Archive-name: libertarian/faq
Version: 1.5
Last-modified: 11 Apr 1995
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIBERTARIANISM
_________________________________________________________________
Many USENET readers encounter libertarianism for the first time on
USENET. The following is a list of answers to many of the frequently
asked questions about libertarianism.
These answers have been compiled from several sources. Most of the
answers are derived or quoted from writings by David Bergland
including "Libertarianism in One Lesson" and "America's Libertarian
Heritage." Quotes were used with permission from David Bergland and
the Advocates for Self-Government as long as proper credit was
retained. All quoted answers will be marked and the source referenced
in the bibliography.
If you want more information about libertarian ideas and the Advocates
for Self-Government, send your postal mail address and phone number to:
pschmidt@world.std.com
or
Advocates for Self-Government
3955 Pleasantdale Road, #106A
Atlanta, GA 30340
(800)932-1776
Contents:
1. What is libertarianism?
2. Are libertarians liberal or conservative?
3. How do libertarians approach the issues?
4. What is the libertarian position on the military draft?
5. Should the government regulate radio, TV, or the press?
6. Why do libertarians want to repeal regulations on sex by
consenting adults?
6a. Does this apply to prostitution also?
7. Does libertarian support of personal liberty extend to drug use?
7a. But if drugs were legalized, wouldn't there be millions more
drug addicts?
8. Do libertarians support gun ownership as a personal liberty?
9. How do libertarians want to handle immigration?
10. What position do libertarians have on subsidies for farm and
business?
11. Are people better off with free trade than with tariffs?
12. What position do libertarians take on minimum wage laws?
13. What about the poor?
14. Don't we need affirmative action to keep bigoted employers from
refusing to hire minorities and women?
15. How do libertarians feel about taxes?
15a. I'm for cutting taxes, but as a practical matter, how do we
do it?
16. Aren't you going too far?
17. Won't these ideas work only if everybody is good?
1. What is libertarianism?
Libertarians want a win-win world of peace and plenty. And we believe
that the only way to get it is through self-government... NOT others-
government.
Self-government is the combination of personal responsibility and
tolerance. Responsibility means you govern yourself. Tolerance means
you don't force your values on peaceful, honest people.
Today, however, others-government is giving us insecurity, conflict
and poverty. Let's revitalize our heritage of self-government to
create a win-win world where everyone comes out ahead. [4] -- Carole
Ann Rand
2. Are libertarians liberal or conservative?
You have a better choice than just left or right. The libertarian way
gives you more choices, in politics, in business, your personal life,
in every way. Libertarians advocate a high degree of both personal and
economic liberty. Today's liberals like personal liberty but want
government to control your economic affairs. Conservatives reverse
that, advocating more economic freedom but wanting to clamp down on
your private life.
Libertarian positions on the issues are not "left" or "right" or a
combination of the two. Libertarians believe that, on every issue, you
have the right to decide for yourself what's best for you and to act
on that belief so long as you respect the right of other people to do
the same and deal with them peacefully and honestly.
Today's liberals and conservatives have rejected America's heritage of
liberty and personal responsibility. They want to put us all in their
straitjacket. Americans built a great country without shackles. It's
time to take them off again. Break free of the useless left right
spectrum. Think freedom on all issues. Think libertarian. [2]
3. How do libertarians approach the issues?
Libertarians use a caring, people centered approach to politics.
Politicians too frequently forget that their laws and regulations
affect real, live human beings. Libertarians never lose sight of that
fact. We see each individual as unique, with great potential. We want
a system which encourages all of us to discover the best within
ourselves and make the most of it. A system which encourages the
development of the most harmonious relationships among all people.
In dealing with political issues, libertarians focus on the people
involved. Who is having a problem? What is it? What is the government
doing already, if anything, and might that be the cause of the
problem?
Most importantly, Libertarians ask: is anyone violating another's
rights? Is someone committing murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud,
embezzlement, arson, trespass, etc.? If so, then it's proper to call
on government to help the victim against the wrongdoer. But, if not,
the government should not get involved.
In most instances, people are better off if allowed to work out their
own problems through voluntary cooperation without introducing the
coercive tool of government. [3]
4. What is the libertarian position on the military draft?
History shows that free people can be counted on to defend their homes
and their country. But the draft is slavery, and slaves make lousy
defenders of freedom.
I like knowing I'm being protected by people who are in the military
because they want to be there, not because they were forced against
their will to be there.
A military focused on defending America instead of policing the globe
would reduce manpower needs and further eliminate any reason to have a
draft or draft registration.
Let's let free people defend freedom. [3]
5. Should the government regulate radio, TV, or the press?
America's free press is envied by freedom-starved people everywhere.
Dictators use a controlled press to silence opposition and to feed
lies to their citizens.
Americans would not like it if the government here owned or controlled
the newspapers. Why should we like government control of TV and radio
any better? As with printed words, broadcast words can and should be
regulated by the free market.
Americans should be able to freely choose what they will watch or
listen to, without Big Brother making those decisions for them. [3]
6. Why do libertarians want to repeal regulations on sex by consenting adults?
Nothing is more personal than the way people chose to shape their
sexual relationships. Government has no business intruding into
people's bedrooms.
This doesn't mean we must personally approve of the sexual behaviors
of others. It simply means that as long as the participants are
consenting adults, no one has the right to use the force of government
laws to try to stop or punish them.
There is no justification for throwing peaceful Americans in jail
because of their sexual choices. Let's respect people's right to
control their own bodies. [3]
6a. Does this apply to prostitution also?
Every day millions of adult Americans agree to make love. There is no
justification for throwing them in jail. These are peaceful voluntary
agreements between consenting adults. A tiny fraction of these involve
money.
