Voters Around the World Are Cooling on Populists, Gravitating Toward Technocrats
Plus: A very blunt Senate candidate, bad news for business mergers, and more...
Democracy
My New Article on "How Judicial Review Can Help Empower People to Vote with Their Feet"
The article challenges longstanding conventional wisdom claiming that judicial review of democratically enacted laws is at odds with popular political choice.
Sen. Sinema Savages Democrats' Shortsighted Filibuster Sabotage
Both parties want to kill the filibuster when they are in the majority, and that's exactly why it needs to stick around.
January 6 and the Problem of Political Ignorance
Ignorance and bias played a major role in the attack on the Capitol and in the continuing belief of many Republicans that Biden didn't really win the 2020 election. The issue is part of the broader problem of political ignorance and bias, which is by no means confined to any one side of the political spectrum.
My Beta Shepherd Website List of "The Best Books on Migration Rights and Democracy"
I picked three books I largely agree with - and two that I mostly don't.
This Year Wasn't as Bad as 2020, But We Deserve Better
It sucked for avoidable reasons.
Mindfulness Is What's Missing From the Political Arena
Politics isn’t going away, so we can at least try to make it less bad.
My New "The Week" Article on "The Case for Empowering Americans to Vote with Their Feet"
How foot voting can expand political freedom for Americans, particularly the poor and disadvantaged.
America's Divisions May Have Passed the Tipping Point
If we can’t learn to leave each other alone, the country may have a violent meltdown.
COVID-19 Made Democracies More Authoritarian and Authoritarian Regimes Even Worse
A new report says many democracies have taken steps that are "disproportionate, unnecessary, or illegal" to curb COVID.
Should We Lower the Voting Age to Six?
British political scientist David Runciman says the answer is "yes." And he makes a stronger case than you might think.
Forthcoming Revised Edition of my Book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom" [Updated with Corrected Oxford Univ. Press Discount Code]
The revised edition addresses several new issues including arguments that migration must be restricted to curtail the spread of dangerous diseases, such as Covid-19, claims that immigration might generate a political backlash that threatens democracy, and the impact of remote work on foot voting.
Anthony Downs, RIP
One of the greatest political economists of the 20th century passed away earlier this month.
Bernie Sanders Thinks 48 Senators Make a Majority
The Senate's leading progressive seems to misunderstand the basic math of American democracy.
My National Affairs Article on "Voting With Our Feet"
The article explains how expanding opportunities for foot voting can enhance political choice, help the poor and disadvantaged, and reduce the dangers of political polarization.
Do Voter ID Laws Suppress Minority Turnout? A Soho Forum Debate
NYU's Eliza Sweren-Becker debates Hans von Spakovsky of The Heritage Foundation
Do Voter ID Laws Undermine the Democratic Process or Ensure Trustworthy Elections?
NYU's Eliza Sweren-Becker debates Hans von Spakovsky of The Heritage Foundation
Cato Unbound Symposium on "Immigration and Institutions"
The symposium includes contributions by Ben Powell, Peter Skerry, Eric Kaufman, and me.
Are Voter ID Laws Antidemocratic and/or Unconstitutional?
A puzzle about the former; an argument about the latter
The Real Enemies of Democracy
Putting criticisms of the Senate, Electoral College, and Supreme Court in perspective.
My New Article on "Migration and Self-Determination"
The article, which is available free on SSRN, criticizes claims that governments have a right to exclude migrants based on various theories of self-determination.
Society Is Richer and More Accepting, Thanks to Libertarian Ideas
And yet neither Democrats nor Republicans represent those principles.
Ilia Reviews a Book by Ilya
Specifically, political scientist Ilia Murtazashvili has published a review of my book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom," in a leading political economy journal.
Americans Reject Republicans and Democrats in Record Numbers
Plus: More Cuomo allegations, the "cult of now," the state budget apocalypse that wasn't, and more...
