Libertarians Without Borders: An Interview with Tom Palmer about the Arab Spring

"The kindling, the material that has burst into flame in Syria, or Egypt, or Libya or Tunisia, are all different cases. But the spark that went from one to the other was common," says Atlas Economic Research Foundation's Tom Palmer.

Palmer speaks to Reason.tv's Matt Welch about liberty on a global scale, particularly in reference to revolutions in the Middle East this past year. "It's been a movement of astonishing courage and bravery," he says, "It has shown a demand for dignity."

Held each July in Las Vegas, FreedomFest is attended by roughly 2,000 libertarians and advocates of limited government. Reason.tv spoke with over two dozen speakers and attendees, and will be releasing interviews over the coming weeks. For an ever-growing playlist, go here now.

About 9 minutes. Shot by Zach Weissmueller and Jim Epstein, and edited by Tracy Oppenheimer.

Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube Channel to receive automatic notifications when new material goes live.

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[rdemanow]

"Unaccountable governments that are corrupt and brutal" ... much like ours here in the US.

We really should be setting a better example for the world.

[MetalConfuscation]

Libya was "sparked" by NATO bombs, lies and false accusations, it had nothing in common with Egypt or Tunisia

[ventura433]

@MetalConfuscation they have all been influence by the west without us they would not have a framework of how democracy looks like. the U.S. has done many wrong things but we are still better of than many other places.

[nonosh]

Libertarian thinking benefits the world. I'm an Armenian individual with dual citizenship for both United States and Jordan. Indeed, I believe liberty does not have borders.

[MIT2004]

the barack obama ad next to this video is hilarious. and it asks "are you in" there should be a yes or no button, of course i would press the NO button

[UTubekookdetector]

Libya, Haiti (I list Haiti because we've intervened there several times), et al will always be poor and downtrodden until they fundamentally change the way their govt operates. Libya will most likely sink back into an authoritarian society, NATO & US involvement there will do no good.

[bahraouik]

All great movements are popular movements. They are the volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotions, stirred into activity by the ruthless Goddess of Distress or by the torch of the spoken word cast into the midst of the people...By Adolf Hitler.

[bahraouik]

Mr Palmer is One smart america...Bravo!

[TheTomGPalmer]

@MetalConfuscation When people protest and are killed and then respond by violence, that constitutes a revolt. It started before NATO intervention. Google "libya revolt timeline." It's not really so hard to do. There's no shame in admitting that you got your facts wrong. Moreover, it doesn't entail admitting to or endorsing any other claim, e.g., supporting the NATO intervention or approving the killing of Gadaffi or endorsing anyone's actions. It's just a matter of getting the facts straight.

[Panzerfaust04]

@MetalConfuscation ...okay, so explain how I'm wrong. You can call me an idiot and a liar but that's not exactly debunking what I said on any level. As far as I know, I'm correct. If you'd like me to consider your perspective, try giving it to me.

[MetalConfuscation]

@Panzerfaust04 The difference between your post and what was spoon fed to the mindless viewing public by the news on TV is that you left out the lie of thousands butchered or raped by viagra crazed soldiers.