Self-empowering individuals know how to attract others and get them to listen. They are able to put a megaphone to their inner voice and broadcast their ideas loud and clear to whomever is worth the time of day.

On the other end of the spectrum there are those who seldom let their thoughts be known. Perhaps due to some fear of being ridiculed or rejected, these individuals would rather live in their heads than provoke the reality outside of themselves.

We all lay on this spectrum to different degree, some of us leaning more one way than another; I like to call this our “Signal-To-World” ratio.

Voice of change

Through our words we all have the capacity to change something about the world, to shed awareness on things that others have ignored, and motivate like-minded individuals toward a greater course of action.

We don’t necessarily need a soapbox and a megaphone, we speak our thoughts throughout everyday conversation: around family, friends, coworkers, and casual acquaintances.

Unless we live deep in some long-lost cave in Tibet, or we are dead, it is hard not to make some sort of impact onto our world. With this being known, we all have some bit of a signal-to-world ratio, even if we willfully deny our interconnectedness and responsibility towards others.

Boosting your signal

First we must recognize ourselves as the agents of change that we really are, and then we need to ask, “In what ways can I make this voice be heard more clearly?”

I was always a fairly introverted child; you could say my signal-to-world ratio was very low. I first turned to poetry and music to help express and share myself with others, and now my biggest pride is this very blog you are reading. Any creative endeavor can be used to inspire and spark the interests of others.

However, it takes dedication to ensure that your signal is reaching others effectively. You must be aware of your intentions and when your message is being misinterpreted. Sometimes we can be speaking at the top of our lungs, but if it just blends into all the other noise of the world then our signal won’t be heard.

Action and activism

Making our voices heard requires commitment and action. This means getting up off our butts, stirring the waters of reality, and trying to make something happen!

It means we have a vision, a way we picture how the world should be, and a path to get there. Whether it is organizing a protest in front of the Whitehouse or even going to a job interview – our signal to the world must be as clear and understandable as possible.

So what do you have to say? When you look at the world where do you see changes to be made? Find the time and work towards getting something accomplished.

Tune in to others

Sometimes making our voice be known means speaking in unison with the voices of others.

There is no need to overpower all the other signals of the world for ours to be heard. All we simply need to do is find a place where our voice resonates. There may already be some organizations that support your beliefs. Why not work with them? This all goes back to the old adage, “Two heads are better than one.”

Example: “Everything is OK.”

Recently I came across a very interesting video of a few protesters in England.

Although I typically have disdain for those who walk around public streets aiming to provoke and intimidate others, these protesters have something unique going for them. They use satire and asinine statements in an entertaining and meaningful way – and it actually gets people to listen to what they are saying!

The message of their protest is clear and simple, and that is what gets their signal heard. While these individuals speak out about how “Everything is OK and safe,” the real message is that blind obedience is stupid, and it turns us all into nothing but zombies, with our 9-5 jobs and our lack of any zest for life.

Check it out:

In many ways this video summarizes the same sentiments I am conveying in this post.

What’s your signal-to-world ratio?

What it all boils down to by the end of the day is how much are you really being heard? Are you the agent of change that you want to be? Is your signal coming out loud and strong, or is it just a buzz in the background of this busy world? I don’t expect you to be the next Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr., but I do want to see more people following their hearts and becoming the change they wish to see in the world.

So do me a favor and let your voice be heard. What type of things do you do on a daily basis to make your opinion be known?

With the holidays looming near, now is a better time than any to exercise our good will. Whether it is buying mom a Nintendo Wii or helping an old lady cross the street, there are countless ways we can accumulate good karma.

Often, we think of doing something nice as a rarity. Most people don’t seem to do it often and we reciprocate by not doing anything either. It is only during these strange times of holiday cheer that we begin to feel comfortable enough to actively spread love and happiness. Let us maintain this positive momentum for the following 364 days of the year as well. For any time of the year, here are some ideas that I find most important to consider whenever we are giving gifts or doing someone else a favor:

1. Have Their Interests In Mind

This may seem obvious but sometimes we can get caught in the trap of buying something that we would enjoy, while ignoring the interests of the person who we are giving the gift too. Of course, it is not always easy to know what someone else may want. We can try to overcome this by putting our self in someone’s shoes, or asking like-minded people what a good present might be. If you are trying to find something for a 6 year old boy, then you can ask other 6 year old boys. Similarly, if you know someone who is an avid golfer, then you can ask other avid golfers what a good brand of new clubs might be.

2. Let It Be From The Good Of Your Heart

All too often, and especially during the holiday season, we do “nice” things for people out of necessity or obligation. It is this kind of mentality that can ruin what would otherwise be a joyful celebration. It is much nicer and much more fun if we actually do others favors out of the goodness of our heart, and not out of some unhealthy and ill-defined obligation. Find the desire in yourself to make others happy, and by acting on these desires, you will find that you too will become much more happier and satisfied.

3. Make It Meaningful

If you excel at the first two intentions then this one often comes naturally, but it is worth pointing out anyway: make your favors and gifts as meaningful as possible. There is usually no extra financial burden to doing something with a little bit of meaning, something that shows you put in the time and thought into making a good gesture. A meaningful gift is one that will evoke a strong sense of appreciation in the recipient. Something that brightens the person’s day and makes life worth living. You also want to avoid gifts purely based on novelty or “quick highs,” and instead focus on things that will continue to have value over time.

4. Don’t Expect Anything In Return

If you expect something in return for your favors then you are limiting the magic of your actions. A true act of kindness is not dependent on any reciprocation. The act of giving in itself is all that is needed to experience pleasure and happiness. If we expect something in return, but we don’t get it, we may conclude that our actions were for nothing, but that isn’t the goal of giving to others, is it? It is probably for the best that we diminish any expectations we may have in getting something in return for our efforts. This doesn’t mean we should be shocked if someone reciprocates a good deed, but it shouldn’t be dependent on our ability to exercise kindness.

