Below is a list of the breakout sessions for the 2015 ISFLC. Additional speakers will continue to be added and a schedule will be released as we get closer to the event!

Institute For Humane Studies

 

James Stacey Taylor, Votes or Sale!

When people say that a politician “bought” an election they mean this as a criticism. James Stacey Taylor doesn’t—he thinks that elections should be for sale, with voters being able to buy and sell votes like candy. In this talk, he explains why this system would actually be better than the current system where votes sales are prohibited. Even if it might not affect the outcomes of elections, allowing vote sales would make the poor and the politically disinterested better off than they currently are.

Adam Martin, Myths of Economic Development and Foreign Aid

Why are some nations rich and others poor? This is the oldest question in economics, but was ignored for many years. In the past few years there has been a resurgence of interest in economic development and foreign aid. This talk explores popular myths about development, explaining how they run afoul of both basic economic reasoning and contemporary academic research.

Antony Davies, Is Freedom Really Good?

The argument for coercion holds that, left to their own, people will consolidate power, stifle competition, exploit each other, and confiscate wealth. The argument for freedom holds that, left to their own, people will disseminate power, encourage competition, cooperate with each other, and create wealth. Comparing income, equality, poverty, social, and environmental outcomes across societies with differing levels of freedom provides hard evidence in favor of the argument for freedom.

David Friedman, Should we Abolish Criminal Law?

Modern legal systems use two systems, criminal law and tort law, to do essentially the same work—impose costs on those who impose costs on others. Is there any good reason to have both? Could criminal law be abolished and tort law expanded to replace it, what problems might arise in such a system, how could they be dealt with, and would the change be an improvement?.

Bryan Caplan,  Immigration Restrictions: A Solution in Search of a Problem

Immigration laws heavily restrict foreigner’s freedom to work, travel, and reside.  Are there any decent arguments – libertarian or otherwise – in favor of such laws?  Caplan covers all the major rationales for restricting immigration, and concludes libertarians should not only favor open borders, but make this issue their top priority.

Phil Magness, Nigel Ashford, and Mario Villareal-Diaz,  Activism through Academia: Life in the Ivory Tower

Are you interested in advancing classical liberal ideas at the forefront of the intellectual discussion? Is activism alone not enough for you? Come find out what it takes to succeed in graduate school, and how making an intellectual case for a free society in the university can be a viable and fulfilling career path for classical liberals and libertarians.

 

Young Americans for Liberty

 

Jack Hunter & Jeffrey Tucker, Voting or reading: How do we win?

This is the hottest debate of ISFLC every year: Is it better to advance liberty through education or engaging in the political process? Join Jack Hunter and Jeffrey Tucker as they weigh the pros and cons of each tactic in the war for a free society.

Rep. Walter Jones, Antiwar Republican: A conversation with Rep. Walter Jones

From proposing “Freedom Fries” to being the most vocally antiwar representative in the House, Rep. Walter Jones’ foreign policy story makes him the most interesting man in the Congress. Join him for a discussion of his personal transition and what you can do to end entanglements abroad.

Ty Hicks, So you’re a libertarian. Who gives a $h*t?

What’s the point of being the smartest, purest, most well-educated libertarian on the planet if you don’t do anything about it? This interactive session will teach effective messaging and how to be successful recruiting students on a college campus.

Major Neill Franklin, Mike Riggs, Tim Lynch, moderated by Dr. Will Ruger,  Incarceration Nation: Police militarization and prohibition

Each day’s news brings new stories of militarized police brutality, often in connection with the drug war. Join movement leaders as they discuss over-criminalization and the negative effects of prohibition on society.

Kayla Westbrook, Will Adams, Casey Dietrich, moderated by Nigel Ashford, Get paid to promote liberty: Find a job or internship in the movement

Are you a college graduate looking for a job? Is getting a good internship way more complicated than you thought it would be? Learn from expert (and employed) activists as they talk shop about how to score a job promoting your philosophy.

Ty Hicks, Elevate Your Activism: A Hands-On Session to Build Your Recruitment Skills

Have you been told what successful tabling looks like, but never really gotten the necessary experience? Now you will. Come develop your skills in this hands-on session where you’ll get the chance to learn what really works for reaching people in real time.

 

The Atlas Society 

 

David Kelley, Why You Need Philosophy

Political views are governed by peoples’ underlying beliefs–their philosophical premises. Learning to spot these premises in political arguments will make you a more effective advocate for liberty. David Kelley will show you how.

David Kelley,  Objectivism: Reason and Reality

Ayn Rand’s philosophy defends liberty from a perspective rooted in objectivity. Learn what objectivity consists in and why reason is an “absolute” that can never be compromised.

William R. Thomas, Objectivism: Values and Virtues

Ayn Rand’s “Virtue of Selfishness” is a morality that places ethics on a factual footing. Learn how a love of freedom and achievement derives from a basic commitment to one’s own life and happiness. Learn why flourishing requires virtue, and what kind of virtue it requires.

William R. Thomas,  Myths about Ayn Rand and Objectivism

Is Objectivism cold and heartless? Was Ayn Rand for the rich and against the poor? Is Objectivism elitist? These and other common myths about Ayn Rand’s thought are discussed and debunked.

Edward Hudgins, Our Fantastic Non-Fiction Techno-Future, or Can Libertarians Live Forever?

Incredible revolutions are underway in medicine, transportation, and robotics that could surpass the information revolution in their impact in our world. And a live-extension and human-enhancement transhumanist technologies could mean you’ll live forever! But these revolutions could be snuffed out by the wrong philosophy. A moral revolution of reason and achievement is necessary if the future is to be a bright dream come true.