Criminal penalties do not stop prostitution. They just create real
problems. One study showed it costs taxpayers two thousand dollars
every time a prostitute is arrested. Let's respect people's right to
control their own bodies.
Decriminalize sex, and let it be a private affair. [3]
7. Does libertarian support of personal liberty extend to drug use?
Alcohol prohibition tore America apart once. Now it is the war on
drugs. Harsh laws and the threat of jail and fines will not stop drug
use. All they do is make it harder to help people. And just as
Prohibition created organized crime, today's drug laws keep organized
crime alive -- with all the violence and corruption that goes along
with it.
Before drugs were illegal, Americans handled them with few problems.
Let's respect the right of people to control their own bodies.
Decriminalize drugs, help those who need it, and let the police spend
their time protecting us from real crime. [3]
7a. But if drugs were legalized, wouldn't there be millions more drug addicts?
I, too, want to live in a society where people are healthy and
productive, not destroying their lives with addictive drugs.
All of the hard drugs were legal before 1914, and there were few
addicts. Studies show that even addicts can be productive, and also
that they do not engage in crime when they can get their drugs
inexpensively.
We have addicts today despite drug criminalization. We also have the
violence that is caused by drugs being illegal. Let's decriminalize
drugs so we stop the violence and get help to those who need it. [3]
8. Do libertarians support gun ownership as a personal liberty?
Libertarians,, like other Americans, want to be able to walk city
streets safely and be secure in their homes. We also want our
Constitutional rights protected, to guard against the erosion of civil
liberties. In particular, Libertarians want to see all people treated
equally under the law, as our Constitution requires. America's
millions of gun owners are people too.
Law-abiding, responsible citizens do not and should not need to ask
anyone's permission or approval to engage in a peaceful activity. Gun
ownership, by itself, harms no other person and cannot morally justify
criminal penalties.
A responsible, well-armed and trained citizenry is the best protection
against domestic crime and the threat of foreign invasion. America's
founders knew that. It is still true today.
9. How do libertarians want to handle immigration?
People have the right to travel anywhere, and to take any job offered
them, so long as they do it at their own expense and without violating
the rights of others.
A way to help the poor is to let them go where the work is, regardless
of borders. Studies show that immigrants don't take jobs from others,
they add to the economy and help create more jobs.
America was built by immigrants who came here seeking nothing but
opportunity and freedom -- and created the greatest, most productive
society ever.
Respect for human rights and compassion for the world's poor require
that we relax immigration restrictions. [3]
10. What position do libertarians have on subsidies for farm and business?
All business people, including farmers, should be able to offer their
products in a free market without being subsidized by others. The way
to help both producers and consumers is to remove government programs
and restrictions which have damaged America's free enterprise system.
Subsidies are harmful and unfair. Why should some businesses be taxed
to give handouts to others? Why should you pay higher prices to
support government favored businesses?
Let's stop this nonsense. Then business could operate in a free market
and all of us could be better fed, clothed and housed at lower cost.
[3]
11. Are people better off with free trade than with tariffs?
Free trade provides consumers with better goods at lower prices. Trade
restrictions produce the opposite: shoddy goods and higher prices.
With free trade, consumers pay lower prices for products and thereby
have more money left to spend on other goods, domestic as well as
foreign.
Free trade also helps the cause of world peace. In the 1920's and
30's, trade barriers went up everywhere, directly contributing to the
outbreak of World War II. If goods don't cross borders, armies will.
Let's end all trade restrictions and free the world's resources to be
allocated in the most efficient and productive manner. [3]
12. What position do libertarians take on minimum wage laws?
Skilled, experienced workers make high wages because employers compete
to hire them. Poorly educated, inexperienced young people can't get
work because minimum wage laws make them too expensive to hire as
trainees. Repeal of the minimum wage would allow many young, minority
and poor people to work.
It must be asked, if the minimum wage is such a good idea, why not
raise it to $200 an hour? Even the most die-hard minimum wage advocate
can see there's something wrong with that proposal.
The only "fair" or "correct" wage is what an employer and employee
voluntarily agree upon. We should repeal minimum wage now. [3]
13. What about the poor?
I want to break the chains of poverty and help the disabled. First
remove laws that prevent work. Second, privatize welfare.
Permits, licensing, zoning, labor laws. They all stop people who want
to work, especially minorities. Repeal those laws. Private charity is
more compassionate and delivers the goods better than the government
welfare plantation.
We can't make a perfect world. We can do more for the poor by
replacing inefficient government programs with effective voluntary
assistance. [1] -- David Bergland
14. Don't we need affirmative action to keep bigoted employers from refusing to
hire minorities and women?
Libertarians want to see people of all types working in the most
harmonious relationships. "Affirmative action" refers to laws which
force people into relationships whether they want them or not. Not too
many years ago, there were laws in many states which prevented people
of different races from doing a variety of things together, working,
eating, marriage, etc. Libertarians oppose all such laws because the
people involved have the right to decide for themselves whether or not
to enter a relationship or association.
An old saying states: "it takes two to tango." Relationships or
associations require at least two people. We cannot justify using
force to keep people out of voluntary relationships and we cannot
justify forcing private citizens into relationships against their
will.
Government employment is a different case. The only criteria for
employment or advancement in government work should be merit. The
Constitution requires that we all be given equal treatment under the
law. Since governments are created by law, they are Constitutionally
required to be absolutely even handed. Private citizens or companies
on the other hand have the right to be stupid and suffer the
consequences.
Attempts to correct bigotry with affirmative action haven't worked
very well. Such laws are easy for bigots to circumvent and people tend
to think minority employees did not earn their positions on merit even
if they did. They also make it possible for bigots to harass
minorities by demanding employment at minority owned businesses. [2]
15. How do libertarians feel about taxes?
Americans already obtain a host of services from private providers.
