "[W]e must reject shared sacrifice and instead demand shared liberty."
A Koch Protest and a Smile
July 29, 2011
The hypocritical left protests the Koch brothers.
Libertarianism
Why I'm Not a Libertarian
May 9, 2011
In this talk and write-up, I explain the basic reasons why I'm not a libertarian.
The Media
Contra Occupiers, Profits Embody Justice
June 5, 2011
I discussed the news media with the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Program. See also the interviews I conducted for this.
TV Reporters to Register with the Federal Government
April 1, 2011
They don't really have to register, but journalists should consider threats to their own liberties when they advocate the violation of others' liberties.
Occupy Wall Street
Contra Occupiers, Profits Embody Justice
December 2, 2011
This article for The Objective Standard explains why, contrary to the assertions of various Occupiers, profits in a free society embody justice.
Occupy Wall Street: In Their Own Words
November 11, 2011
I interviewed six Occupiers in Zuccotti Park in New York.
Student Loan Scheme Just Another Rights-Violating Bailout
October 28, 2011
The government ought not "bail out" businesses or individuals with forcibly seized wealth.
The Justice of Income Inequality Under Capitalism
October 19, 2011
This article for The Objective Standard responds to typical cries against income inequality from Occupy Wall Street.
Occupy Denver Steals Services, Destroys Property
October 14, 2011
Occupy Denver protesters broke various laws and violated others' rights.
Occupy Denver and Free Speech
October 13, 2011
The right of free speech does not justify lawlessness and property-rights violations.
How to Actually "Separate Government from the Corporations"
October 11, 2011
Some Occupiers said they want to separate government from corporations. Here's how to accomplish that.
Occupy Wall Street: Bob Glass Reports
October 7, 2011
"The supreme irony was not lost on me that so many of these people had ipads and ipods and were using them with great success to organize their movement."
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand As Atheist: Skepticamp Talk
August 30, 2011
I review Rand's basic atheistic ideas.
Smearing Ayn Rand (Again)
July 18, 2011
Many of Rand's critics rely on fact-challenged smears rather than reasoned arguments.
Social Security
Don't Privatize Social Security
August 23, 2011
In this short talk, I argue that Social Security should be phased out, not "privatized."
Eina Kleina Social Security Analysis
May 18, 2011
I criticize Ezra Klein's commentary on Social Security.
Tar Baby
Denver Post Readers Reply to 'Tar Baby' Op-Ed
August 14, 2011
When Congressman Doug Lamborn used the term "tar baby," the left went nuts. Here I explain that the tar baby comes from African folklore. This includes links to several other articles on the topic.
Tax Policy
Yes, A National Sales Tax is Constitutional
October 25, 2011
While it might be a bad idea, a national sales tax passes Constitutional muster.
"Fair Tax" Offers Neither Fairness Nor Simplicity
October 12, 2011
This debate in The Objective Standard evaluates the relative merits of a national sales tax.
Let's Eliminate the Sales Tax
September 22, 2011
Sales taxes should be eliminated, not expanded. This blog post links to other supporting articles.
CA Assaults Amazon Affiliates
July 6, 2011
California got into the "Amazon Tax" game. The Associated Press later reported that a California law "delays until at least September 2012 online tax rules."
Stop the 'Amazon Tax!'
March 10, 2010
This is a lengthy backgrounder of the Amazon Tax.
Spending Limits Protect Against Factions
June 10, 2011
The Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
Does TABOR Violate the U.S. Constitution?
May 24, 2011
No.
Tea Party
Voices of the Tea Party
April 19, 2011
How do you learn what Tea Partiers really think? Ask them.
Voting Integrity
Why Voting Integrity Requires Proof Positive
October 3, 2011
"[V]oting is the positive evidence required for an election result, and that positive evidence must be collected and presented according to reasonable standards of integrity."
Left Targets Gessler for Protecting Voting Integrity
September 30, 2011
Scott Gessler had good reason to ask counties not to mail ballots to inactive voters.