Akil Alleyne ― Most Americans think gov't doesn't subsidize their health insurance

BALTIMORE BURNING! Gov Declares State of Emergency

My commentary on the death of Freddie Gray and the ensuing riots in Baltimore.

Dr. C.H.E. Sadaphal ― The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) Debacle

The Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2015 is abominable for one distinct reason: In the name of “religious freedom,” it encourages secular bondage.

In 1964, Congress passed the federal Civil Rights Act. This legislation prohibits discrimination in housing and public arenas based upon a multitude of factors, including race, gender, religion, and national origin. Notably, the act does not prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation. Decades later, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration of Act of 1993 was declared unconstitutional as it applied to the states. So, individual states are free to pass their own RFRAs. More than a dozen have already done so, including Indiana (this year). However, Indiana did not have to pass the RFRA in order to discriminate against others based on sexual orientation—before the law’s passage, the state was already free to turn a blind eye in the midst of such prejudice. Hence, the actions of Indiana’s legislature took things one step further, resulting in an act that encourages people to discriminate based on religion with the backing of the law.

I am no longer surprised when politicians enact ludicrous laws because politics and politicians have cumulatively reached the apex of idolatry. It is detestable that religion is being fashioned into a tool to serve political ends, and some individuals may even have been deluded into thinking that religion is all about discrimination. Putting the name “religion” on a vile act does not purify it of its malevolence. Politics ought never to set the tone for matters of faith.

Read more at http://www.chesadaphal.com/the-religious-freedom-reformation-act-rfra-debacle/

Akil Alleyne ― Did Lincoln Deserve Credit for Ending Slavery? Actually, Yeah.

The black Libertarian lawyer offers his views on Lincoln's contribution to ending slavery in America. Akil is a graduate of Princeton University and a 2013 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Black Libertarian vs. Liberal in student debate

Young Americans for Liberty at San Francisco State University (YAL SFSU), hosted our first student debate at the Jack Adams Hall. The topic was Income Inequality- Causes and Solutions. The founder and President of the YAL SFSU chapter, Niike Andino, took the libertarian position. Simone Radliff, from the Political Science Students Association (PSSA), took the liberal position. If you would like to join our chapter, or participate in a debate, contact our representatives at sfsuyal@gmail.com.

Akil Alleyne ― A Broader Flaw in Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)

The Black libertarian lawyer offers his views on Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). He argues that on top of the discrimination concerns, there's a broader problem with the range of religious liberty granted by Religious Freedom Restoration Acts ("RFRA"s) like Indiana's: they unfairly privilege religious objectors to restrictive laws over secular ones.

Akil is a graduate of Princeton University and a 2013 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

 

Alyson Hudnall ― The Romance of Capitalism: I, Pencil and the Organic Economy

Remembering John W. Perry

Bios and obtiuaries for John Perry typcially and inaccurately describe him as a man of contradictions. He was a New York City police officer and board member of the Nassau County ACLU. He was a registered Democrat and avowed opponent of the Nanny State. He called himself a libertarian, and opposed the war on drugs. He was both a humanitarian and a rugged indvidiualist. He was an authority figure who nonetheless regularly questioned and stood up to authority. He loved his country but sought out, befriended, and embraced foreigners. He was a patrol cop who assisted in investigating and prosecuting other cops who didn’t play by the rules.

Frankly, I don’t think there’s anything inherently contradictory in any of that. 

Read more at http://www.theagitator.com/2006/09/11/remembering-john-w-perry/

INSURGENT Movie Review

From Eastern Kentucky, I review the second installment of the Divergent film series starring the personable and charming Shailene Woodley. I hate it when women cut their hair, but I enjoyed the movie. Woodley made my eyes watery (for a second).

 

Dr. Adebusuyi Isaac Adeniran ― Travel Costs And Institutional Corruption Cripple Regional Trade In West Africa

The need for a free flow of people, goods, and services is central to economic growth in West Africa. Regional trade is critical for supplying reasonably priced essential goods and creating more jobs for the African people, but the continent lags far behind the rest of the world. One of the key components of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol promises the “free movement of persons and goods,” but despite the official support of 16 member countries, this has been procedurally unattainable in practice. Free trade remains illusory in West Africa.

Despite an average 5.5 percent annual GDP growth in 2014, West African countries are among the poorest in the world — primarily because of their paralyzed trade system. More than 80 percent of trade volume in Africa comes from exporting natural resources to developed economies, but trade between ECOWAS members is minuscule compared to regional trade among those developed nations. Intra-regional trade constitutes 63 percent of total exports in Western European nations, 40 percent within the NAFTA region, and 20 percent within South America’s Mercosur block, trade within ECOWAS only accounts for 9.3 percent of total exports.

Read more here: https://www.atlasnetwork.org/news/article/travel-costs-and-institutional-corruption-cripple-regional-trade-in-west-af