December 15th is Bill of Rights Day. I was delighted to find this short educational video performed by middle school students from the excellent Meritas private school network. It explains the Bill of Rights to the tune of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off." Teachers: The Bill of Rights Institute offers free lesson plans and activities for middle and high school students, … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving: a Celebration of Property Rights?!
Journalist John Stossel explains how Thanksgiving would have been (and nearly was) "Starvation Day," but for a change in policy from communal planting to...private property. [4 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] Reason tells the the true story of how the introduction of property rights by Governor Bradford saved the Pilgrims. [3 min/ Anti-socialism, Econ 101] The … [Read more...]
Holodomor Holocaust Remembered In Four Films
Holodomor ("to kill by starvation) is what Ukrainians call the period from 1932-1933, when Stalin created a forced famine to punish the Ukraine's resistance to socialist collectivization. Estimates vary as to how many Ukrainians died, ranging from three million to twelve million. This tragedy and crime are remembered on Holomodor Remembrance Day. Here are four films to honor … [Read more...]
Daylight Saving: Libertarian Video Shorts
Daylight saving creates chaos among the populace. [2 min] Comedian Michael McIntyre jokes about daylight saving time. [1 min] A short segment from the John Oliver show mocks daylight saving time. [3 min] The standard opening to Perry Mason is finally explained as a daylight saving error. [1 min] Harvard School of Public Health experts … [Read more...]
Four Halloween Films For Libertarians
Happy Halloween! Nothing is scarier than unrestrained government, of course, so here are four Halloween films on the subject. Enjoy! Ghostbusters (1984) This popular classic tells the story of an entrepreneurial ghost-removal service -- Ghostbusters -- that runs into opposition from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other creatures of evil. It seems that … [Read more...]
Nestor Almendros: Libertarian Film Hero
Nestor Almendros -- born October 30, 1930 -- is best known for his cinematography. He was indeed the favorite cameraman for directors Eric Rohmer and Francois Truffaut and was nominated for four Academy Awards for cinematography (Sophie's Choice, The Blue Lagoon, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Days of Heaven). However, he also directed two powerful documentaries that together blew a … [Read more...]
Hillary Clinton’s Sunset Boulevard
Lisa Nova of the website Funny or Die does an outstanding interpretation of Hillary Clinton, post election...as Norma Desmond in the final scene from the classic film Sunset Boulevard. The video was disappeared from the internet shortly after it was released some years ago, and now the only recording available is a bit scratchy. But it's still terrific. … [Read more...]
Honest Political Ads: Seven Short Films
These seven parody honest political ads mock the political process and the marketing machines that spin candidates to maximum advantage. Clint Webb For Senator The comedy group Whitest Kids You Know produced this parody political commercial. Charles McHutchence vs. Harrison Greeley III Two politicians battle it out in this parody political ad from HBO's Mr. … [Read more...]
Actual Video Of Dirty Tricks Against Trump
They tried to publicly humiliate him. They tried to bankrupt him. They tried to imprison him. And they tried twice to assassinate him. But each time he seems to just get stronger and more popular. This clip from the original Star Wars came to mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVBX7l2zgRw&t=15s … [Read more...]
Classic Hot Mic Ad: “I will transmit this information to Vladimir”
Amidst all the accusations of who should have done what to discourage Putin's invasion of the Ukraine, nearly forgotten is that emblematic moment when then-president Barack Obama was caught on a hot mic in this very cozy conversation with Dmitry Medvedev: Obama: "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense...it's important for him to give me space." Medvedev: … [Read more...]