There is every reason to think that other services, from postal
delivery to education to road building and maintenance, could be
provided more efficiently and at lower cost by the private sector.
We should support all moves to reduce and repeal taxes because taxes
are obtained immorally, by force. The income tax is particularly evil,
since it penalizes productivity and forces all of us to expose our
private affairs to government snoopers.
We had no income tax before 1914 and America prospered. Replacing the
income tax with voluntary methods for financing services should be our
goal, and we should begin right now. [3]
15a. I'm for cutting taxes, but as a practical matter, how do we do it?
Think of government as a conglomerate of service businesses. The
providers of those services do not have to be government employees,
and the services do not have to be paid for with tax dollars. Whether
it is education, security, transportation, charity, energy, or
whatever, the private sector is already doing it for less. To cut
taxes, we must allow private service providers to replace inefficient
bureaucracy. Market competition will give us better service at lower
cost, and put the consumers in control. [3]
16. Aren't you going too far?
I want you to be able to govern yourself. The libertarian way lets you
decide how much independence is good for you and lets others decide
for themselves.
Replacing political controls with self-government will only go as far
as you let it. So let's experiment. Cut foreign aid. Deregulate
transportation. Repeal one drug law. Cut farm subsidies. Cut taxes.
As you gain self government, you will probably want more. That's for
you to decide. No one can force you to be free. [1] -- David Bergland
17. Won't these ideas work only if everybody is good?
You don't have to believe people are always good for freedom to work.
Most people, most of the time, deal with each other on the libertarian
premise of respect for the rights of others. You don't want to be
pushed around or to push your neighbors around. You don't steal, cheat
or mug people. Very few among us commit all the crime. Society would
collapse if most people were evil most of the time.
If people are basically evil, the last thing you'd want is a big
government staffed by those evil folks exercising control over you.
[1] -- David Bergland
Bibliography:
[1] "Liberty Communicator Course," Advocates for Self-Government,
1988.
[2] Bergland, David, "America's Libertarian Heritage: The Politics of
Freedom," Orpheus Publications, 1773 Bahama Place, Costa Mesa, CA
92626, (714)751-8980, 1991.
[3] "The Liberator," Spring 1992, pp. 18-19, Advocates for Self-
Government, 3955 Pleasantdale Road, No. 106-A, Atlanta, GA 30340,
(800)932-1776.
[4] "The Liberator," Summer 1993, p. 13, Advocates for
Self-Government.
Archive-name: libertarian/organizations
Version: 2.13
Last-modified: 11 Apr 1995
LIBERTARIAN FAQ: ORGANIZATIONS
_________________________________________________________________
This posting contains a list of libertarian oriented organizations.
Some organizations included may not be libertarian, but share a common
view on one or more issues. Sources have included: "The Liberator,"
published by the Advocates for Self-Government, publications by
International Society for Individual Liberty, "Solutions" from the
Knowledge Network Foundation, Daniel C. Ust of the Central Jersey
Objectivists, Stuart Reges from the Libertarian Party, Andrew "Sasha"
Volokh from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Daniel R. McCloskey,
Brian McInturff, Eric Rittberg, Brian Taylor, John McPherson, Ben
Power, Carol Moore, James A. Donald, Thomas Gramstad, Michael Moratta,
Ian Geldard, Barry Fagin, Tom Isenberg, Marcus Albro, Steve Ertelt,
Jennifer Palonus, Art Gulick, and Dena L. Bruedigam. Thanks for your
efforts!
Comments, corrections, and additions are always welcome. You can
contact me by E-Mail at pschmidt@world.std.com.
If you want more information about the libertarian ideas and the
Advocates for Self-Government, send your postal mail address and phone
number to:
pschmidt@world.std.com
or
Advocates for Self-Government
3955 Pleasantdale Road, #106A
Atlanta, GA 30340
(800)932-1776
Contents:
Major Libertarian Organizations
Abortion
Affinity Groups
Book, Tape, and Video Stores
Children and Families
Communities
Computer Mailing Lists
Conservative Organizations
Drug Policy
Education
Employment
Environment
Free Market
Free Speech
Gun Policy
Health Policy
Legal
Miscellaneous
Objectivism
Political
Publications
Taxes
Term Limits
Think Tanks
Major Libertarian Organizations
Advocates for Self-Government. 3955 Pleasantdale Rd., Suite 106A,
Atlanta, GA 30340. 800-932-1776. Fax: 404-417-1305. E-Mail:
pschmidt@world.std.com. Educational
institute. Offers conferences and programs encouraging people to
encounter, evaluate and embrace the ideas of liberty and improve
communications; publishes Liberator newsletter.
CATO Institute. 1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20001-5403. 202-842-0200. Fax: 202-842-3490. E-Mail: cato@cato.org.
. Public policy research
foundation; publishes Cato Journal, books, monographs and policy
analysis material; conducts seminars, conferences and symposia.
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE). 30 S. Broadway,
Irvington-On-Hudson, NY 10533. 914-591-7230. Non-political,
educational champion of private property, the free-market and limited
government. Publishes The Freeman magazine.
Future of Freedom Foundation. Suite 800, 11350 Random Hills Road,
Fairfax, VA 22030. 703-934-6101. Educational foundation. Publishes
Freedom Daily, containing articles on current issues from a
libertarian and classical liberal perspective.
Institute for Humane Studies (IHS). 4084 University Drive, Suite 101,
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. 703-934-6920. Fax: 703-425-1536. Educational
institute. Searches for moral arguments and scholarship which support
the free society; discovers, encourages and supports scholars in the
social sciences.
International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL). 1800 Market St.,
San Francisco, CA 94102. 415-864-0952. Fax: 415-864-7506. Compuserve:
71034,2711.
