Lads Mags

Over the past few days, some Labour female MP's have complained about the presence of "lads' mags" in newsagents. They believe that they are obscene and degrading and should be placed on the top shelves of newsagent shops, rather like pornographic magazines.

Are lads mags porn? IMO, yes. There IS only one reason why they show young women topless or in sexually suggestive poses. This reason is to titilate. The definition of porn is something designed and intended to sexually arouse or titilate.

However, there should be no laws surrounding their sale. In a market anarchy, shops that sold these magazines to children might be ostracised by their community. I doubt many parents would want their younger children to read these publications.

As always, the market would sort things out.

Tories' Bill of Rights

Though I identify as a market anarchist, I'd favour a codified Bill of Rights (or even a constitutionally limited government) as a stepping stone towards market anarchy. However, if this Bill of
Rights were written by Cameron, it would probably contain anti-discrimination legislation, rights to education and healthcare and other undesirable things in it. It certainly wouldn't be a Bill of Rights in the spirit of the American one. It may also undermine parliamentary sovereignty, but who cares really?
Few other countries have legislatures that can make laws in any area. Such a concept is antithetical to the ideal of limited government.

WMD's in Iraq, after all?

After browsing through some message boards over the Web, I've read that WMD's have actually been discovered in Iraq after all. I'm not sure how reputable a source Fox News is, or whether I should believe it or not.

Even still, I still maintain my opposition to the 2003 invasion. Iraq had never threatened the UK or the United States, notwithstanding the fact that constant UK and US air strikes occured over in the 1990's, in addition to sanctions which hurt the Iraqi people and not Saddam.

My views on foreign policy are largely paleo-libertarian (as opposed to neo-libertarian) in nature. We shouldn't attack countries that have posed no threat to ourselves or who haven't threatened to attack us. In a market anarchy, people should be free to privately send resources to avert catastrophes such as genocides, famines, etc.

Kate Moss drug charges

The CPS have stated that the drug charges against Kate Moss will be dropped. This was because the precise nature of the drug she was using couldn't be identified, even though there was video evidence of Kate Moss taking drugs and passing them onto others.

This is good news.

The Libertarian Alliance (see links) produced a press release about this, and I wholeheartedly agreed with it. ALL drugs should be legal. From crystal meth, to crack, to speed, to pot.

NO state or government possesses the right to tell its citizens what they can put in their body. Drug taking also is a victimless crime. No one's rights are violated if someone ingests drugs.

How would a market anarchy deal with drug taking? Well perhaps a specific DRO could stop its clients from taking drugs. Maybe some DRO's would offer drug rehabilition services for its clients. Still, the decision to take drugs, and face the rational consequences of doing so, would rest with the individual.

Lib Dems and tax cuts

A few days ago, "Ming" Campbell's Lib Dems proposed to lower income tax. This is distinct from the policies they had in the 2001 and 2005 general elections, in which they stated they would raise income tax for those earning over £100,000 per annum. The tax shortfall would be made by increasing "green taxation" on cars and the airline industry.

These moves don't seem impressive at all. Of course, the Lib Dems will remain a party of big government, dedicated to force against the individual. They are social liberals, after all...

All taxation is ultimately theft. As a market anarchist, I would naturally favour the abolition of all taxation. As for green taxation, let the market decide. If there is a demand for environmentally friendly cars, then someone guided by self-interest would create a supply to meet the demand.

Quebecois Libre article

This Canadian web magazine is going to feature an article I wrote. You can see their web site here. My article will be in the June issue, but their website is currently displaying their May issue.

My piece is entitled "Sports and the free society" and details how sports could be funded and maintained in a libertarian society.

When it is published, some feedback will be welcome!

The Right to Roam

Towards the end of last week, there were reports on BBC News 24 about ramblers and the right to roam. Supposedly, ramblers were upset about being refused access to private land.

Well, tough luck. No one really has ANY "right" to trespass on private property, which is essentially what these people are doing.

In a market anarchy, ALL land should be privately owned. I suggest that these ramblers gather some funds, so they can purchase their own land to walk on.