In his 1850 essay The Law, Bastiat railed against socialism, and argued that legitimate law isn’t just the will of politicians, but instead is based on protecting the natural rights of individuals. You can see inspiration in these views from Locke, Jefferson, Paine and more.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: April 26, 2024

George Washington: “It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” Thomas Jefferson: “Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.”

Path to Liberty: April 24, 2024

From Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson to Lysander Spooner - the notion that the people should submit until they can replace enough politicians to stop the government from doing what the government was never authorized to do in the first place - is only a guarantee that they'll never stop, and it'll keep getting worse.

Path to Liberty: April 22, 2024

Jefferson's chilling warnings about unchecked fiat, paper money printing proved prophetic as the U.S. plunged into its first boom-bust economic crisis in the early 19th century.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: April 19, 2024

With some of his sharpest satire and wit, Franklin told the British the top-20 ways their policies would bring their empire over the American colonies to an end. Much of it sounds pretty familiar to what we face today.

Path to Liberty: April 17, 2024

86 years and a day before the "shot heard 'round the world" - the people of Boston and surrounding towns rose up and overthrew the royal governor in a dispute that started over tax resistance to arbitrary power.

Path to Liberty: April 15, 2024

April 12, 1776 - the first official action by one of the colonies in full support of declaring independence. The Halifax Resolves was also the first example of a colony-wide assembly admitting that reconciliation with the British was no longer an option.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: April 12, 2024

Since 2011 - a combination of state laws and human action has built what is likely the most robust foundation for the advancement of gold and silver as money in the United Sates.

Path to Liberty: April 10, 2024

Supporting one version of an unconstitutional government program over another - because it seems to be the "least offensive" option - is not only what leading founders called a "fatal error," but it also sets a precedent for more of the same, and worse.

Path to Liberty: April 8, 2024

Originally implemented by the IRS - gun-control advocates want to use “Merchant Category Codes” to track purchases of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition. But the state-level 2nd Amendment Financial Privacy Act has shut those plans down - at least for now.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: April 5, 2024

For more than a decade, starting in 2013, the Utah legislature has incrementally built some of the most robust privacy protections in the country with a step-by-step approach. Over that time, Utah chipped away at the surveillance state, passing at least eight separate laws limiting surveillance.

Path to Liberty: April 3, 2024

Responding to the Coercive Acts of 1774 - the “Intolerable Acts” - the old revolutionaries were organized, coordinated - and very strategic in their approach. We’d do well to learn what they considered essential elements for success.

Path to Liberty: April 1, 2024

Consolidation - we were warned - would guarantee a destruction of liberty. But many founders seemed to believe they could pull off a “proper” or “partial” consolidation and not get a system of “unremitted despotism.”

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: March 29, 2024

In yet another example of the government rejecting founding principles by working to bring businesses under federal control, the DOJ and 16 state attorneys general accused Apple of violating Section 2 of the Sherman Act, a “law” allowing the government to intervene against companies said to be acting "in restraint of trade or commerce."

Path to Liberty: March 27, 2024

Warning that some federalists were fakes who really wanted a totally consolidated system, Federal Farmer makes the case that too few representatives, coupled with a lack of clarity over the bounds of power, would lead to a system based on force rather than consent

Path to Liberty: March 25, 2024

It’s a trap! - tacitly accepting a collectivist gun grabber view of the 2nd Amendment to oppose the Defend the Guard Act.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: March 22, 2024

One of the most abused and misused clauses of the Constitution - and also one of the most ambiguous, even at the time of the founding - the so-called “sweeping clause.”

Path to Liberty: March 20, 2024

Born March 16, 1751 - the “father of the Constitution” had plenty to say about the system he was so influential in creating - and how to enforce it when the government gets out of line.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: March 15, 2024

Racking up more wins for the constitution and liberty - the latest news from the 10th Amendment and nullification movement in the states.

Path to Liberty: March 13, 2024

Federal Farmer warned that liberty under the constitution would depend primarily on the worst of all possible checks, “the prudence, wisdom and moderation of those who manage the affairs of government.”

Path to Liberty: March 11, 2024

January 8, 1790: George Washington delivered the first message to Congress on the state of the Union. No pomp, no long partisan clapping. and the shortest ever recited by a president. The speech - especially in comparison to today’s - shows just how far modern presidents have strayed from the Constitution.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: March 8, 2024

Understanding how things got so bad is the first step on the road to recovery, the path to liberty.

Path to Liberty: March 6, 2024

“Act worthy of yourselves.” In the face of a standing army occupier - and direct threats to his own life, the great Revolutionary war hero Dr. Joseph Warren urged the people to stand firm for liberty in the face of the mighty British Empire, “until tyranny is trodden under foot.”

Path to Liberty: March 4, 2024

Big steps forward - with bills passing on sound money, privacy, the right to keep and bear arms, CBDCs and more.

Path to Liberty, Fast Friday Edition: March 1, 2024

Abigail Adams was a fierce advocate for independence, warned that power always grows, repeatedly pushed for the advancement of women, was an early opponent of slavery, a strong supporter of education - and an arms manufacturer too.

Path to Liberty: February 28, 2024