Debbie, have you thought about blogging your articles online? you could get a Mises bog maybe?
Well I’ve already done that. Besides being in the paper itself, they are also published in the newspaper’s online site. And I’m also putting them up on my blog: The Suburban Voluntaryist . (I didn’t post that in the message before because I was going to put it up in my profile or have that link from my name but then I got busy and didn’t have time so just sent in the post.
By the way, I’m always open to any constructive criticism and don’t worry I have a thick skin.
I would like to suggest something Form a band. Making music reaches many people easily, and songs about libertarianism help to spread the message. All kind of cultural changing is good, like writing stories and making films. Culture is one way to fight against our biggest enemy, public education.
I agree. ^^^
From what I’ve seen so far, it appears that children are the low hanging fruit. Unlike their older counter parts, they have not been subjected to decades of brainwashing, or had time to solidify their views in life to the point that changing them is supremely difficult. Most kids in grade school are also super bored there, so they are a captive audience. Fear the Boom and Bust? Excellent video, which is exactly the type of thing we need to bring these kids into a new way of thinking. I often find that a few sentences is all I need to get an idea or question burning in the mind of a kid, whereas I might talk 'til I’m blue in the face to an adult.
-Libertango
Re: Young people,
Definitely agree. The other thing to this is that the investment can have a much bigger payoff, because they have their whole lives ahead of them. And they have yet to form relationships, choose careers, have their own children, etc.
Also good points. Personally, I’m pretty interested in spreading the ideas of Mises et. al. to the kids in China. It seems to me there’s a changing tide where the powers that be will operate out of Asia. Plus there’s the whole thing where the Chinese government is actually encouraging its citizens to buy gold and silver. My prediction: in 20 years the US will be obsolete as the Chinese own everything. Best to make sure they’re our friends; I’m learning chinese at the moment. Anyone know if there’s a chinese site for Mises.org?
Protest the vote?
http://www.vforvoluntary.com/wiki/LibertarianWebsites#Chinese
You may also be interested in this guy (click his videos on the right):
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ksabrs45
Wow that’s a cool channel. I sent him a message, so hopefully I hear back.
I may have to work at it to read that chinese libertarian site. I’m guessing it’s more complicated than boy, apple, cat, etc.
Thanks!
sicsempertyrannis"That said, I still say the most effective means of spreading libertarianism yet was Ron Paul’s campaign. That he was able to convert some of my blue collar co-workers, without any intervention from me, was nothing short of amazing. In the end, the political aspect of it was a waste of time of course, but the coverage by the mass media was a great help to our cause. "
It might be the case or it might not be. I’d like to see some polls or surveys to see how many people became libertarian because of Ron Paul running for president. It shouldn’t just be like “yes, I’m a libertarian” but should ask questions on certain things to see if they’re actually libertarian (well, at least libertarians would be able to see the answers given for various questions and see if they think the person is libertarian). Then at the end, they could list who influenced them and brought them to their current political views.
Maybe I’m just paranoid, but it seems to me that Ron Paul also got a lot of people to call themselves “Ron Paul Republicans” who are just conservatives with a libertarian leaning. Sometimes they’re just Republicans who agree with Ron Paul on an issue or two and who aren’t libertarian at all. It might have also had the effect of getting some people to call themselves libertarians when they’re really just Constitutionalists since lots of Constitutionalist types were inspired by Ron Paul.
Can anything be done with Egypt? Influence protesters directly or something?
Great points!
Great thread. One more concrete thing one could do:
I’m currently crowd-funding the follow-up to George Ought to Help animation, it’s a short film showing the hidden costs of government intervention. If you’d like to learn more and/or get involved in supporting ‘Edgar the Exploiter’, you can do all that at: http://igg.me/p/18477?a=85533&i=shlk
Thanks in advance if you feel like joining in and/or helping to spread the word!
I was thinking of starting something in my church, which doesn’t have an official political/economic platform (thank God). Most people, I don’t think, would get past the “hurrrrr throw money at Africa like Bono” idea of “creating” wealth where there is little. The western Church in general is giving off the faint stink of social “justice” so the mention of capitalism plus anarchy would just turn them off at first blush.
One of my friends at church was one of the first people to introduce me to Austrian thought. Weird.
For those that don’t know, I have a launched a website:
http://www.whatcausedthehousingbubble.com
This is an attempt to deliver the real truth behind the housing bubble and debunk the ridiculous claim that the free market caused it. It’s still incomplete, it has taken a lot longer to get the full picture with all the right facts and proofs etc. Feedback is always welcome
Guys I think we need to pay more attention to influencing the popular culture through the medium of literature, movies and yes even computer games. The right has been very good at criticising the domination of arts by the left but has produced very little to challenge this domination.
Unlike say establishing an intellectual roundtable or canvassing in an election campaign there is no reason that this activity cannot be profitable.
Simon Lote-
I think you’re right, but what premise do you use? It’s hard to beat socialist rhetoric.
On the subject of popular media, my campaign to fund the production of the follow-up to George Ought to Help is drawing to a close. If anyone’s looking for stuff they can do, there’s still chance to get involved and claim rewards for a few days. Take a look and pass it on! http://indiegogo.com/edgar-the-exploiter
I would say firstly that any cultural production ultimately should be entertaining and not simply be an explicit libertarian manifesto where the hero goes on the radio and preaches the virtue of market forces for 30 straight pages ala Atlas Shrugged.
Indeed there are plenty of genres to mine, for example there is Richard Blake a libertarian who has written historical fiction in the early medieval period foucsing upon Rome. The book’s hero is an outsider who gets unwittingly caught up in the various intrigues and conspiracies of a corrupt and oppressive ruling class trying despartely to hold onto power.
There are probably plenty of contemporary themes that could be used to create stories from. For instance one could probably construct a good fictional drama about the unfairness and arbitrariness of modern family law. How about a father who goes on the run with his children because the government courts refuse to grant him access to his children.