Late Summer Miscellany

1) I've added some new names to the roll over on the right. Of note:

The Natural Society - Cam Vidler is "rescuing the world from social engineers on the left and right" - an encouraging sign that there are still classical liberals left in the Liberal party. Who knows, if I weren't so convinced of the hopelessness of the current political situation, I'd probably be a classical liberal myself.

I've already linked to Stefan Molyneaux's blog, articles and podcast, now his Freedomain Discussion Forum has taken off. Some great arguments for the stateless society, but be prepared to face your family issues!

Degrees of Freedom - very interesting, well argued libertarian. Not that all the other libertarians aren't interesting or well argued, but he seems to have the patience to go more than a few rounds with fans of agricultural subsidies, constitutionalists and natural rights skeptics. His "How to Argue With A Libertarian" post certainly struck a familiar chord for me.

With Google Reader, I don't actually use the roll much anymore, but it's good to have everyone in one spot in case I (or visitors) need to access them.

2) I've been reading up on railroader J.J. Hill. Specifically, his competition with the government protected and subsidized CPR in the Vancouver area. Hill’s well-deserved reputation in libertarian/ anarcho-capitalist circles is of the great businessman who constructed the Great Northern rail line without any such protection or subsidy. Although surprisingly little mention is made of him in Gabriel Kolko's Railroads and Regulation, the short references suggest he was at least mildly supportive of some form of government regulation, thus taking him down a notch from the Randian hero I was hoping to learn about. Admittedly, I have not read the full book yet, but its central argument is that the railway tycoons "forged their own chains" by advocating government regulation. Certainly sounds plausible to me. In the lower Mainland, Hill's line directly benefitted from the construction of the New Westminster Swing Bridge in 1904, providing a connection into False Creek (which would eventually be filled in to serve as the rail terminus). At the time this was an extremely expensive engineering project and it's hard to believe he didn't have a role in getting the government to finally build it, although it's worth noting that due to the CPR's monopoly clause, Hill would have been prohibited from building a second crossing of the Fraser prior to 1902. As far as I'm concerned, grudgingly playing the government racket for what it was worth (what choice really, did he or anyone else have?) should not in any way diminish his achievements.

Here is the Great Northern historical site and here is a website describing the Great Northern in B.C.

3) What are the chances a guy like Hill would make it today? There really are no frontiers left, with perhaps the exception of the Canadian north. Even that is defacto government property, doled out to the political class rather than any kind of Lockean homesteaders.

I mentioned this idea to Mapmaster the other day, and anyone with the resources and/or connections is welcome to steal the idea. First of all, hands up anyone who thinks the assorted criminal gangs of the earth will be able to successfully intervene and reduce (or reverse) the process of increasing global temperature? No one, eh? I'd certainly put money on the fact that they won't. Ok, now how does beachfront property in Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk sound? In 50 to 100 years, you could combine a port offering five-day shipping savings to an ice-free Dempster Highway and be in business. I'm pretty sure the smart money's on government failure in this case.

4) Button / Honda victorious at Hungary! ITV's photo gallery has some sweet pics. In Champ Car and Nascar news, I have to wonder when the concept of "enforcer" is going to make its way into the field? Paul Tracy already drew the hockey connection with his quip about "french guys with visors", although it would be less applicable to open wheel settings. The task of keeping Tony Stewart in line should not fall to Carl Edwards, particularly on a multi-car operation like Roush. Send whoever is a lap down or out of contention out to give Tony a shove back and the nonsense will taper off. As in the NHL, I think this is something the drivers would be better off policing themselves.

5) A poll indicates most Canadians prefer Bryan Adam's "Summer of '69" as their favourite tune to sing at the top of their lungs while driving. Personally, I prefer something more hardcore, such as "Straight Outta Compton" or "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" - like Michael Bolton, however, I turn down the volume when a black guy pulls up beside me.

6) Arnold's introduction to "Free De Jews". Frank Zappa on Crossfire

7) Honestly, what could be more entertaining than the annual Wiener Walk?

8) I'm nearing the end of Mises' Omnipotent Government: The Rise of the Total State and Total War (free online here [pdf]). A most kick-ass title for a libertarian (liberal, actually) book and required reading for those who think they can tell the difference between commies and fascists.

9) My jogging days are over for good after another excruciating bout of back spasms. Here are my favourite ~10k circuits from Ottawa and Burnaby / New West.
# 9:45 PM