Category Archives: libertarianism

Plutocrats Climb onto the Trump Train

Posted on February 28, 2018 by politicaloptic

The Koch brothers and their network of donors, gathering at Charles Koch’s exclusive California retreat this January, declared 2017 to be their “most productive year yet.” The event came several weeks after the passing of Trump’s tax-cut legislation, viewed by … Continue reading →

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The Plutocrats’ War Against Teachers’ Unions and Some Recent Blowback

Posted on January 30, 2016 by politicaloptic

While it’s no surprise that America’s billionaire elites oppose unions, it is worth noting how much they focus their attention on unions in the public, as opposed to the private, sector. Teachers’ unions, in particular, seem be their consuming obsession. In 2011, for example, they played a … Continue reading →

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Liberty, Libertarianism, and Solar Power

Posted on June 17, 2015 by politicaloptic

Self-described libertarians David and Charles Koch consistently present themselves as defenders of freedom and choice. Thus Americans For Prosperity, the Kochs’ political arm, states on its website that “free markets make free and prosperous people” and that its objective is “getting government to clear … Continue reading →

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Galt and God: Ayn Randians and Christian Rightists Expand Ties

Posted on January 7, 2015 by politicaloptic

Ayn Rand’s followers find themselves sharing a lot of turf with the Religious Right these days. The Tea Party, with its stress on righteous liberty and a robust form of capitalism, has been a rallying point for both groups. Still, the philosophical disharmony … Continue reading →

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Ayn Rand Nation

Posted on July 11, 2012 by politicaloptic

There are more of them out there than you think. They hold to a philosophy of stripped down government, undiluted capitalism, and deliberate selfishness. Their guru is the 20th century novelist and essayist Ayn Rand, apostle of über individualism. Some idea of … Continue reading →

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The Cato Controversy: Tensions in Libertarian Land

Posted on May 2, 2012 by politicaloptic

The Cato Institute is a think tank that is practically synonymous with current-day libertarianism. Those connected with it at one time or another constitute a virtual who’s who of modern libertarians, including Murray Rothbard, the Koch brothers, Milton Friedman, Charles Murray, and … Continue reading →

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