5. Feel Proud Of What You’ve Done

Often we get immediate gratification after doing something kind for another. It simply feels good to make others feel good. But some like to suppress these feelings. Perhaps it is because they define altruism through “self-sacrifice,” and therefore, much like the story of Jesus dying for our sins, they feel that an act of kindness must be at the expense of our own life, happiness or well-being. I wish to dispel this notion. It is of utmost importance that we feel good when providing for others. If we can exercise this will, if we allow ourselves to feel good for our good deeds, then we are more motivated to continue these actions of kindness in the future. Be proud of your noble efforts! Be selfishly generous.

Final Words

I hope this post provides some good food for thought for the next time you are intending to help another. All acts out of kindness are commendable, but if we can accept some of these ideas, and raise our consciousness regarding what it means to be giving, then we can bring our kindness to the next level.

Earlier this week I published an article on “Five Reasons Why Having A Blog Makes You More Productive.” However I also sometimes fear that blogging, or any writing for that matter, can also become counterproductive if it begins to take away time from other activities we could be taking part in.

The above quote by American writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau sums up my feelings perfectly. If we find that we are writing about the things we do more than we are actually doing them, then things can become problematic, unbalanced, and incongruent with our self-perception. Therefore it is important that sometimes we put down our pens, shut down our computers, and go searching for what life really has to offer. This has motivated me to put together a short list of some of the things we can do to correct this imbalance.

1. Pick Up A New Hobby

I don’t care how old you are, unless you are on your deathbed there is no reason to not always be seeking new activities to engage yourself in. Our time on this world is limited, but the kinds of things we could be doing within that time limit are endless. Try to think of a friend who is well-versed in a subject or hobby that you may be interested in. Maybe it is a sport like volleyball or golf, or maybe it is an activity like painting or photography. Have your friend guide you through the first few stages of the learning curve until you become familiar with the fundamentals. Once you have a good enough grapple with that you can continue pursuing the activity on your own.

2. Help Someone In Need

Doing things for others is one of the most underrated productive things you can do. Not only are you making a difference in someone’s life but you are going to feel infinitely better because of it! Try to find a local volunteering organization, maybe a church, soup kitchen, or rehab center, and then see what you can do to help out the community. Try to volunteer on a regular basis. Even if it is only one hour a week it is still more than most, and you will still be playing your fair part in improving other people’s lives.

3. Spice Up Your Living Space

There is always a good excuse to change up your living environment, even if it is just for the sake of change itself. This doesn’t mean you have to go to IKEA and spend money on colorful furniture, there are plenty of creative things you can do with things you can find lying around the house. One of my favorite projects is to make collages out of old photos or magazines. You can turn this into a frame to put on the wall or even a nice tabletop. Think of your living space as a work of art. Incorporate both creativity and personal meaning, but keep it tasteful for guests. If you get too extravagant you may come off as a bit of a loony…but sometimes having fun is more important anyway.

4. Challenge Yourself

Deliberately find something that brings you out of your comfort zone. The point of a challenge is to push you to the next level. What is something you wouldn’t dare do? Maybe it is skydiving or that new roller coaster at Six Flags. Maybe it is even approaching that new girl from work. Whatever it is, “Go Nike And Just Do It!” You will feel better about yourself for pursuing the challenge, and you will be more inclined to face your fears in the future. Make sure you find something that really gets on your nerves otherwise you aren’t challenging yourself enough.

5. Cook For A Friend Or Loved One

This is another nice thing you could do for someone else that will also benefit you. If you already love cooking then maybe you have a favorite dish that you would like to share with someone. If not then you can check out AllRecipes.com (my personal favorite) and find something that you won’t screw up. It is also OK if you need an extra pair of hands to help you around the kitchen. Remember this list is about standing up to live, not fending for yourself, so the ability to ask others for assistance is still an necessary part of any healthy living strategy.

6. Join An Activist Group

I am sure everyone can think of a particular cause that they would like support. Nowadays there is an activist group for just about anything: animal rights, cancer awareness, fighting poverty, environmental issues, and protesting corrupt government institutions. Take a moment and think of something that you would like to change about the world. Then try searching for your cause on Google and see if you can find an organization that shares your beliefs. It typically isn’t hard to find an outlet for any kind of social, political, economic, or environmental change, and most of these organizations are non-profit, thus they are willing to have just about anyone hop on board who wishes to show support.

7. Plan A Getaway

I use the term “getaway” here because vacations can be expensive. Ideally you may want to visit Cancun and drink margaritas all weekend, but some of us aren’t always fortunate enough to have that option. However, just because we don’t have money doesn’t mean we can’t escape from our same ol’ daily routine. Maybe there is a local beach or national park you could visit for the day. Find the time to spend a long afternoon just outside and enjoying nature. It is a great way to get in touch and remind yourself what you are really standing up and living for. Also, how could I quote Thoreau and not recommend spending more time with Mother Earth.

Final Thought

Don’t just sit down and wait to die! Get up right now and find something that makes a difference in you and in others. So you wanted to spend the weekend locked in your room writing another blog post? F— that! Free yourself first. Then you can write about all the rich experiences you had after the fact. Have I gotten you inspired yet?

Cognitive liberty is the concept that an individual has absolute sovereignty over their state of consciousness as long as it does not infringe on the rights of another. This includes the use of meditation, prayer, and psychoactive drugs, as well as the right to not be force-fed any psychoactive drug against one’s will.

Currently, cognitive liberty is not a very much respected philosophy in American politics. Most psychoactive drugs like cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline are considered illegal to possess and consume. Similarly, we see young children all throughout the nation being force-fed certain psychoactive drugs (the “good kinds”) in name of “normal thinking” and “normal behavior.”

As a libertarian, I feel cognitive liberty is a necessary component to any free society. I have written numerous times about my disdain for the War On Drugs and specifically the failure that is marijuana prohibition.

I am also against our tendency as a society to administer psychoactive drugs so carelessly and with so little respect for the free choice of young people and the mentally ill. It is an awful thing to offer a drug to any person without appropriately informing them on what the drug is supposed to do or how it might make them feel. We should also explain to children very clearly that they have a choice whether or not to continue taking the drug if they don’t like its effects. It often happens where a child’s personal interest is put secondary or even overlooked completely.

