Tag: property

Walter Lippmann, whose anti-democratic skepticism changed the course of American politics in the twentieth century.

3,142 words

Part 4 of 9 (Chapter 1 here, Chapter 3 here, Chapter 4 Part 2 here)

Politically, democracy means the sovereignty, not of the average man — who is a rather narrow, short-sighted, muddle-headed creature — but of a matured public opinion, a very different thing . . . In the forming of this opinion the sage has a million times the weight of the field hand. With modern facilities for mind influencing mind, democracy, at its best, substitutes the direction of the recognized moral and intellectual élite for the rule of the strong, the rich, or the privileged. — Edward Alsworth Ross, Changing America (1912) (more…)

The Founding Fathers were not what they are often seen as today.

6,140 words

Part 3 of 9 (Chapter 1 here, Chapter 2 here, Chapter 4 Part 1 here)

Of the things for which I summoned the people to assemble,
was there one I compassed not? . . .
This is how the people will best follow their leaders:
If they are neither unleashed nor restrained too much. — Solon, circa sixth century BC (more…)

3,552 words

Part 2 of 9 (Chapter 1 here)

In all countries the rights of the majority take care of themselves, but it is only in countries like England, enjoying constitutional liberty, and safe from the tyranny of a single despot, or of an unbridled democracy, that the rights of minorities are regarded. — Sir John A. MacDonald (more…)

2,459 words

Several trends in the United States related to home ownership are developing that I find rather startling. Some of those trends have been slow, taking decades to mature, and perhaps have been noticed by many. Other trends are more acute temporally, springing up only over the past few years. These trends have altered the landscape of home ownership, and overall have made home ownership and housing security far more difficult for most Americans. (more…)

Christopher Lasch

2,180 words

Part 1 of 2 (Part 2 here)

Christopher Lasch
The Revolt of the Elites & the Betrayal of Democracy
New York: W. W. Norton, 1995

Christopher Lasch (1932–1994) was an American historian who taught for many years at the University of Rochester, authored a number of important books, and spoke beyond academia to the broad, educated public. (more…)

1,638 words

The people who have been born into and grown up completely steeped in the modern world have many problems on their plate. One of these problems is the question of freedom. However, one man’s “freedom” is not necessarily another’s. (more…)

3,749 words

Paul Shamplina & Kate Faulkner
The Landlord’s Friend: Landlording Advice from the Experts
England: Designs on Property, Ltd., 2014

Becoming a landlord is a bit like becoming a leader. If you are smart enough, you get put in charge of something sooner rather than later. Likewise, if you are smart, it is quite possible that you will become a landlord. (more…)

4,996 words / 32:13

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Charles Robin
La gauche du capital: libéralisme culturel et idéologie du Marché
Paris: Krisis, 2014

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2,374 words

Part 3 of 3 (Part 2 here)

Social control

The core problem of Propertarianism is its phobia of naked power, (more…)

Curt Doolittle

3,239 words

Part 2 of 3 (Part 1 here, Part 3 here)

Whiggery vs. Abrahamism

First of all, let’s say that there’s been no systematic exposition of Propertarian philosophy, either from Curt Doolittle or John Mark. There’s no book to read and precious few online resources to peruse, and so we’re left with trying to discover the philosophy from Curt’s many Facebook updates and online interviews. (more…)