Tom G. Palmer on Realizing Freedom

The importance of the rule of law is hard to overstate. It defines societies not governed by the whims of central authorities.
Tom Palmer - Cato Institute Senior Fellow and General Director of the Atlas Global Initiative for Free Trade, Peace, and Prosperity - believes that promoting liberty and the rule of law means discovering that tradition in cultures around the world.
He explores these themes in his new book, Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History and Practice. He spoke at the Cato Institute December 1, 2009.

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[reapfreak]

Recently I hit the end of the road. I finally realized that limited government is still too much, I'm now an anarcho-capitalist.

[truefictions]

Great video thank you.

[Psychictaxi]

I am about a third of the way through this excellent book, and I suggest some of you commenters READ the fucking thing before you spout out your armchair BULLSHIT. It is more than well thought out - in it he tears Rawls and those like him to pieces intricately, and fully. Leaving no squirm room is what I like about stand-up men like Tom. Too bad you suckers have such brain-envy - have another GMO tomato... and wash it down with fluoridated tap water before American Idol comes on.

[regusted]

Good talk, Tom.

I find it annoying when xenophobes try to pervert the meaning of the phrase "rule of law" to mean strict enforcement of immigration laws.

[fadinboy]

'john rawls claims to be a liberal'?!

what a ridiculous comment. if tom palmer has ever taken the time to read a theory of justice i'm sure he would be familiar with rawls' lexical ordering of the first principle of rights (the most extensive set of basic liberties) over the second principle (which it doesn't take a genius to figure out is the part the right has a problem with).

it's pretty obvious what the real motivation behind this kind of postering is and it definitely isn't liberty.

[tmt686]

*better off without

[tmt686]

@Patriots I agree, it is part of human nature to want to control their environments, it is better to place control in a government institution that is acccountable. People think we would be better off with government but what would actually happen would the law would fall into the hands of brute thugs and local warlords.

[Kawlinz]

1:47 "...Without the rule of law, one is at the mercy of the arbitrary will of other people..."

Seems that the rule of law is synonymous with the lack of law.

[PatriotsRepublic]

Your argument is not well thought out. It is what is called a Red Herring. I take it you don't read much... or you don't understand the constructs of the social contract the Constitution embodies. You should read Locke and Rousseau plus all the founders notes on the subject to at least get some understanding of why a limited government is necessary.

[dimaniak]

Koch = fail

[Betty5150]

Same here. Government is only force. Thus anti-voluntary. Thus anti-liberty.