Let it be known that I do think there are cases where someone needs to be given a drug against their will (maybe if they are unconscious or completely delusional and incoherent). But these situations are limited, and I think it is safe to say that society and government has overstepped its boundaries on more than a couple fronts when it comes to this issue.

Who really has the authority to tell a conscious and thinking being what they can and cannot put into their body or how they should experience reality? I don’t consider it justified for any free society to draw such arbitrary distinctions between what is “good” or “bad” for an individual if that individual is exercising their own rational free choice. People have different values and interests in life – this is the same dimension of diversity that characterizes all of nature and what has made evolution possible.

The act of consuming drugs is a victimless crime, and it does not justify people getting locked up in prison or having a criminal record that inhibits them from ever getting a good job or building a bright future. Drugs have been present in every society known to man and it is time we respect their place in the structure of our humanity. It is one thing to advise others against the use of certain drugs, and it is another to try to banish their existence or ignore it entirely.

I am perfectly comfortable acknowledging the fact that some drugs have negative consequences while still promoting the freedom for others to use these same drugs. For one thing, negative consequences are a part of all decisions we make – it does not mean we sacrifice our freedom to make those decisions. To borrow from something I wrote in a recent article about government spending,

“Just because half of American marriages end in a divorce doesn’t mean we want the government to make decisions on who we should marry. Life is filled with mistakes; it is how we learn, and it is a part of freedom.”

If you really want to help those who are dependent on drugs – or if you really want to make a long lasting change in any individual’s behavior – then you need to appeal to that person’s reason. You can not rule a rationally thinking person by force. And yes, even a drug addict has his or her own mode of rational thought in accordance with their own values and interests.

When people value something strong enough, they find a way to go against government restrictions in order to satisfy that want. This is why prohibition always leads to a black market for goods that society finds valuable.

When will people recognize that others value these drugs? When will we learn to tolerate these differences? If we really want to make a positive change than we need to re-think freedom and re-think the way we influence others if we want to continue living in a free society. If we don’t accept the notion of cognitive liberty, if we sacrifice those fundamental principles of self-ownership and freedom of thought, then in what ways are we really free anymore?

To learn more please visit The Center For Cognitive Liberty & Ethics, which includes notable members like visionary artist Alex Grey, libertarian psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, and psychedelic researcher Ralph Metzner (who used to work with Timothy Leary).

“G. Edward Griffin (born November 7, 1931) is an American film producer, author, and political lecturer. Starting as a child actor, he became a radio station manager before age 20. He then began a career of producing documentaries and books on often-debated topics like cancer, Noah’s ark, and the Federal Reserve, as well as on right-libertarian views of the U.S. Supreme Court, terrorism, subversion, and foreign policy. He has opposed the Federal Reserve since the 1960s, saying it constitutes a banking cartel and an instrument of war and totalitarianism.”

Greater awareness leads to greater action.

The more we are aware of each aspect of our life, the better equipped we become when making decisions and solving problems – which is a pretty often occurrence in our daily world…so why not spend the time to build the skills of living mindfully and fully conscious?

Of course due to our limited cognitive resources we cannot be aware of everything simultaneously. Instead, we must balance our awareness between different aspects of our lives: our career, our relationships, our health, and our happiness.

And finding a balance is rarely easy. Within a period of time, it is easy to get in the habit of pouring too much focus into one aspect of our life while neglecting others.

We are always relating with the world in different ways, and by being better aware of our actions and their consequences we can improve upon our skills, act more purposefully, and build upon the world in a way that we want to see it.

Gaining knowledge and spreading it to others is the best way to expand awareness on various social, political, and environmental issues. College campuses are some of the best mediums for this, where it is common to see protests regarding war, civil rights, abortion, cancer, poverty, the environment, and much more.

Newspapers, TVs, websites, blogs, and forums are all different tools to help spread awareness – to inform people on how to make better decisions. They change people’s lives, how they see the world, and how they behave.

Awareness can seem like a simple and harmless thing but it makes a real impact. People love to blame commercialism, advertising, propaganda, and other societal pressures for the evils of society, but rarely do we take the responsibility or time to expand our awareness by making the effort to seek information about things that are not right in front of us.

Being more conscious of our world can seem inconvenient and often not worth the effort. It won’t give you immediate pleasure or satisfaction like what you would get from eating a delicious dessert. No, awareness takes effort and determination to understand the interests of both your self and others, but it is worth it as time will prove later on.

Stay dedicated to the pursuit of growth, knowledge, and conscious living; but keep in mind your benefits will only be in proportion to your efforts. Conscious living is not a belief but a skill. With practice you can expand awareness in all areas of your life, both personal and social. Work on living mindfully, and remember each moment is a new opportunity to practice and improve your well-being. This is one of the most empowering ideas one can instill in their behavior.

This is the third time within the last couple of weeks that Judge Napolitano’s show “Freedom Watch” has covered the War On Drugs, and its utter failure as a government motive to protect its citizens from substance abuse. Even though I already reported on one of these segments at Legalize It? Director of NORML on Marijuana Prohibition, because this is a topic I find very interesting, I decided to report on this latest update as well.

Jacob Hornberger, the founder and president of the Future of Freedom Foundation , a non-profit libertarian educational facility, says Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman predicted the failure of the War On Drugs back in the 1970s, back when then-President Richard Nixon first defined the movement. Since then, Hornberger argues, the WOD has proved itself to be a failed war. He claims the best way to fix this mess is to do the same thing we did with alcohol prohibition – end it!

Napolitano agrees with Hornberger; he believes the War On Drugs is unconstitutional, a waste of time, and a waste of the American people’s money and resources. As a result of some of these laws, innocent people’s lives have been ruined by the hands of the state.

NAPOLITANO: Is it controversial for people in the public eye to come out in favor of the legalization of the private use of recreational drugs?

HORNBERGER: Well when I was bringing this up 20 years ago on radio talk shows I could light up the phone calls. People were just shocked at the possibility that drugs could be legalized. Twenty years later it is now a legitimate position…What do the drug warriors have left? All they have is their good intentions, and that is not enough. They have made the situation worse.

According to Hornberger it is not uncommon today to see police officers, federal judges, prosecutors, and lawyers against the War On Drugs.

