Marc Friedman

When Missouri required two experienced hair braiders to complete 1,500 hours of largely irrelevant cosmetology training, it raised a larger question: Why should peaceful work require government permission?

If we truly own our minds and bodies, should we also own the final chapter of our lives? A libertarian case for the right to die with dignity.

Drawing on his experience as both a land-use attorney and zoning board member, Marc Friedman argues that restrictive zoning rules create housing scarcity, drive up costs, and limit opportunity while undermining property rights and self-governance.

Why do so many people fear self-government? Psychology, habit, and institutional conditioning help explain why freedom can feel unsettling.

Most people are persuaded by values, not ideology. Self-government gains traction when freedom is explained through fairness, safety, and compassion.

What if people cooperate better than we’ve been told? History and modern life offer surprising evidence that free people can organize themselves.

Who really benefits from AI regulation? New rules risk entrenching big players, raising constitutional concerns, and concentrating power.

Surveillance is everywhere, from cameras to data brokers. This piece examines how privacy is eroding and what’s at stake if we fail to act.

Occupational licensing quietly suppresses entrepreneurship. Many small businesses begin with simple service work that requires little capital. Hair styling, personal training, landscaping, home cleaning, these are precisely the kinds of fields where a motivated person can build something from the ground up.