Promotes international exchange of information and ideas on
competitive economic systems with internal conferences; promotes
campus libertarian organizations; publishes Freedom Network News and
position papers.
Libertarian Party of U.S.A., 1528 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC
20003. 202-543-1988. New member info only: 800-682-1776. Fax:
202-546-6094. Runs candidates for public office; publishes Libertarian
Party News; holds bi-annual convention.
Liberty Magazine. PO Box 1167, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Bimonthly
review of libertarian and classical liberal thought, culture and
politics; contributors include major libertarian movement figures.
Reason Magazine/Reason Foundation. 3415 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 400,
Los Angeles, CA 90034. 310-391-2245. Fax: 310-391-4395. Educational
foundation. Educates public on principles of free society; publishes
Reason Magazine; publishes policy studies, op-ed articles and daily
economic education and radio program.
Abortion
Libertarians for Life, 13424 Hathaway Dr., Wheaton, MD 20906.
301-460-4141. Formed to show why abortion is aggression under general
libertarian principles. Reasoning is expressly philosophical rather
than religious.
Affinity Groups
Association of Libertarian Feminists, PO Box 20252, London Terrace,
New York, NY 10011. 212-924-4345. Seeks to provide a libertarian
alternative to those aspects of the wonen's movement that discourage
independence and individuality. Publishes ALF News and discussion
papers.
Libertarian Futurists Society, 89 Gephard Rd., Penfield, NY 14526.
716-248-3112. Futurists and science fiction fans who share a concern
for individual freedom. Sponsors the Prometheus Award for the best
libertarian SciFi novel of the year. Publishes quarterly libertarian
science-fiction newsletter.
Libertarians for Animal Rights, 7829 Cayuga Ave., Bethesda MD, 20817.
Individuals who support and promote the philosophy of animal rights
libertarianism. (Also supports heightened respect for unborn life).
Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns, PO Box 447, Chelsea, MI
48118. Group to create a network for gay libertarians, create
awareness of gay concerns within the libertarian movement, to provide
libertarian outreach to gays and lesbians. Publishes LCLC Newsletter.
Book, Tape, and Video Stores
Audio Forum, 96 Broad St., Rm. E-609, Guildord, CT 06437.
800-243-1234. Supplier of taped lectures and courses by prominent
libertarian thinkers.
Conservative Book Club, 15 Oakland Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528. Book
club of interest to conservatives.
Freedom's Forum Bookstore, 1800 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94102.
415-864-0952. Sells wide selection of libertarian books, especially
dealing with social issues; store and mail order; publishes books
under name of Cobden Press.
ICS Press, 720 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. 800-326-0263.
Promoting the self-governing and entrepreneurial way of life. Prints
studies from the Institute for Contemporary Studies.
Knowledge Products, PO Box 305151, Nashville, TN 37230. 615-742-3858.
Offers audio classics introducing historical figures such as Tom
Paine, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, John Stuart Mill, John Locke, and
more.
Laissez Faire Books. 942 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103.
800-326-0996. E-Mail: whitten@panix.com. Widest available selection of
libertarian, history, philosophy, economic and Randian books, tapes,
videotapes; publishes informative monthly book catalog with book
reviews.
Liberty Tree Network. 134 Ninety-Eighth Ave., Oakland, CA 94603.
800-927-8733. Mail order purveyor of products for life, liberty and
prosperity; books, audio and video tapes, games, gifts and
collectibles. Free catalog available.
Loompanics Books, PO Box 1197, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Carries
unusual, controversial, and hard-to-find books. Catalog banned in some
countries.
Second Renaissance Books. 110 Copperwood Way, PO Box 4625, Oceanside,
CA 92052. Biggest outlet of material written by Ayn Rand and other
Objectivists. Orders ($20 min): Continental US only: 1-800-729-6149,
Fax: 619-757-1723, Info: 619-757-6149.
Turney Audio and Video. PO Box 36564, Richmond, VA 23235.
804-276-9255. World's largest collection of video and audio tapes of
libertarian/free-market conferences, conventions, speakers,
presentations, etc.
World Research Institute (& WRI Films), PO Box 9359, San Diego, CA
92169. 619-456-5278. Produces liberty-based educational films on
economics, inflation, social justice, poverty, etc.
Children and Families
Libertarian Familist, PO Box 4826, El Paso, TX 79914-4826.
915-755-6940. Family oriented children's rights advocates. Publishes
Libertarian Familist.
Communities
Abapa Freer, PO Box 759, Veneta, OR 97487. Sampler of areas having
attraction for libertarians. ($1 cash preferred.)
Freedom Now, (Mary Margaret Glennie), 1317 Lakewood Dr., Fort Collins,
CO 80521. Attracting libertarians to Ft. Collins, CO. Send $1 and SASE
for more info.
Galt's Gulch, PO Box 73203, Fairbanks, AK 99707. Creating a real-life
Galt's Gulch, based on the principles of Randian Objectivism.
Port Watson Project, 4651 Bensel Road #5, West Palm Beach, Fl 33417.
407-688-6523 (voice). Creating an intentional (libertarian) resort
community on a small, privately owned island in the Bahamas....
economy will be based on tourism, hydroponic agriculture and
information-age technologies (telecommuting).
Computer Mailing Lists
CEI list: Run by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Includes their
op-ed pieces and other items of interest.
Subscription: Alexander "Sasha" Volokh at cei@digex.com
LIBFEM-NEWS: news, informaiton items, and original posts on feminism
and liberty. Low-volume list.
Subscription: libfem-news-request@math.uio.no.
LIBFEM-TALK: comments and discussion on feminism and liberty. Includes
all posts to LIBFEM-NEWS.
Subscription: libfem-talk-request@math.uio.no.