HORNBERGER: We have argued for 30 years now, Judge, that the free market would put these drug dealers and drug cartels out of business instantaneously. And the article to which you are referring, where the private sector is having these marijuana farms, is proving that. These cartels are having a difficult time competing against these legitimate marijuana farms. Which leads us to believe that if you legalize the whole market, [then] these drug gangs and cartels would go out of business overnight.

According to this CNN poll conducted earlier this year 95% were in favor of marijuana legalization.

Is it time politicians start listening to the American people? Can we ever return to a society that respects the individual’s freedom to choose his own pursuit of happiness, as long as it does not undermine the liberties of another? What is stopping legislators from legalizing drugs like marijuana and regulating it similarly to how we regulate alcohol? Over the last decade I have noticed a surge in people speaking up on this issue – hopefully we can come to our senses sooner rather than later. America, let your voice be heard!

THE CATO INSTITUTE

These guys are just about everywhere nowadays and for good reason: they have been pushing libertarian ideals hard since 1977.

This non-profit, pro-free market libertarian think tank, and public policy research facility, was first founded by Edward Crane after he received assistance from Mr. Libertarian himself Murray Rothbard as well as some funding by engineer and CEO Charles Koch.

According to their website,

“The mission of the Cato Institute is to increase the understanding of public policies based on the principles of limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. The Institute will use the most effective means to originate, advocate, promote, and disseminate applicable policy proposals that create free, open, and civil societies in the United States and throughout the world.”

The Cato Institute is responsible for a variety of publications and essays throughout the decades on a on a wide range of policy issues including taxing and spending, education, free speech, Social Security, regulation, federalism, individual rights, the rule of law, globalization, national security, and the environment.

Where to start:

Their main blog is great as well as their multimedia section and homepage where they display recent articles and recommended links.

LUDWIG VON MISES INSTITUTE

The Mises Institute considers themselves the world center of the Austrian School of economics as well as libertarian political and social theory. That can certainly not be disputed. They also have an incredible amount of content – so you are going to want to get digging soon.

In the media center you will find a variety of downloadable video and audio files of lectures, documentaries, and interviews. These are great to put on your IPOD and listen to on long road trips. Topics cover welfare, bureaucracy, war, monetary reform, and economic critiques on Keynesian, classical, monetarism, socialism, Marxism, and communism.

The literature section is also full of gold, where you will find hundreds and hundreds of downloadable books, journal articles, essays, and even study guides.

Where to start:

One of my personal recommendations is to check out their study guide dedicated to Mises’ magnum opus Human Action, which lays out the Austrian methodology of praxeology – the basis of all Austrian economic theory. Praxeology is a form of methodological individualism (who early economist and Nobel Laureate Friedrich Hayek, and one of the most influential philosophers of science Karl Popper both advocated), which demands that social sciences ground their theories in the actions of individuals and not collective entities who do not behave as autonomous decision makers.

If that last paragraph bored the heck out of you: then just check out their daily archive and recommended links on their homepage.

LEWROCKWELL.COM

I’ll be honest here, LewRockwell.com is my favorite libertarian resource but it is also the most extreme recommendation on this list. I think their main slogan sums up what you are going to get here perfectly: “Anti-State, Anti-War, and Pro-Market,” and their articles are certainly not bashful of it.

You won’t be seeing many kind words regarding government – but it is not like they are just being spewed by the mouths of government fear-mongering, Fox News-motivated drones.

Far from it: LewRockwell.com is nothing but quality reading. They update their site daily with about 13-15 new articles, with about 75% being about current issues in politics and economics and 25% regarding miscellaneous topics like art, culture, and science.

LewRockwell.com’s strong point is its stunning display of diversity in perspective. Authors range anywhere between university professors, politicians, economists, financial experts, authors, doctors, psychiatrists, and various others devoted to individual rights, limited state (sometimes flirting with anarchism), and the freedom to choose within the marketplace.

You may not readily agree with some of the ideas you read, but at the very least LewRockwell.com offers one of the freshest, inspiring, and most intellectual perspectives on what liberty really means.

Where to start:

Just check out their daily articles and pick whatever sounds interesting.

FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION

The Foundation For Economic Education (FEE) was first founded in 1946 by Leonard E. Read. Since then they have been dedicated to provided a consistent case for freedom and the sanctity of private property, individual liberty, the free market and the moral superiority of individual choice and responsibility over coercion.

Since FEE was established they have published or hosted lectures by some of the greatest economists of the last century: Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, Henry Hazlitt, Milton Friedman, James Buchanan, Vernon Smith, Israel Kirzner, Walter Williams, George Stigler, Frank Chodorov, John Chamberlain, F.A. “Baldy” Harper, William F. Buckley Jr., among many others.

One quick look through their library of books, articles, audio and videos and you will see the massive database and free information that FEE has to offer to the general public. I also recommend their main blog, Anything Peaceful which gives a free market perspective on current issues facing our nation’s economy, and how we can help move our country in a more free and prosperous direction.

AYN RAND INSTITUTE

It is clear that Ayn Rand as an individual would never endorse libertarianism as a political movement or philosophy.

But the fact of the matter is the ideas of Rand’s Objectivism and the ideas of capitalism, individual rights, and limited government are essentially synonymous. Rand just never liked the term “Libertarianism” because she saw it as inherently collectivist.

If I had to say one thing about Rand I would say she was misunderstood, and this was partly because she was such a stubborn person.

But ultimately, she was an intellectual tyrant, and true defender of freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and peace. I highly suggest reading The Ayn Rand Institute’s FAQ page for a full overview on what Rand was about, what her writings were about, what her philosophy called Objectivism was all about, and what the Ayn Rand Institute is doing today, as a non-profit think tank, advancing these ideas and trying to make real world changes.

DAILYPAUL.COM

A lot of the recent popularity in libertarianism is because of Congressmen Ron Paul who ran for President in 2008 under the Republican Party, and also back in 1988 under the Libertarian Party.

He is also currently getting a lot of recognition in the media for his new bill HR1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, which currently has 297 cosponsors, as well as Dr. Paul’s new book “End The Fed” which is an intellectually marathon on the economic, philosophical, and moral reasons why the Federal Reserve is a threat to everyone’s liberty.

