The Sovereign Gazette

Enemies of Free Society

In 1945, Karl Popper wrote a critique against the enemies of the open society: The Open Society and Its Enemies. Having lived through 2 world wars, he was looking for the root causes of these wars and the destruction of projects to improve upon personal freedom of thought and action. This section will be a recurring part of The Sovereign Gazette, identifying people and groups that are acting against liberty.

⁠

The Open Society and Its EnemiesLast edited: Fri, Jun 28, 2024 The Open Society and Its Enemies is a work on political philosophy by the philosopher Karl Popper, in which the author presents a "defence of the open society against its enemies", and offers a critique of theories of teleological historicism, according to which history unfolds inexorably according to universal laws. Popper indicts Plato, Hegel, and Marx for relying on historicism to underpin their political philosophies. Written during World War II, The Open Society and Its Enemies was published in 1945 in London by Routledge in two volumes: "The Spell of Plato" and "The High Tide of Prophecy: Hegel, Marx, and the Aftermath". A one-volume edition with a new introduction by Alan Ryan and an essay by E. H. Gombrich was published by Princeton University Press in 2013. The work was listed as one of the Modern Library Board's 100 Best Nonfiction books of the 20th century. The book critiques historicism and defends the open society and liberal democracy. Popper argues that Plato's political philosophy has dangerous tendencies towards totalitarianism, contrary to the benign idyll portrayed by most interpreters. He praises Plato's analysis of social change but rejects his solutions, which he sees as driven by fear of change brought about by the rise of democracies, and as contrary to the humanitarian and democratic views of Socrates and other thinkers of the Athenian "Great Generation". Popper also criticizes Hegel, tracing his ideas to Aristotle and arguing that they were at the root of 20th century totalitarianism. He agrees with Schopenhauer's view that Hegel "was a flat-headed, insipid, nauseating, illiterate charlatan, who reached the pinnacle of audacity in scribbling together and dishing up the craziest mystifying nonsense." Popper criticizes Marx at length for his historicism, which he believes led him to overstate his case, and rejects his radical and revolutionary outlook. Popper advocates for direct liberal democracy as the only form of government that allows institutional improvements without violence and bloodshed. See more en.wikipedia.org

⁠

$47,000 of New Regs Per Household

A recent report by Casey B. Mulligan, Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, estimates that the Biden-Harris administration's regulations have added approximately $47,000 in costs per household, or a total of $5.8 trillion in net present value. This is nearly twice the cost of regulations imposed during President Obama's first term and a significant increase from the Trump administration, which reduced regulatory costs by $11,000 per household. The report also notes that the costs of regulations are more regressive than major monetary taxes, with the lowest-income households bearing the greatest burden.

The report highlights several key areas where regulations have had a significant impact, including climate and energy policies, labor regulations, and the federal budget. For example, the Biden-Harris administration's climate policies are estimated to increase the price of a new car by $3,382, while labor regulations have led to increased costs for employers and reduced employment opportunities for low-income workers. The report concludes that the costs of regulations are significant and disproportionately burden low-income households, highlighting the need for policymakers to carefully consider the impact of regulations on the economy and individual households.

⁠

Loading committeetounleashprosperity.com⁠

⁠

UK goes after its Citizens

The author laments that politicians have become sources of entertainment, while comedians have become more insightful commentators on politics. They cite examples of politicians like Kamala Harris and Labour politicians making humorous gaffes, while comedians like Joe Rogan and Rowan Atkinson offer more astute analyses of political issues. The author turns to Atkinson's warnings on free speech, which are particularly relevant given the government's current crackdown on social media users.

The author highlights the double standard in the application of the law, where high-profile individuals like Nick Lowles and Kenan Malik are not held accountable for spreading misinformation, while ordinary people like Bernadette Spofforth, a 55-year-old mother of three, are prosecuted for their online comments. The author suggests that the government's attempts to regulate online speech are arbitrary and politicized, and that the law is being applied unequally. They long for a more principled and even-handed approach to free speech, as exemplified by Rowan Atkinson's warnings.

⁠

Loading www.spectator.co.uk⁠

⁠

CCP Targets Taiwanese

China has taken a step further in its efforts to crack down on Taiwanese independence, with a new law that allows for the prosecution of Taiwanese individuals who advocate for independence, including those living in China. The law, which includes the possibility of life imprisonment and even the death penalty, has sent shockwaves through the Taiwanese community, with many feeling they are no longer safe in China. Taiwanese individuals who live and work in China have reported feeling wary of expressing their opinions, with some planning to leave the country or already having left.

Taiwan has long been a sensitive topic for China, which sees it as a renegade province that must be brought back under its control. The island has a democratically elected government and a thriving economy, but China has been increasing its pressure on Taiwan in recent years, including through military drills and diplomatic isolation. The new law is seen as a further escalation of China's efforts to stifle Taiwanese independence and bring the island under its control. Taiwanese officials have expressed concern about the law, with some warning that it could be used to target Taiwanese citizens in China and silence dissenting voices.

⁠

China's rhetoric turns dangerously real for Taiwanese China wants people to report Taiwanese "separatists", with the threat of death penalties for some. www.bbc.com⁠

⁠

Anything but “Brotherhood”

Ayaan Hirsi Ali argues that tolerating the Muslim Brotherhood has failed, both in the West and in the Middle East, and that suppression is now the only way forward. She contends that the Brotherhood's ideology is incompatible with liberal democratic values and that its ultimate goal is a theocratic Islamic caliphate. Despite its claims of moderation, the Brotherhood's actions and rhetoric suggest that it is still committed to its founding ideals of political Islam, which include the use of violence and intimidation to achieve its goals.

Hirsi Ali rejects the argument that the Brotherhood has moderated and is willing to participate in democratic politics. She points to the examples of Egypt and Turkey, where the Brotherhood has shown its true colors by undermining democratic institutions and consolidating power. She also notes that the Brotherhood's ideology is fundamentally at odds with Western values and that its influence has led to the spread of Islamic extremism in Europe and the United States. To counter this, she recommends designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, exploring sedition charges against its domestic affiliates, and developing policies to deter Turkey and Qatar from supporting the Brotherhood's global activities.

⁠

Loading www.restorationbulletin.com⁠

⁠

Milton Friedman vs Joseph Stiglitz

Illustrating the outcomes of the economic understanding of Friedman and Stiglitz, consider four countries with similar GDP per capita in 1998 - Estonia, Poland, Argentina, and Venezuela. They took different economic paths, with Estonia and Poland adopting free market reforms inspired by Milton Friedman, while Argentina and Venezuela followed more interventionist policies influenced by Joseph Stiglitz. An image is worth a thousand words:

⁠

$47,000 of New Regs Per Household

UK goes after its Citizens

CCP Targets Taiwanese

Anything but “Brotherhood”

Milton Friedman vs Joseph Stiglitz

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.