Tag Archives | Reason

Reason on the Libertarian Moment

by Agent on November 30, 2008 in Orgs | Comments { 1 }

Reason’s Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch cheerlead the freedom movement in the 40th anniversary edition of Reason. They suggest that, despite what is going on in the halls of power, this is the libertarian moment:

Understanding the Libertarian Moment is fundamental to understanding the 21st century. Power—economic, cultural, political—will accrue to those people who recognize that it’s over for existing power centers. The command economy, the command culture, and the command polity have all been replaced by a different model—that of a consultant, a docent, a fixer, a friend. The individuals and groups that will flourish in the Libertarian Moment will be those who open things up, not shut them down.

and

The Internet alone has created entire new economies, modes of scattered and decentralized organization and work, and a hyper-individualization that would have shocked the Founding Fathers. Liberated from the constraints of geography and 20th century career paths, Americans are more productive than they ever have been and their jobs are more personalized than ever, with strictly enforced punch-the-clock jobs morphing into flextime, telecommuting gigs.

It’s a much appreciated and much needed message of optimism.

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Weigel leaves Reason

by Agent on November 27, 2008 in Orgs | Comments { 0 }

David Weigel, the political reporter for Reason Magazine, made the following announcement:

at the start of December I am leaving reason magazine, my journalistic home since April 2006. You could not concoct a better 30 months to be the political reporter for America’s flagship libertarian journal. I was there when the Republican party hit the rocks in 2006 (and I’m afraid I helped cost Jeff Flake his committee seat). I covered the Ron Paul r3VOLution from start to… well, is it finished yet? I was there when Bob Barr joined the Libertarian Party, there when he became its presidential candidate, and there when he ended his campaign by blowing out the candles on a birthday cake.

He reports that the parting with Reason was amicable. Weigel fans can read him at the Economist’s Democracy in America blog and at the new and appropriately titled daveweigel.com.

H/T Gordon Unleashed

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Ron Paul’s e-coordinator criticizes the Campaign for Liberty

by Agent on November 25, 2008 in Orgs | Comments { 0 }

Justine Lam tells Reason’s David Weigel her thoughts on Congressman Paul’s post-election venture:

“I was very skeptical at first,” Lam told me last week, “and I still am. Without Kent Snyder’s direction and vision [longtime Paul friend and ideas man Snyder died this year], this can degrade into one of Ron’s organizations from the past. Look at FREE—it’s nothing. All they do is self-publish Ron’s book, and not even at high quality. These organizations became salary collection devices for people close to Ron Paul. They didn’t become real forces like the Institute for Justice, for example, that are able to create change. They just exist.” Lam criticized the CfL for its “long, rambling” early e-mails—while it’s improved since launch it’s still not a group that has anything to teach Republicans.

The Campaign for Liberty’s mission is “to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a noninterventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.”

We will track their progress and wish them luck.

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Freedom Communications Receives the Flame of Freedom Award from Reason

by Agent on November 12, 2008 in Orgs | Comments { 1 }

The Reason Foundation recently honored R. David and Judith Threshie and Richard A. and Patricia Wallace, the owners of Freedom Communications, with its Flame of Freedom award for their “commitment to individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law” and released the following statement:

“The Threshies and Wallaces have been unwavering voices in the ongoing battle to advance freedom,” said David Nott, president of Reason Foundation. “As Reason celebrates four decades of free minds and free markets, we salute these families for their dedication to individual liberty.”

Mr. Threshie is the Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Freedom Communications and the former publisher and Chief Executive Officer of the Orange County Register. Mr. Wallace serves as a trustee of Reason Foundation and recently retired from his role as Vice President of Corporate Affairs of Freedom Communications. He served on Freedom’s Board of Directors from 1968-2007.

Mrs. Threshie and Mrs. Wallace are granddaughters of R.C. Hoiles, the libertarian founder of Freedom Communications. Through the leadership of the Wallace and Threshie families, Freedom has continued to uphold Hoiles’ commitment to liberty while acting as a partner in the vitality and growth of every community served by the company.

Hoiles, who built a communications empire based on his personal values of integrity, individual responsibility, and respect for freedom and community, died in 1970. Today, Freedom Communications, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a privately owned information and entertainment company of 33 daily and 77 weekly newspapers, eight broadcast television stations, and a wide variety of Internet publications and businesses.

The Flame of Freedom recognizes the contributions of the Threshies and Wallaces in developing, applying, and promoting the libertarian principles of individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law.

More about Freedom Communications and their reach from their site:

Freedom Communications, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications, broadcast television stations and interactive businesses. In addition to the television group, the company’s portfolio includes 33 daily and 77 weekly newspapers, including The Orange County Register, magazines and other specialty publications, plus news, information and entertainment websites to complement its print and broadcast properties. Freedom’s newspaper publications have a combined circulation of more than one million subscribers. The broadcast stations – five CBS, two ABC network affiliates and one CW affiliate – reach more than 3 million households across the country.

We hear a lot about “media bias” but what doesn’t have bias? It’s good to see some that’s pro-liberty for a change.

H/T Orange Punch, also owned by Freedom Communications.

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