Biden Administration Revokes Trump Changes to Citizenship Test for Immigrants
The previous administration had made some reasonable changes, but also introduced questions based on factual errors and questionable normative assumptions smuggled in under the guise of factual knowledge.
Happy 100th Birthday, John Rawls!
Today is the 100th birthday of the most influential political philosopher of the second half of the twentieth century.
My New Article on "Freedom Through Foot Voting"
The article adapts and expands some of the ideas developed in my recent book "Free to Move," and is now available for free download on SSRN.
It's Not Just Trump. California Labor Unions Are Trying To Reverse the Outcome of an Election Too.
California Democrats and their labor union allies are embracing anti-democratic principles to thwart the will of the people.
Capitol Police Failed To Contain a Riot, Then Killed a Woman in the Chaos
Yesterday's events at the Capitol building should be understood as a colossal law enforcement failure.
Trump Tweets About Mike Pence's Betrayal While His Supporters Force the V.P. To Evacuate the Capitol
Pence had been presiding over the tally of Electoral College votes before rioters broke into the Capitol Building, forcing him to flee.
Crackdown: 53 Dissidents Arrested in Hong Kong
China accused the activists and former legislators of "subverting state power."
Perils of Trump's Conspiracy-Mongering About the Election
His promotion of far-fetched conspiracy theories about the election is highly unlikely to change the results. But it is damaging, nonetheless.
Junk Science Alert: Washington Post Says Data Prove the GOP Has Grown More Authoritarian But Democrats Have Not
Trump is a wannabe despot, but let's not pretend the other side is flawless.
Does Biden Have a Mandate? Should it Matter?
Like almost every newly elected president, Joe Biden claims he has a mandate. But does he? And should we care?
My "Jurist" Article on Expanding Freedom of Choice by Empowering More People to Vote With their Feet
The combination of foot voting and decentralization of power can offer people more and better choices than are available at the ballot box.
Is there a Moral Duty to Vote in an Election Where the Stakes are Unusually High?
There could be in some situations. But less often than many assume. And, ironically, the same reasoning suggests many people would have a duty NOT to vote in such cases.
Why Biden is a Lesser Evil than Trump
Both candidates have serious flaws. But a Trump victory would be a much greater evil than the alternative.
My LA Times Op Ed on Why the Constitution Requires Including Undocumented Immigrants in House Reapportionment Counts
The issue is currently before the Supreme Court in the case of Trump v. New York.
Video of My University of Virginia Talk About my Book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom"
The event was sponsored by the Miller Center for Public Affairs.
Asked About a Peaceful Transfer of Power, Trump Says 'We're Going to Have To See What Happens'
Trump's garbled response probably wasn't a sign he's planning to subvert the election. But it was a failure of presidential competence.
Gun Control Puts Your Life at Risk
In the 20th century, far more people were murdered by genocidal governments than by armed criminals.
Cato Unbound Symposium on the 50th Anniversary of "Exit, Voice, and Loyalty" Continues
Adam Thierer, author of the lead essay, has a response to his critics.
Justifying a Moral Duty to Vote is a Lot Harder than You Might Think
Political philosopher Jason Brennan explains why.
Is the Senate Filibuster a 'Jim Crow Relic' That Should Be Abolished in the Name of Democracy?
Politicians' opinions about the maneuver depend on which party is in power.
Upcoming Cato Institute Virtual Book Forum on my New Book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom"
The event will be held on August 13, and is free and open to the public.
Boulder Refuses To Lift the Cap on Unrelated People Living Together. Housing Advocates Plan To Sue the City.
The Bedrooms Are For People campaign would repeal the city's existing limits on unrelated people living in the same house.
Designing Institutions that Promote Foot Voting and Minimize Potential Downsides
Fifth and final post in a series based on my new book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom"
Addressing Common Objections to Migration Rights
Fourth in a series of posts based on my new book "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom."
