Prospects for Liberty - 2016

Richard Ebeling emails:

Dear Bob,

I participated in the December 29, 2015 “Libertarian Angle,” webinar sponsored by the Future of Freedom Foundation, with the Foundation’s president, Jacob G. Hornberger, on the topic: “Prospects for Liberty - 2016.”

With the end of 2015, the question was, what might be expected for liberty in the new year of 2016. It could be said that it is “the best of times, and the worst of times.” Looking at short-run politics and policies the future seems to forebode further growth of government and loss of liberty. But at the same time the technologies of the internet and the  failures of collectivist ideas has brought about a new and enlarged awareness and interest in the ideas of liberty.

The important principles to focus on, however, are that “ideas of consequences” and that “trends can change.” The politics and policies of today reflect trends of ideas of fifty or sixty or seventy years ago. To change the policies of the future we must change the “climate of opinion” so in future decades the direction can again on the path of liberty.

Trends that seem inevitable have changed many times, even within people’s own lifetimes. And such a change in trends is far from being predictable and need not take decades. So we must be “positive” that the statist trends of today could be changed in a more liberty-oriented direction at any time.

Looking to the New Year, we must do our job of learning and articulating the philosophy of freedom as effectively as possible. And if we do that, a change could and can come – even during the next year.

The webinar runs for about 35 minutes. At around the 31-minute mark, my dog, Fritzie, a standard, royal Poodle, makes a “cameo” appearance.

All best wishes for the New Year!

Best,
Richard