LIBERNET: Intended to be a forum for high-quality, real-world oriented
presentation of information of interest to classical liberals,
libertarians, objectivists, and anyone else interested in applying the
philosophy of liberty to the problems of our day.
Admin, subscription, etc.: libernet-request@Dartmouth.EDU
Postings to the list: libernet@Dartmouth.EDU
List-owner: Barry Fagin
LIBERNET-D: Users interested in a more opinion and idea-oriented forum
may wish to subscribe to Libernet-d (the "d" stands for discussion and
debate). Admin, subscription, etc.: libernet-request@Dartmouth.EDU
Postings to the list: libernet-d@Dartmouth.EDU
List-owner: Barry Fagin
Libertarian Student Email Network: Mailing list for college
libertarian clubs (from one member to many) to share ideas for
outreach, share experiences, spread news, assist new groups, and build
a sense of comradarie and community.
Subscription: John McPherson, mcpherso@lumina.ucsd.edu, one
representative from each club.
Conservative Organizations
Committee for the Restoration of the Republic, 127-01 101st Ave.,
Richmond Hill, NY 11419. Phone (718) 846-1507. Politically
conservative individuals who "work to return to the first principles
upon which the U.S. republic was founded."
Drug Policy
American Anti-Prohibition League, 4017 SE Belmont St., Box 103,
Portland Oregon, U.S.A. 97214. 503-235-4524.
Drug Reform Coordination Network, P.O. Box 381813, Cambridge, MA
02238-1813 (617) 648-2655; (617) 646-0657 (fax); E-mail:
borden@netcom.com
Drug Policy Foundation, 4455 Connecticut Ave. NW, #B500, Washington,
DC 20008-2302. 202-537-5005. 800-388-DRUG. Fax: 202-537-3007.
Advocates legalization of drugs and humane treatment of addicts.
Conferences, books, videos. Newsletter: Drug Policy Newsletter.
Families Against Mandatory Minimums, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, #200S,
Washington, DC 20004. 202-457-5790.
Legalise Cannabis Campaign, BM Cannabis 2455, London, WC1N 3XX. +742
425122 or +71 585 1031. They publish a magazine (The Hookah) and have
information on Cannabis & the Law/Health/Economics/etc.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), 1001
Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1119, Washington, DC 20004. 202-483-5500.
E-Mail: NATNORML@aol.com. Advocates legalization of marijuana.
Newsletter: The Leaflet.
National Drug Strategy Network, 2000 L St., #702, Washington, DC
20036. 202-835-9075. Devoted to circulating information about the
debate over illicit drugs. Newsletter Newsbriefs.
Religious Coalition for a Moral Drug Policy, 3421 M St. NW, Suite 351,
Washington, DC 20007.
Education
Education Project of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, PO
Box 67398, Los Angeles, CA 90067. 310-843-3699. Fax: 310-843-3692.
Publishes The Report Card.
Seperation of School and State Alliance, 4578 N. First #310, Fresno,
CA 93726. 209-292-1776. Fax: 209-292-7582. Grass-roots organization
to inform Americans how education can be improved -- especially for
the poor -- by full seperation of school and state.
Employment
Employment Policies Institute (EPI), 607 14th Street Northwest, Suite
1110, Washington, DC 20005. 202-347-5178. Fax: 202-347-5250. Research
organization dedicated to expanding employment opportunities at all
levels of America's economy.
Environment
Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), 4900
25th Ave. NE, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98105. 406-585-1776. Promotes
public policy reform supporting conservation & wise use of natural
resources based on property rights, reliance on market processes.
Political Economy Research Center (PERC), 502 S.19th Ave., Suite 211,
Bozeman, MT 59715. 406-587-9591. Specializes in natural resource
economics, hazardous waste policy, Native American issues; publishes
PERC Reports, books & op-ed pieces.
National Wilderness Institute (NWI), 25766 Georgetown Station,
Washington, DC 20007. 703-836-7404. dedicated to the wise management
of natural resources and stresses need for a private sector
stewardship without unnecessarily inhibiting economic growth.
Free Market
Adam Smith Institute (USA), 305 9th St., SE, Washington, DC 20003.
202-544-8071. Educational and research institute based in England.
Publishes studies on privatization and deregulation, and suggests free
market policy applications.
Atlas Foundation, 4084 University Drive, Suite 103, Fairfax, VA 22030.
703-352-0525. Expounds principle that economic actions have economic
consequences; helps set up new free-market think tanks; publishes
Highlights & Atlas Report.
Center for the Study of Market Alternatives, 2285 University Dr.,
Boise, ID 83706. Conducts free-market seminars for teachers and the
general public, and debate seminars for high schools. Publishes CSMA
Newsletter.
Center for Market Processes, George Mason University, 4084 University
Drive, Suite 208, Fairfax, VA 22030. 703-993-1142. Group of academics
and graduate students who apply market process analysis to problems
and organizations.
Citizens for a Sound Economy, 1250 H. St. NW, #700, Washington, DC
20005. 202-488-8200. Free market public interest advocacy
organization; lobbies for free-market legislation (e.g. Individual
Retirement Accounts, free trade, privatization & deregulation).
Competitive Enterprise Institute, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite
1250, Washington, DC 20036. 202-331-1010.
Explores free-market solutions to environmental problems, antitrust
reform & trade; sponsors Jefferson Group pro-market information
exchange forum.
Fraser Institute, 626 Bute Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 3M1.
604-688-0221. Public policy research with free-market orientation;
publishes books & studies on economic effects of government policy.
Free Market Foundation: Russia, PO Box 27251, Tucson, AZ 85726-7251.
602-325-0598. Public policy foundation; publishes newspapers in
Moscow.
