The dispute over Harvard's decision to rescind the admission of Parkland shooting survivor/gun rights activist Kyle Kashuv should remind us of the reasons why we should not have given any special status to his views in the first place. The same goes for most others in similar situations.
The seemingly new version of socialism advocated by many on the left today has all too many flaws in common with the old kind.
Russia's interference in the 2016 election was wrong. But the reasons why are harder to pin down than you might think. Not all foreign interference in elections is unjustified. Far from it, in fact.
Under pressure, democracies have a nasty habit of acting like panicked crowds.
A new symposium outlines several ideas for improving our democratic system. All are worth considering. But none are likely to be as good as expanding opportunities for people to "vote with their feet."
If its recent record is any indication, Winston Churchill might have been wrong about democracy.
Canadian columnist Andrew Coyne explains why efforts to combat fake news by cutting off supply are barking up the wrong tree.
A Canadian Supreme Court decision striking down a law denying the right to vote to expats who have resided abroad for over five years raises broader questions about democratic theory.
The Introduction to the revised second edition summarizes the rest of the book, and is available for free.
My book chapter on this subject from the "Cambridge Handbook of Classical Liberal Thought" is now available on SSRN.
"The road to democracy is not irreversible-not in Moscow, not in America, not anywhere."
Few will agree with Cambridge political scientist David Runciman's proposal to lower the voting age to 6. But standard reasons for rejecting the idea raise serious questions about many adult voters, too.
Bush lost because voters punished him for the recession of the early 1990s - an event he did not cause. This is just one example of a broader phenomenon of voters rewarding and punishing politicians for things they do not control.
If referenda are a legitimate mechanism for making political decisions, then it is also legitimate for them to be overruled by new referenda. Those who live by the referendum sword risk dying by it.
Democracy is clearly superior to despotism. But libertarians are still right to worry about voter ignorance and advocate tighter constraints on government power.
Barring an early release, Rep. Ron Reynolds will miss the entire 2019 legislative session.
It is not yet clear who will win. But widespread political ignorance already ensures many of us will be losers.
Contrary to the fears of some pundits, the U.S. is not on the brink of civil war. But the explanation for that is far from entirely reassuring.
The tech giant appears willing to do almost anything to win access to the vast Chinese market.
Legal scholar and National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen explains how many of the Constitution's safeguards against "mob rule" have frayed. His description of the problem is compelling, though he is less strong on possible solutions.
"Government is about power. Government is not just another word for things we do together," said Sasse.
Efforts on both right and left to make the democracy-promotion the key focus of constitutional law should be rejected.
Saving liberal democracy one platitude at a time
Democrats and Republicans reject individualism and free speech and both have become dangerous to our liberty.
Economist Dambisa Moyo is right to worry about the dangers of political ignorance. But her proposed solution for the problem falls short.
This forthcoming article discusses how we can massively expand economic opportunity by making it easier for people to "vote with their feet," both domestically and through international migration.
Recent events such as the student walkout to promote gun control raise the issue of how much credibility we should give to the political views of the young, and victims of crime. At least as a general rule, there is no reason to give those views any special credence.
Seattle's vouchers, passed to give outsiders a leg up, instead act as campaign welfare for well-established candidates.
Rights are theoretical unless you can defend them.
When elected officials regularly run unopposed, there's no democratic accountability.
The alleged fraud highlights the ways in which the controversial program has failed to help outsider candidates.
A program intended to empower voters has instead funneled public money to most organized and funded campaigns.
When the press tilts in favor of higher taxes and more regulation, democracy is indeed distorted.
Californians would be better equipped to govern themselves fairly.
Striking findings from Pew Research
Populism is a result of government's separation from its citizens over decades.
Go find out at "Your Life In Numbers" over at the Human Progress program at the Cato Institute
The people's best political framework is neither democracy nor epistocracy but original liberalism, or what we today call libertarianism.
A reminder from libertarian philosopher Jason Brennan, author of Against Democracy
The power's with the people.
Dictatorships may value literacy as much as democracies, but they value life a lot less.
But he'd be a better fit for an autocracy
If Hispanic immigrants had backed a strongman, conservatives would have declared them a threat to freedom.
The next U.S. president doesn't need to try to set the world right.
Help Reason push back with more of the fact-based reporting we do best. Your support means more reporters, more investigations, and more coverage.
Make a donation today! No thanks
Every dollar I give helps to fund more journalists, more videos, and more amazing stories that celebrate liberty.
Yes! I want to put my money where your mouth is! Not interested
So much of the media tries telling you what to think. Support journalism that helps you to think for yourself.
I’ll donate to Reason right now! No thanks
Push back against misleading media lies and bad ideas. Support Reason’s journalism today.
My donation today will help Reason push back! Not today
Back journalism committed to transparency, independence, and intellectual honesty.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Support journalism that challenges central planning, big government overreach, and creeping socialism.
Yes, I’ll support Reason today! No thanks
Support journalism that exposes bad economics, failed policies, and threats to open markets.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Back independent media that examines the real-world consequences of socialist policies.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Support journalism that challenges government overreach with rational analysis and clear reasoning.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Support journalism that challenges centralized power and defends individual liberty.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Your support helps expose the real-world costs of socialist policy proposals—and highlight better alternatives.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks
Donate today to fuel reporting that exposes the real costs of heavy-handed government.
Yes, I’ll donate to Reason today! No thanks