I go to DailyPaul.com because when Ron Paul is getting coverage I like to see what he has to say. Just the other week he was on the Daily Show discussing his book. Ron Paul’s opinion matters, and he is still going to be relevant in the next coming years – especially as our economy continues to slide, and the American public gets more eager for answers and rational explanations to what got us into the mess we are experiencing now.

REASON.COM

Reason.com is updated daily with articles and columns on current developments in politics and culture. It also contains the full text of past issues of the print edition of Reason Magazine. Like all these other resources, it is also entirely free. You can look through their Print Archives here.

One of my personal favorite features of Reason Online is REASON.TV which contains videos, celebrity interviews, and short documentaries on a variety of topics like civil rights, health care, business and technology, welfare, foreign policy, government spending, The War On Drugs, abortion, gun rights, labor unions, global warming, science, art, culture, and much more.

Their slogan is “Free Minds, Free Markets,” which are ideals they hold to pretty well since they are very non-partisan in their political beliefs and very dedicated to the principles of liberty and voluntary transactions as they would take place in a free market.

There is also REASON.ORG, or the Reason Foundation, which takes a more academic approach at critiquing public policy, offering different solutions. According to the Washington Journal, “Of all the nation’s conservative or free-market policy groups, it may be the most libertarian among them, the Reason Foundation in Southern California, that ends up having the most direct impact on the actual functioning of government.”

Where to start:

It really depends if you want to read articles, watch videos, or listen to podcasts or audio files. Reason has all of the above and the best idea is to just go to their main page and start digging through all they have.

FREEDOM WATCH ON FOXNEWS.COM

Yes, it is affiliated with Fox News. Yes, Judge Napolitano sometimes fills in for the Glenn Beck show. Now can we get over it? The truth is Freedom Watch is the best libertarian TV show on the internet, and it is now running on a new daily schedule, or as Napolitano calls it: “A Daily Dose Of Raw Liberty!”

Frequent guests include pretty much everyone we have discussed above: members from The Cato Institute, Reason magazine, Mises Institute, Ayn Rand Institute, and politicians like Ron Paul, Peter Schiff, Rand Paul, and Jim Demint, including many other knowledgeable guests, authors, constitutional and law experts, etc.

Where to start:

You could just check out the site and start streaming the videos. Or, if you want to take a personal recommendation, check out my recent article, “Legalize It? Director of NORML on Marijuana Prohibition.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

HOOVER INSTITUTION

They Hoover Institution at Stanford University is a public policy think tank which has had much influence in both conservative and libertarian circles. It was first founded in 1919 by then-future U.S. president Herbert Hoover. High-profile conservatives like Edwin Meese, Milton Friedman, George Shultz, Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, and Amy Zegart are all Hoover Institution fellows. Check out their website for a great archive section and various other material on economics, politics, and freedom within the marketplace.

HUFFINGTON POST

Sure it’s not libertarian, but it is always healthy to keep up to date on what other political commentators are saying about current issues in America. The Huffington Post has a lot to offer libertarians and the American public in general by raising awareness about serious issues our country is facing.

Even if many of the solutions they might propose are more government and regulation, I still find their reporting much more unbiased than some of the stuff I have found at DailyKOS, truthdig and alternet.

FORA.TV

FORA.TV is not libertarian either but its site gathers the web’s largest collection of unmediated video drawn from live events, lectures, and debates at universities, think tanks and conferences. Of course their politics section and economics section would be the pages libertarians would be most interested in but they also include some great information on various things about science, culture, the environment, and technology.

Paul Armentano, the Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) (check out their blog here), is an expert on marijuana policy, health, and pharmacology. He has served as a consultant for Health Canada, the Canadian Public Health Association, and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

As a guest on yesterdays Freedom Watch, Armentano starts by discussing the potential treatment and prevention of certain cancers through the medical use of marijuana:

ARMENTANO:Things like THC and several other unique properties [of cannabis] actually have the ability to selectively target cancer cells and kill those cells. [This is] sort of the Holy Grail for cancer research; and frustratingly the Federal government has not funded appropriately clinical trials in humans on this sort of work, but we’ve know that marijuana has had these effects on animals now for three decades.

Although President Obama has been more lenient on Federal laws prohibiting marijuana use when compared to the previous administration, the DEA is still raiding certain third-party vendors in states like California, who have authorized doctors to prescribe marijuana to certain patients.

ARMENTANO:What is very interesting with these raids is that no criminal charges are ever filed. The Federal government comes in, they kick down some doors, they seize some merchandise, they seize cash, they seize computers, and then they leave.

According to Armentano, the U.S. government first got involved the “marijuana prohibition business” all the way back in 1937,

ARMENTANO:Now when you look at the actual transcripts of those hearings we laugh at them – even though they were the foundation of marijuana prohibition. The government’s argument at the time was that if you use marijuana you would go insane and be inspired to commit acts of violence and murder.

Nowadays the government doesn’t so much propagate the “Reefer Madness” fad. This is maybe because anyone who has ever been exposed to marijuana, or those who do it, knows simply through their everyday experience alone that it doesn’t cause people to be more violent. Instead the government now tries to perpetuate the myth that marijuana has worse health risks than tobacco or alcohol, which is simply not true.

NAPOLITANO: Which is more harmful statistically: the excessive use of marijuana or the excessive use of alcohol?

ARMENTANO:Well if we are looking at either the harm caused by the drug to the individual or if we are looking at the harm done to society, clearly alcohol is the far more detrimental substance.

According to Armentano, despite all the governments prohibition and propaganda surrounding cannabis 51% of those polled by Rasmussen Reports believed alcohol to be more dangerous than cannabis. Only 19% of those respondents said marijuana was.

ARMENTANO: The public understands this issue. They have it right. It is the law that has it wrong.

NAPOLITANO:Do you think we will ever get to the point where the government will let us make our own choices? Even if they are bad choices, even if they are stupid choices, but they are our own choices about what we put in our body? As long as whatever we put in doesn’t harm somebody else?

