5/13/80 Bernard Levin Interviews Freidrich Hayek
by Scott on Oct.14, 2011, under Great Thinkers, Politics
The most brilliant minds are those that view societal issues in multiple contexts at once. It was because of the breadth of Freidrich Hayek’s knowledge of history, philosophy, economics, and insight into human nature that he promoted economic systems that functioned more like a biological organism as opposed to a machine consisting of parts. In this video he also displays rare (for an economist) on-camera charisma, gracefully addressing concerns while intelligently dissecting the issues faced by Britain in the 1980′s. In review of current world events, one would be hard pressed to ignore the insight and wisdom he displays in this interview.
Popularity: 11% [?]
An Exercise in Foreign Policy Empathy
by Scott on Oct.07, 2011, under Politics, Show & Tell
It is time to stop hoping and to start acting. Your true power as a citizen is in your votes. Inform yourself beyond the superficial and wield this right as the responsibility and privilege that it is.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Get to Know MA’s Newest Political Party at Somerville’s #ArtBeat
by Scott on Jul.12, 2011, under Politics
Wikileaks, government transparency, applying the Bill of Rights to the internet, hacktivism, and Intellectual Property versus reality are all really important issues that the status quo would prefer you not get involved in.
The Massachusetts Pirate Party is groundbreaking for the United States, when in March of this year they became the first recognized “Pirate” party in the United States. This should come of no surprise, since the Boston area has been a hotbed of centerist politics (probably because it’s nation leading proportion of young adults) despite it’s long reputation of being a sure-fire blue state. Anyone who has been following the eroding definition of digital rights the past few years will recognize that our government is clearly inept in the modern world (as are their “experts“), yet both major parties continuously demand more control and and exercise free reign to do as they please. It’s a slippery slope when we continuously have asterisks on various amendments in the Bill of Rights because some bureaucrat thinks that totalitarianism makes his job easier and thus you more safe.

They Don't Actually Dress Like Pirates (unfortunately)
Basically, the Pirate stance is that these lazy totalitarians should be thwarted, by flipping the table and having the Government work transparently (to ensure they are actually working for us) while protecting individual privacy, as well as preventing copyright litigation from infringing upon the natural evolution of culture. Winklevosses need not apply. If you read Techdirt regularly, you will likely agree with most of the Pirate platform.
Pirate Party on Facebook, Follow Them On Twitter
Folks in the Boston area have the opportunity to meet and hear the platform and ideology first hand from my friends at the Pirate Party. They’ll be in attendance at ArtBeat this weekend (Saturday July 16), engaging folks in conversation and making them think about these important yet whitewashed cultural issues at a great local cultural event. Below is a video I found showing highlights from last year’s ArtBeat.
Somerville ArtBeat 2010 Compilation
Popularity: 12% [?]
Libertarian Round Up July 9th
by Scott on Jul.08, 2011, under Politics




