The myth of the golden age

One recurring topic around here is the problematic libertarian historical memory of an America in which once, before the Fall, there was Freedom-- whether the Fall was the New Deal or the 1937 switch in time or the 16th Amendment or the Federal Reserve Act or whatever. And I have a special interest in that subset of soi-disant libertarians who I term confederatistas for whom the Fall was apparently 1865. It's a topic of interest for me outside the blog, too: "Federalism and the Old and New Liberalisms" is substantially about the same thing.

Indeed, the second-most trafficked post in this blog's history was about related problems, though I won't link back to it because it names the odd law professor blogger whose wrath it incurred and who seems eager to resume internet fights whenever possible.

Anyways: I wish to recommend a new piece on the problem by David Boaz, VP of Cato: Up from slavery.