Are property rights enough?

Should libertarians care about cultural values? A reason debate.

War on Terror + War on Drugs = ?

DEA agents claim they are being forced, illegally, to conduct counternarcotics operations in Afghanistan. What does this merging of the war on terror and the war on drugs mean?

Obama Ends HIV Travel Ban

Obama is signing an order allowing immigrants and travelers with HIV to once again visit the country. The ban was instituted in the Reagan administration, likely due to the association of AIDS with homosexuals, so it seems that the overturning of the ban may be a symbolic victory for the LGBT community. More importantly, however it ends a longstanding discriminatory policy against those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Obama Defends Bush Era Warrentless wiretapping

No surprise here, but yet another moment where Obama chooses to defend the Bush administration now that he is in office.

Man Charged with Indecent Exposure for Being Naked in His Own Home

Just an interesting story for discussion.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/22/naked-man-charged-with-in_n_330037.html

Elinor Ostrom and the Economics of the Commons

John Stossel writes an interesting piece on Elinor Ostrom (the most recent and first female of the Nobel Prize for Economics). Her studies seem to indicate that, contrary to widespread belief, that common property is not inherently poorly managed, and that collective users may manage resources better than the government in such situations.

Two Essays on Government

Here is an essay, and an important follow-up.

LA to Crack Down on Pot Dispensaries

Los Angeles law enforcement officials are planning to crack down on medical marijuana dispensaries, in a move that will likely close hundreds of stores and may regulate the business out of existence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/us/18enforce.html?_r=1&hp

Obama's Gay Rights Speech - Meaningless?

Whatever Obama says tonight in 'support' of gay rights, can we consider it meaningful? He has shown no real desire to support this minority thus far, so why should we (or for that matter, the organization that invited him to speak) feel that this will change?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_gays

Obama and Better Relations in Iran

Obama's Nobel Peace Prize is, admittedly, ridiculous. However, it is interesting to note that some diplomatic progress has been made on the Iranian nukes issue in the past few weeks.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/10/02/iran/index.html

http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2009/10/a-good-beginning-with-iran.html