Free Market Foundation of Southern Africa, PO Box 52713, Saxonwood,
South Africa 2173. 642-4407. Promotes privatization, deregulation &
the free-market; publishes books & studies; sponsors conferences.
Heartland Institute, 634 S. Wabash Ave., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605.
312-427-3060. Provides privatization and deregulation studies and
conferences aimed at Midwest news editors, news directors and
legislative aides.
Independent Institute, 134 98th Ave., Oakland, CA 94603. 510-632-1366.
Public Policy institute. Sponsors non-political studies into critical
public issues; publishes books & the Independent; conducts
conferences.
John Locke Institute, 4084 University Drive, Suite 102, Fairfax, VA
22030.
Knowledge Network Foundation, 14307 23rd Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98166.
206-248-0510. Fax: 206-243-8384. Not-for-profit educational foundation
whose goal is to disseminate market-oriented research.
Ludwig Von Mises Institute, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849.
205-844-2500. Promotes Mises' principles with seminars, books;
publishes The Free Market and Austrian Economics Newsletter.
Manhattan Institute, 52 Vanderbelt Ave., New York, NY 10017.
212-599-7000. Promotes the free market with books, symposia &
Manhattan Report for scholars, officials & the public.
Pacific Research Institute, 177 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94108.
415-989-0833. Fax: 415-989-2411. Publishes studies & books on market
solutions to social, economic, environmental issues.
Young America's Foundation, 110 Elden St., Herndon, VA 22070,
703-318-9608. Fax: (703)318-9122. Voice for liberty and free markets
on college campuses. Sponsor free-market speakers for college
students.
Free Speech
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 132 W. 43rd St., New York, NY
10036. 212-944-9800. Gopher: "gopher://aclu.org:6601/" Defends free
speech, fights the draft, and supports civil liberties.
Electronic Frontier Foundation, 666 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 303,
Washington, DC 20003. 202-544-9237. Public policy/civil liberties
organization that works to empower individuals in the new information
society. Thus, it promotes policies that support such things as
freedom of speech, privacy, encryption, and access to the information
infrastructure.
Feminists Against Censorship: Founded in 1989 by women to campaign
against censorship from a feminist perspective. BM Box 207, London
WC1N 3XX. Tel: +44 81 552 4405 Fax: +44 71 731 5950.
Free Press Association, PO Box 15548, Columbus, OH 43215.
614-291-1441. Professional organization to encourage excellence in
libertarian journalism and develop an international communications
network among libertarian professionals. Newsletter: Free Press
Network.
Individual Rights Project, Center for the Study of Popular Culture,
12400 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604. 800-538-3152.
Gun Policy
Gun Owners of America, 8001 Forbes Pl., Suite 102, Springfield, VA
22151. 703-321-8585.
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, 2872 South Wentworth
Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207. 414-769-0760. Membership open to all
law-abiding firearms-owners.
National Rifle Association of America, 1600 Rhode Island Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20036. 202-828-6000.
Second Amendment Foundation, 12500 NE 10th Place, Bellevue, WA 98005.
206-454-7012. Literary research and publishing organization. Publishes
Gun Week.
Health Policy
National Center for Policy Analysis, 12655 N. Central Expwy., #720,
Dallas, TX 75243. 214-386-6272. Research foundation dedicated to the
study and understanding of mechanisms by which a free society properly
functions. Specializes in social and health policy. Newsletter:
Executive Alert.
National Health Federation, PO Box 688, Monrovia, CA 91017.
818-357-2181.
Legal
Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies, 1700 K St. NW,
Suite 901, Washington, DC 20006. 202-822-8138. Promotes the principles
of limited government and a limited judiciary within the legal
community.
Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (F.E.A.R.), PO Box 5424,
Somerset, NJ 08875-5424, 908-873-1251, EMAIL: j.paff1@genie.geis.com.
Group fighting asset forfeiture.
Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA), PO Box 59, Helmville, MT
59843. 406-793-5550. Promoting the revival of the power of jurors to
decide the merits of the law. Lobbying to pass an amendment to state
constitutions that requires judges to inform jurors of their full
rights. Newsletter: FIJA Activist.
Help Abolish Legal Tyranny (HALT), 1319 F St. NW, Washington, DC
20004. 202-347-9600.
Institute for Justice (IJ), 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 200S,
Washington, DC 20004-2505. 202-457-4240. Fax: 202-457-8574. Advocates
economic liberty, educational choice, and private property rights as
three of the most powerful forces for positive change in the inner
city.
Libertarian Law Council, c/o Manuel S. Klausner, 555 S. Flower St.,
29th Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90071. 213-680-2222.
Pacific Legal Foundation, 2700 Gateway Oaks Dr., Suite 200,
Sacramento, CA 95833. 916-641-8888.
Miscellaneous
Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, 161 Ottawa Ave
NW, Suite 405K, Grand Rapids, MI 49502-3404. 616-454-3080. Fax:
616-454-9454. Promotes a contemporary understanding of the Classical
Liberal philosophy of liberty and free markets.
American Justice Federation, 3850 S. Emerson Ave., Suite E.,
Indianapolis, IN 46203. 317-780-5204. Fax: 317-780-5209. Produced
"Waco, The Big Lie" video.
American Motorcyclists Association, PO Box 61114, Westerville, OH
43081. 800-262-5646.
Center for the Study of Public Choice, George Mason University, 4400
University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030. 703-993-2330.
Center for Libertarian Studies (CLS), PO Box 4091, Burlingame, CA
94011. 800-325-7257. 415-692-8456. Holds conferences, seminars &
symposia for "scholarly business people." Publishes In Pursuit of
Liberty Newsletter and Journal of Libertarian Studies.
Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, 1401 I Street, NW, Suite 300,
Washington, DC 20005. 202-842-4616. Fax: 202-842-4667. Private charity
that seeks to advance the understanding and appreciation of the value
of a free society in advancing the well-being of mankind. Offers
grants and programs to support the development and application of
market-based solutions to pressing social problems.
Citizens Against Corruption, 2201 East Willow Street, D-333, Signal
Hill, California 90806-2143. (310)437-3373.
Citizens for Safe Government, Inc., PO Box 80949, Atlanta, GA 30366.
404-841-9057. Southeastern constitutional rights organization and is
not affiliated with any political party.
Constructive Action, Inc., c/o Herbert A. Philbrick, PO Box 312, Rye
Beach, NH 03871. Seeks to support and strengthen "the ideals of
American liberty" represented in the Declaration of Independence and
Constitution.
Free Nation Foundation, 111 West Corbin Street, Hillsborough, NC
27278. Advancing the day when coercive institutions of government can
be replaced by voluntary institutions of civil mutual consent.
Publishes "Formulations".
The Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco
(FOREST): 2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH, United Kingdom. Tel:
+44 71 823 6550 Fax: +44 71 823 4534.
Freedom School Seminars, 4415 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, CA
92663. 714-650-5259. Runs 40-hour seminars teaching the principles of
freedom.
Institute for Liberty and Community, Concord, VT 05824. 802-695-2555.
Research institute engaged in public policy, research and publication
dealing with preservation of individual liberty, restoration of the
small scale human community, and changing federal, state, and local
tax policies.
The Libertarian Alliance. 25 Chapter Chambers, Esterbrooke Street,
London SW1P 4NN, United Kingdom. +44 71-821-5502. Fax: +44
71-834-2031. Email: liballia@eternity.demon.co.uk - Affiliated to the
International Society for Individual Liberty: The Libertarian
International. Publishes Free Life: A Journal of Classical Liberal and
Libertarian Thought, numerous occasional papers and conducts seminars,
conferences and symposia.
Liberty Fund/Liberty Press, 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 500,
Indianapolis, IN 46250. 317-842-0880. Fax: 317-577-9067. Educational
foundation to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and
responsible individuals.
National Endowment for Liberty, 18333 Egret Blvd., Suite 265, Houston,
TX 77058. 713-333-1988.
National Motrists Association, 6678 Pertzborn Road, Dane, WI 53529.
(800) 882-2785
National Secular Society: Founded in 1886 and asserts that
"supernaturalism is based upon ignorance and assails it as the
historic enemy of progress." Details from NSS, 702 Holloway Road,
London N19 3NL, United Kingdom.
Rampart Institute (RI), PO Box 22231, Carmel, CA 93922. 408-626-8417.
Seeks to foster public awareness of libertarian/individualist ideas.
Publishes Rampart Individualist.
Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University,
Bowling Green, OH 43403. 419-372-2536.
Society for Libertarian Life, PO Box 4, Fullerton CA 92632.
714-979-5737. To educate people towards the Libertarian and
voluntarist ideals of personal and economic liberty.
Objectivism
Ayn Rand Institute, 4640 Admirality Way, #715, Marina del Rey, CA
90292. 310-306-9232.
Central Jersey Objectivists, Daniel C. Ust, 321 Maple St. #49, Perth
Amboy, NJ 08861-4109.
Front Range Objectivist Group, Lin Zinser, 8700 Dover Court,
Westminster, CO 80005.
Institute for Objectivist Studies, 82 Washington St., Suite 207,
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. 914-471-6100.
The New Intellectual Forum, Marsh Enright, 9400 South Damon Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60620.
The Objectivist Club of Michigan, David Overly, 2317 Starr Rd., D-1,
Royal Oak, MI 48073.
Seattle Ayn Rand Discussion Group, Michael Maikowski, 23454 - 25th
South Ave., Seattle, WA 98198-8717.
Washington Metropolitan Study Group, Mark Lerner, 2384 Hunters Square
Court, Reston VA 22091.
Political
Libertarian Party of Canada, 11 Yorkshire Ave. #1004, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M4W 1L3. 416-323-0020. Runs candidates for public
office; conducts an annual convention.
Libertarian Party of U.S.A., 1528 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC
20003. 202-543-1988. New member info only: 800-682-1776. Fax:
202-546-6094. Runs candidates for public office; publishes Libertarian
Party News; holds bi-annual convention.
Liberty Amendment Committee of the U.S.A, PO Box 20888, El Cajon, CA
92021. Phone (619) 579-8500 Purpose is to promote the passage of a
Liberty Amendment (repeatedly introduced in Congress as H.J. Res. 23)
and "to reduce the size and cost of the federal government to those
functions specified by the Constitution."
Republican Liberty Caucus, 1717 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 434,
Tallahassee FL 32301. 904-552-2424. Compuserve: 71562,120. Libertarian
wing of the GOP; works to elect libertarian-oriented Republicans to
office at all levels; publishes newsletter and has an affiliated
Political Action Committee.
Publications
Access To Energy, PO Box 1250, Cave Junction, OR 97523. A Pro-Science,
Pro-Technology, Pro-Free Enterprise Monthly Newsletter.
American Enterprise, 1150 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
202-862-5800.
Anumeralist, PO Box 2084, Norristown, PA 19404. Bimonthly publication
against government serial numbers. $5/year (cash only).
Aristos, PO Box 1105 -- Radio City Station, New York, NY 10101. Bills
itself as a "journal of aesthetics." Newsletter style. Previous issues
have included critical discussions of Rand's theory of art. $20/yr (6
issues).
Atlantis, PO Box Box 94332, Seattle, WA 98124-6632. An aesthetics
magazine written by Objectivists.
Ballot Access News, PO Box 470296, San Francisco, CA 94147.