ARMENTANO: Let’s certainly hope so. I mean that is one of the main reasons why this prohibition of marijuana is so detrimental. The federal government has drawn an arbitrary line that says adults can put certain substances in their body and then other substances they cannot. And that line is not based on science – it is not based on potential dangers to the user or potential dangers to society.

As I noted, it is an arbitrary line. Yet we have arrested in this country over 20 million Americans since 1965 on marijuana offenses. Almost 90% of those arrested were arrested on simple possession only. Yet if we go back to 1965 we will see that marijuana is more prevalent today then it was then, that young people have easier access to marijuana than they did then, that marijuana is more potent today then it was then, and that there is more violence associated with the illegal drug trafficking of marijuana today then it was then.

We have literally spent tens of billions of dollars and ruined millions of people’s personal and professional lives. But we have not in anyway disrupted the flow of marijuana to this country nor have we dissuaded anyone from using marijuana in this country. It is time to acknowledge this reality and regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol.

To add just a bit of my own commentary on this issue: I agree with Armentano, but I think the drawbacks of having marijuana prohibition – especially in a supposed free society – can be probed even deeper and even more philosophically.

Even though prohibition has already empirically proven itself to be more harmful to society than helpful, shouldn’t we also be supportive of marijuana legalization simply due to the principles of freedom and self-ownership?

A free society should be obligated to respect the individuals decision on what does and doesn’t go into his or her body, as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s rights. If this holds true for a persons actions, then it is a victimless crime, and the person should not be punished for pursuing their own sense of happiness. If this individual right is not respected, then we have to ask ourselves as a society what side of freedom do we really stand on?

Scientists already know that nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs next to heroin. Those who are dependent on cigarettes on a daily basis are at risk of being labeled drug addicts. But how easy is it to tell the difference between drug addiction and choice of habit? And what is our obligation as a society to help those who are addicted and prevent others from getting hooked?

It isn’t just that smoking cigarettes is addictive; it is deadly too. And when we start seeing loved ones dying early due to lung cancer then the issue becomes more and more urgent to address.

There is, however, a distinct hypocrisy in how the U.S. government is trying to manipulate others to quit smoking.

On one side of the coin the government knows and propagates much information on the hazards of smoking cigarettes through different ad campaigns, as well legislation that requires cigarette companies to print warning labels on every pack. They recognize it as both a highly physical and psychological addiction, and rightfully so.

Many smokers understand that smoking is bad yet they still can’t quit. But what then does the government do to deter people from this nasty habit?

One popular choice is to raise taxes. President Obama signed a law earlier this year to raise taxes from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack of cigarettes and from 19.5 cents to 50 cents per pound for chewing tobacco, making it the single largest cigarette tax hike in our history. But how effective is this strategy and in what ways does it have unintended consequences?

For many in our country, cigarettes are not felt to be a luxury but a necessity. In economic terms, we would say cigarettes have a low elasticity in demand, meaning individuals are usually willing to pay more for the same quantity. We know full well how difficult cigarette withdrawals can be, we know how addictive nicotine is, yet government puts individuals in a situation where they are forced to fork more money out of their pockets to sustain their addiction. Some of these people are already experiencing difficult financial troubles. Is this right?

Raising taxes on cigarettes does more harm than good. Sure, some may grow the courage to quit. In fact, according to the Washington Post, 17.5% of New Yorkers quit after the first tax increase and ad campaign in 2006, but it doesn’t distinguish which was actually more effective: the tax increase or the ad campaign?

We can’t necessarily trust government pseudoscience on whether or not tax increases actually lower smoking rates. But even if tax increases do help some to kick the habit, the majority of smokers are being taken advantage of. It is even worse for those who are addicted the hardest.

This is no way to help people.

I would like to see society focus more on helping others through education rather than tax coercion. This means respecting others free will and free choice, but still looking out for their best interests.

To start, I appreciate the efforts of both profit and non-profit ad campaigns, education programs, and treatment facilities that help those who are willing to seek it.

But what about those who aren’t yet willing to seek help but may in fact need it? To what extent do we have the right to intervene on someone’s personal habits?

We then find ourselves back at the original question posed earlier: To what extent are individuals smoking by their own free choice, and to what extent do they need to be saved from themselves? What right do we have to intervene? And how much intervention is too much if we want to continue living in a free society?

These are the types of questions that we need to ask ourselves as a society. The answers will have major implications on future government policy – not just with cigarette smoking – but other health risks such as poor eating habits and the obesity epidemic.

How helpful is government force in correcting these problems while still respecting others’ free choice?

Or are there more effective (and less harmful) ways we can move society to a better state of health?

Glenn Beck’s recent 9/12 March in front of the White House can be seen as either a frightening or uplifting horizon for the new future of America.

For the 9/12-ers themselves: the protests were a major triumph. ABC News reported an attendance between 60,000-70,000, and individuals from all walks of life were united in the name of a common purpose – constraints on the United States government.

Many protesters were there to discredit Obama’s proposed health care reform, which includes providing a public option for those who are currently without health insurance (approximately 46.3 million according to a recent article from The Washington Post). Many question the motives of our government however and see this as a potential power grab, an attempt to get more control on everyday American’s lives. Some are reasonable: they see our growing deficit, our inability to continue our massive spending habits, and the notorious inefficiencies from past government programs (Amtrack has lost money almost every year since it was taken over by the government, and “Cash For Clunkers” is a recent example of a government program going bankrupt quicker than government anticipated).

Other protesters were there to push Ron Paul’s HR1207 Bill to Audit the Federal Reserve, which is America’s government-authorized central bank whose purpose is to adjust the monetary supply as well as interest rates. The purpose of the Federal Reserve’s existence is supposed to be to ease out the economic boom-bust cycle, but Ron Paul’s new book End The Fed argues that the exist of the Fed is what is harming our economy the most, essentially because it is creating wealth “out of thin air” and inflating the American dollar (a process many consider to be a hidden tax on the American people). Ron Paul explains how the Federal Reserve plays a large role in financing the big government we have now, why it is unconstitutional, and the steps we need to take to reach a more free, sound and prosperous economy.

