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...]
Margaret Thatcher: Happy Angel Birthday!
Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13th, 1925. She did more to roll back the State than just about any other politician of the last century, both at home and abroad. She is celebrated in the excellent documentary Margaret: Death of a Revolutionary. “SHUT your eyes and think of Margaret Thatcher (twin-set, hair-do, hand bag, smells nice) and Fidel Castro (combat fatigues, … [Read more...]
Cameron Hawley: Libertarian Film Hero
Cameron Hawley -- born September 19, 1905 -- was an American fiction writer. Although he published only a few books, two of them were turned into films: Cash McCall and Executive Suite. Both films are unusual for their Randian tone and strongly pro-capitalism character. Cash McCall, the better of the two, took the top prize of Best Libertarian Picture at the First International … [Read more...]
Happy Constitution Day!
Constitution Day is a celebration of the US Constitution, observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. More details here. In this clip from Star Trek (Omega Glory episode), the Constitution is rediscovered (in a parallel existence) after a long period of misinterpretation, and only Kirk knows … [Read more...]
Happy Convention of States Day!
On September 15, 1787, George Mason identified a serious oversight in the nearly-completed Constitution. As Article V had originally been drafted, it only allowed Congress to propose Constitutional amendments. But what if one day Congress were to become corrupt? The people would need another way to rein in its power. So the framers added an option to Article V allowing the … [Read more...]
Boatlift: An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience
Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. This short film is a good example of how free people respond in a crisis. Per the Huffington Post, "As panicked crowds rushed to find refuge from the area around the World Trade Center, many soon found themselves at the water’s … [Read more...]
The Other 9/11 Story Told In ’13 Hours’
On September 11th, 2012, anniversary of 9/11, Islamic militants attacked and overran the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, setting it on fire and killing US Ambassador Christopher Stephens. What led up to that event is an extraordinary degree of hubris and incompetence on the part of then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attempted to promote democracy in Libya … [Read more...]
Happy Jury Rights Day!
Jury Rights Day, held on September 5th, is a celebration of the independence of juries, established as a result of the 'William Penn Trial', which took place on this day in 1670. Here are five short films celebrating jury nullification, the assertion of a juror's right to "nullify" bad law by refusing to convict, even where evidence is clear. … [Read more...]
Perfect Film For Labor Day
Celebrate Labor Day by watching On the Waterfront, about a heroic few who stand alone against the corrupt bosses of a powerful union. This film won an incredible EIGHT Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Available on Amazon streaming. Or check out this list of libertarian films on the subject of labor unions, monopolies, and cartels. … [Read more...]