415-922-9779. Newsletter of the struggle to end official USA
government discrimination against alternate political parties. $7/yr
(13 issues).
Claustrophobia, 400 N. High St. #137, Columbus, OH 43215. EMAIL:
phobia@bronze.coil.com. Monthly newsletter for those interested in
individual liberty and the philosophy behind politics. $10/yr.
The Connection, PO Box 3343, Fairfax, VA 22038. Formerly "The
Libertarian Connection." Articles written by subscribers debating
current topics. $20/yr (8 issues).
Critical Review, PO Box 25068, Chicago, IL. 312-348-2960. Fax:
312-348-3201. Journal of clssical liberal thought with emphasis on the
modern state and its implications for economics, politics, and
culture.
Ethnic Enterprise News: A bi-monthly review concerned with ethnic
groups and the market economy. Details from Ethnic Enterprise News, 16
Warren Lane, London SE18 6BW, United Kingdom.
The Exchange, 711 15th St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. 319-364-1597.
North America's Libertarian Culture Magazine. Sample issues $5.
EXTROPY: The Journal of Transhumanist Thought. Extropy Institute, PO
Box 57306, Los Angeles, CA 90057-0306. 213-484-6383. EMAIL:
more@usc.edu. High-IQ publication with deep thoughts on futurist
topics. $13.50/3 issues.
The Freethinker: Britain's oldest freethinking monthly journal. A
forthright secular view of the world. Further details from G.W. Foote
& Company, 702 Holloway Road, London N19 3NL, United Kingdom.
Full Context, The Objectivist Club of Michigan, 2317 Starr Rd., D-1,
Royal Oak, MI 48073. Contains interviews of prominent libertarians,
book and movie reviews, letters and notes of interest. $20/yr (10
issues).
The Guillotine, National monthly libertarian paper, Guillotine, P.O.
Box 442, Binghamton , NY 13902-0442. For more information about
Guillotine and a free sample, send a 52 cent self-addressed envelope.
Heterodoxy, 12400 Ventura Blvd., Suite 304, Studio City, CA 91604. The
Free Market Environmentalist, 1572D Sycamore Ave., PO Box 329,
Hercules, CA 94547. 510-758-3731.
Living Free, PO Box 29F, Hiler Branch, Buffalo, NY 14223. Newsletter
promotes self-liberation. $8/6 issues.
LP NEWS, P.O. Box 3391, Gainesville, GA 30503. 404-536-5234. Fax:
404-287-0800. CompuServe: 71610,3614. Official newspaper of the
Libertarian Party of the United States.
New Humanist: Quarterly journal of the Rationalist Press Association.
Details from RPA, 14 Lamb's Conduit Passage, London WC1R 4RH, United
Kingdom.
Objectivity, 3023 N. Clark St., Suite 238, Chicago, IL 60657.
Objectivist-leaning philosophy journal. $18/6 issues.
Pragmatist, PO Box 392, Forest Grove, PA 18922.
The Reality Check, 34518 Warren, Suite 152, Westland, MI 48185.
Reason Papers, Tibor R. Machan, Department of Philosophy, Auburn
University, AL 36849. A libertarian-run philosophy journal. $15/issue.
Regulation, 224 2nd St. SE, Washington, DC 20003. 202-546-0200.
Republican Liberty, RLC, 1717 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 434,
Tallahassee, FL 32301. 904-552-2424. Free sample copy.
SALON: A Journal of Aesthetics, 305 West Magnolia, Ste. 386, Fort
Collins, CO 80521.
Taking Children Seriously (TCS), 23 Whitley Road, London N17 6RJ. +44
81 808 3200. EMAIL: TCS@lawrence.demon.co.uk. One of the only
libertarian magazines worldwide that focuses on issues affecting
children. It provides a forum for discussing ideas challenging
traditional wisdom about how children learn and how they should be
treated.
The Voluntaryist, PO BOX 1275, Gramling, SC 29348. Bimonthly
publication explores non-political strategies for achieving liberty.
Taxes
All-County Taxpayers Association, PO Box 177, Star Route, Glens Falls,
NY 12801. 518-656-3578.
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, 1301 Connecticut Ave.,
NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. 202-467-5300.
Institute for the Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET), 1331
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20004. 202-347-9570.
Non-profit policy research and educational organization devoted to
informing the public about policies that will promote economic growth
and efficient operation of the free market economy.
Lead or Leave, 1100 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1300, Washington, DC
20036. 202-857-0808. 800-44-CHANGE. Non-profit organization focusing
on deficit spending and the national debt to make them the most
important issue in Washington.
National Taxpayers Union, 713 Maryland Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002.
202-543-1300. 800-TAX-HALT.
Term Limits
T.H.R.O., 4127 W.Cypress St., Tampa, FL 33607.
US Term Limits, 666 11th St. NW, Suite 840, Washington, DC 20001.
800-733-6440.
Think Tanks
American Enterprise Institute, 1150 17th St., NW, Washington, DC
20036. 202-862-5800. Private research organization dedicated to
preserving and improving open and competitive private enterprise,
limited and public spirited government, and strong and well-managed
defense and foreign policies.
Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002.
202-546-4400. Public policy research institute designed to make the
voices of responsible conservatism heard.
Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA 94305-6010. 415-723-1754.
Independence Institute, 14142 Denver West Pkwy #101, Golden, CO 80401.
303-279-6536. Fax: 303-279-4176. Free-market think-tank, dedicated to
the principles of individual liberty expressed in the Declaration of
Independence.
John Locke Foundation, PO Box 17822, Raleigh, NC 27619. 919-847-2690.
Fax: 919-847-8371. Non-profit policy institute to conduct research,
disseminate information, and advance public understanding of society
based on individual liberty, voluntary exchanges of a free market
economy, and limited government.