Some protesters were there with less intelligent rhetoric. There were the birthers who were out to prove that Obama is not a true American-born citizen. Others held signs calling Obama everything from a fascist to a communist. There were even drawings of Obama as Adolf Hitler.

Obviously, these individuals are revealing that their intentions are based on fear and lies – not rational disdain for big government. To many, these kinds of protesters are giving the 9/12 March a bad name, and they deserve to be called out on not only by liberals and progressives but conservatives and libertarians as well.

Understandably, I did not attend the 9/12 March myself. But the mindless hysteria and fear-mongering that I have witnessed from some selected footage is enough to disgust most independents and rational freethinkers. Even worse is when these protesters were asked by reporters about the meaning behind their highly offensive images and words – but most had nothing to add. Instead, most justified their position only by restating it or adding some falsehood or conspiracy theory to an already ill-founded belief

Despite recognition of these bad apples, it would still be immature to dismiss the whole 9/12 project as simply a flock of brainwashed individuals. In other selected footage from media outlets (including videos posted on YouTube), I saw a different side to the 9/12 protests. One that expressed true concern for a growing and growing government.

And why shouldn’t we be concerned? As one conservative rally organizer said during a CNN interview, “We are not a democracy. We are a republic.” (try watching the whole video for more evidence of intelligent 9/12ers). This means that our federal government needs to show more constraint. Government power is most effective when it is concentrated towards the individual. To start, we can begin by referring back to our constitution and delegating many of these proposed powers of the Federal government back into the hands of the States. This would give individuals a greater control over their lives – more freedom of choice – and from my own personal belief and observation: a recipe for greater prosperity and peace as a civilized society.

After all, we are a nation of diverse individuals with varying self-interests, perhaps even one of the biggest melting pots in the world. But why should we believe that a one-size-fits-all government solution can fix our economic problems? Yes, things like universal health care may work in many European nations. But most European nations are on average the size of a single American state. It is not as comparable as some people may think. Even Canada is less than a quarter size of the American population, and its one-payer health insurance already experiences its fair amount of shortcomings and inadequacies.

In summary, Glenn Beck’s 9/12 March was a mixed bag but it can not be categorized as strictly extremist or “on the fringe.” Some of it reflects true American concerns, which were backed by rational thinking individuals. I think 9/12 played its part in creating a mark on the future of the American spirit. The politically climate in the United States is becoming more unstable and this opens up an opportunity for true and lasting change. Personally, I am excited to see where the political future of the United States takes us. For once, Americans are not asking, “Which puppet should I believe more?” but giving a firm “No” to big government. Period.

“Autism neuroimaging study” by Ian Ruotsala

DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS

The Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is published by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is a leading authority on the diagnostic criteria of mental disorders by clinicians, researchers, psychiatric drug regulation agencies, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and policy makers. The enormous influence that this manual has in the structure of our society is almost immanent by now, and perhaps there is no mistake that 1 in every 5 of American adults are being taken care of (and presumably medicated), in the name of “mental illness.”

What does this reflect about our society? Do we simply have better knowledge to identify these mental disorders and treat them? Is our society become a psychological burden on others? Perhaps, we could even be in a government and corporate-bonding bureaucratic mess that is driven by greed, and plays on the minor psychological inadequacies that are inherit in all of humanity?

Or maybe even all of the above. American society and culture is largely hedonist. It could be said that we cover up our psychological inadequacies through our pursuit of pleasure, material things, entertainment, social status, and money. This is especially true in industrialized nations. For those of us that can’t fulfill our craving strictly through indulgence in the pleasant life (not many can, but some are good at hiding or believing they can), than we are subject to the emergence of psychological distress and suffering. Throughout the century, western psychology has rapidly grown and evolved in response to this growing demand to alleviate these distresses.

The DSM-IV-TR is the latest edition of the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders. It is divided into five different categories depending on the nature of the illness. Some biologists, evolutionary psychologists, and philosophers like Leda Cosmides, Stephen Stich, and John Tooby, have argued that there is a “symptomatological bias”, to the DSM because it does not distinguish between genuine cognitive malfunctions (in the brain) and those induced by psychological adaptations (learned behaviors).

There has also been argued to be a reductionist bias in the DSM diagnostic approach towards mental illness, in the sense that diagnosis of mental illnesses sometimes fail to take into consideration the phenomenological, environmental and cultural factors that go into one’s mental health. In response to this, the 2008 American Psychological Association President Stephen Sharfstein released a statement saying psychiatrists had “allowed the biopsychosocial model to become the bio-bio-bio model.”

There is nothing wrong with trying to discover if some mental illnesses have neurological correlates, or even if the mental illness is caused by a biochemical imbalance or abnormality. This kind of knowledge can serve to be incredibly useful in the treatment of mental illnesses. As I understand it, modern day neuroscience is making great progress in the biological underpinnings of mental disorders like schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder. The importance of this research cannot be overstated enough, as the potential findings of these projects can lead to the alleviation of much suffering.

However, with that all being said, psychology cannot succumb to the guise of a strictly materialistic and biochemical approach toward mental disorders. What begins to happen, and is already happening as described in Charles Barber’s book “Comfortably Numb: How Psychiatry Is Medicating a Nation,” is that we begin to believe that mental illnesses are only treatable through pharmaceutical drugs. But what about the mental shortcomings that arise out of strictly psychosocial and non-biological factors? We know a lot about how the mind learns, how come we so often ignore to consider that many mental issues that arise (such as phobias, anxieties, bad habits, low self-esteem) are learned behaviors, not causes of a biological disturbance.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 26.2% of Americans 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. Over the last few years NIMH Director Thomas Insel, MD, has been reported as saying misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder has been a problem in children as well as adults. In this article I will discuss the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual For Mental Disorders (DSM) and its disadvantages when it comes to distinguishing between mental disorders (poor habits of living) from neurological disorders (brain diseases and abnormalities).

THE ANTI-PSYCHIATRY MOVEMENT OF THE 1960s-TODAY

The idea that psychiatrists over diagnose for mental disorders is not such a new idea. An Anti-psychiatry movement emerged in the 1960s, lead by psychiatrists such as R. D. Laing, Thomas Szasz who both denied association with the term but were strong proponents of its theories. The movement began with British Psychiatrist David Cooper who believed that madness and psychosis were a product of dysfunctional societies.

Main tenets of the Anti-psychiatry movement include:

1. The specific definitions of, or criteria for, hundreds of current psychiatric diagnoses or disorders are vague and arbitrary, leaving too much room for opinions and interpretations to meet basic scientific standards.

2. Prevailing psychiatric treatments are ultimately far more damaging than helpful to patients.

Other key criticisms of psychiatric claims to authority include the:

1. Inappropriate and overuse of medical concepts and tools to understand the mind and society, including the miscategorization of normal reactions to extreme situations as psychiatric disorders;

2. Scientifically and/or clinically ill-founded system of categorical diagnoses (e.g., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM), which stigmatizes patients;

3. Inappropriate (i.e. unvalidated) exclusion of other approaches to mental distress/disorder;

4. Unexamined abuse or misuse of power over patients who are too often treated against their will;

5. Relation of power between patients and psychiatrists, as well as the institutional environment, is too often experienced by patients as demeaning and controlling; and

6. Compromise to medical and ethical integrity because of financial and professional links with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies in countries where these companies are a force.

The theories of anti-psychiatry can be traced all the way to the Scientology doctrine of today, famously brought into the public eye by American actor and Scientology activist Tom Cruise, and his assertion that there is no such thing as “chemical imbalance” and that psychiatry was a form of pseudoscience. Tom Cruise was of course wrong. Chemical imbalances do exist, just like people are sometimes born naturally with missing limbs and other physical abnormalities. Scientology’s relations to the Anti-psychiatry movement are irrational in the face of science, and a distortion to the actual beliefs held by so-called “Anti-psychiatry” psychiatrists.

Psychiatry is a legitimate medicinal practice. But it is only effective when the physiological pathology of the disease has been clearly demonstrated, and only when the prescribed treatment has been tested under scientific rigor (with placebo and double-blind controls). Otherwise, it is not science. And prescribing medicine based on loose biochemical correlations between brain states and mental states (with no clear pathology demonstrated) is careless and hazardous. At worse, it ignores the psychosocial roots of other mental illnesses.

HOW DOES CULTURE PLAY A FACTOR IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

I think those with even a basic understanding of psychology can look around their world and see how we are constantly being conditioned towards suffering. It is evident in the way we perceive the world through our TVs: the fear mongering we hear in the mass media to the commercialism on every channel and every show. Very few mediums in our American culture exist solely on their mastery of art or meaning. Instead, we have, to some extent, sacrificed the meaningful life for the life of pleasure, luxury and convenience. We are a society that has largely dulled our senses through the overstimulation of mindless pleasure and entertainment. We are motivated by what makes us feel good, in the most hedonistic sense of the word. Many, driven by these desires, live a life of mediocrity and passivity. And if were not motivated by pleasure in one moment, we are motivated by fear in the next. These are the kinds of emotions (or mental defilements) that have us at a never-ending tug of war. It is hard to find inner peace in the industrialized world. It is loud, noisy, and busy, no wonder that so many of us feel so anxious, cold and empty.

Our intelligence as a civilized nation is insurmountable. It has led us to tremendous breakthroughs in material well-being, the treatment of biological illnesses, technology, and entertainment. But then why are so many people not happy with it all? Even those with nice houses and nice families feel overwhelmed by it all. There is no space and time for just peace and me. We find ourselves trapped in a meaningless and destructive worldview driven only by more and more consumption. Many have a false, simple unrealistic and unattainable view on what is true happiness.

HOW DO WE FIND SATISFACTION THAT LASTS

It is easy enough to see that modern society is continuing to grow more and more unsatisfied with life despite the wonderful economic growth we have experienced since our birth as a country (I am speaking for the U.S. here). Many of these individuals who suffer have been born into unfortunate circumstances such as with biological and neurological illnesses that have handicapped these individuals’ capacity to live life fully. But also many of these individuals are unsatisfied due to psychosocial factors. The scientific field of psychology, and especially clinical psychology which is intended to help others who are suffering, cannot ignore the relevance of psychosocial factors in replace of a more “hard science” biological approach. If it did, it would be neglecting others in need of psychological fulfillment.

We simple cannot blame life solely on predetermined biological make-up. The experience of life impacts us too. Acknowledging one’s creative role in life empowers the individual. By find the desire to achieve better habits of living, and not simply be a victim of circumstances, we better equip ourselves to cultivate healthy habits of both mind and body (action/behavior). This means finding a solid and useful value system, finding a sense of morality and meaning in one’s life, and to be guided by these values and beliefs. This does not mean simply valuing the life of pleasure, self-serving, quick fixes and convenience (which do have their rightful place in our life), but to also value the life of engagement, friends and family, meaning and compassion toward others.

Mental health is more than just having the right chemicals in the right parts of the brain. It is about a strong, guiding value system that serves one’s interests and creative potential. It’s about good action, altruistic deeds, provoking reality, being of positive value to one’s society, and pursuing the arts. To this extent, we must all have what I call a “spiritual” aspect to our beings if we want to experience real and lasting happiness.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I would like to see psychology pay greater attention to the life of engagement and meaning. The so called “spirit” of man. We need to also accept that first and foremost psychology is a social science; we need to study humans in the context of their whole environment and being, not just inside their brains. I am hardly the only person advocating a more holistic, even ecological, approach to psychology. By this I am referring to a psychology that recognizes the importance of a meaningful relationship between Self and World, not simply Self with Self, and especially not simply the biological Self with Self – that is what doctors and psychiatrists are for. But for the people who aren’t broken, perhaps we just need a more enlightening worldview, one that is centered around meaning, purpose, creativity, intelligence, good morality, love and compassion.

The study of the mind must also be about personal development and self-actualization. How individuals can create a powerful and real effect on their life and well-being; through the power of thoughts, positive values, strong attention, and good self-monitoring skills. The quest for psychological well-being is more than just those overcoming physical limitations, it is the search for inner peace – an inner satisfaction towards the role one plays in this marvelous theater called life.