William R. Thomas,  Austrian Economics and Ayn Rand

As Ludwig von Mises explained, economic theory assumes a “subjective” value theory: that people ultimately act based on their preferences. Ayn Rand defended an “objective” value theory and attacked philosophical subjectivism. This session explains how economics relates to philosophy and how subjective economic value relates to objective moral values. Is economics “value-free?” Is economic calculation a fallacy?

 

Alumni For Liberty

 

Job Hunting 101

Your first job hunt can be an overwhelming experience. This session focuses on practical advice on preparing, searching, applying for and landing your next job including tips on resumes, cover letters, interviews and general do’s and don’ts of the job hunt. Moderated by SFL VP Clark Ruper

Careers Panel

College graduates face a myriad of possible career paths. Come learn from leaders in the business, policy, academic, non-profit and media communities who will discuss many of the options available and how recent grads can take the first steps down the road of building your career. Moderated by Tax Foundation Vice President Joseph Henchman.

How to Build a Career as a Libertarian Writer 

You spend countless hours in your free time advocating for liberty, so why not make it your job? Join this panel of young libertarian writers to learn how to build a career in journalism or policy. Hosted by Young Voices, the breakout will include information on how you can get published in prominent media outlets through Students For Liberty’s public relations project.

Communication Workshop 

From explaining liberty on campus to selling yourself in a job interview, the key to success is how you present yourself and your ideas. Come learn how to stand out, recruit that new student, and land that dream job out of college. Featuring West Regional Director for Young Americans for Liberty Nathan Fatal and Show-Me Cannabis Executive Director John Payne.

 

Cato Institute

 

Ilya Shapiro, Gays, Guns, and Ganja: The Libertarian Moment at the Supreme Court

With marriage again before the Supreme Court, it seems almost inevitable that gay people will soon be able to marry in all 50 states. This is incredible given that a decade ago barely a third of Americans supported same-sex marriage and a decade before that the idea couldn’t be broached in polite company. Find out how this trend in popular and legal opinion parallels two other libertarian causes: the right to bear arms and the right to smoke up.

Pat Michaels, Crowding Out: How The Government Incentivizes Bad Science

Scientists, as with any group of citizens, respond to incentives. Dr. Pat Michaels, Director of the Cato Institute’s Center for the Study of Science, will speak to distortions created by the public funding of science and its effects on public policy and academia.

I am David Boaz, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute and author of THE LIBERTARIAN MIND, Ask Me Anything

David Boaz is the executive vice president of the CatoInstitute. Through his 30 years at Cato and his earlier libertarian activities, he has seen how the ideas of liberty can shape politics and civil society.  His own writings on the topic, especially The Libertarian Mind and The Libertarian Reader, have introduced many people to the philosophy of libertarianism. He will field questions from the audience on any related topic.

Aaron Powell and Trevor Burrus, Libertarianism.org *LIVE* Podcast Recording and Q&A

The Free Thoughts podcast from Libertarianism.org is a show about the history and philosophy of libertarianism and the ideas that influence it, hosted by Aaron Ross Powell and Trevor Burrus. Join us for a recording of the show featuring a conversation on libertarian theory and an audience Q&A.

Chris Preble, Libertarians and Foreign Policy: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Adam Smith taught that “peace, easy taxes and a tolerable administration of justice” were the essential ingredients of good government, and most libertarians agree on those basic elements. But libertarians do sometimes disagree when these limited governments turn their attention abroad. When, if ever, does the non-aggression principle for individuals yield to the principle of self-defense for nation-states? And what role, if any, does the minimalist libertarian state have in advancing liberty abroad? In thissession, we will explore the nature of this debate, and offer some solutions for bridging the gap.

Mark Calabria, Porn, Pot, Pistols & the Politics of Payments

For almost every transaction you make, from buying a new pair of jeans to downloading your favorite song, a complex payment system stands between you and the merchant. Historically that system has been dominated by both the largest banks and the federal government. Via its control over the payments system, the federal government has increasingly attempted to limit your access to certain merchants, driving many of those merchants out of business. BitCoin and other alt-currencies offer an alternative payments system, not currently under the control of either government or the big banks.

 

The Atlas Network 

 

Tom Palmer, Public Speaking: Turning Foes into Friends

Do you (or a friend) ever feel nervous speaking in public? Do you want to learn how to convince your friends, family, fellow primates? Learn the practical ancient art of rhetoric from Dr. Tom G. Palmer. Learn how to open minds, turn foes into friends, and build the liberty movement. You can become a better advocate, writer, speaker.

Daniel Anthony, Digital Strategies for a Free Society

 

Reason Magazine

 

Nick Gillespie, Veronique de Rugy, Robby Soave, Screwing You with Your Pants On

Who could have imagined that the drug hazed youth of our parents generation would morph into the largest American demographic that relies on government. Baby boomers are single handedly increasing the national debt through ridiculous pension promises and federal entitlements and you’re paying for it all.

Katherine Mangu-Ward, Elizabeth Brown, Ron Bailey, Good news! Robots are going to take your job and have sex with your partner

Driverless cars, Amazon package drones, and automated McDonald’s cashiers are on the verge of reshaping the modern economy–and that’s just the beginning. Will the jobs they displace cause unique hardship or opportunity for civilization to grow? Also, sexbots.

Ron Bailey, The End of Doom: More Reasons to Hate Boomers

Ron Bailey’s new 2015 book called The End of Doom rebukes the health and environmental alarmism of too many pundits in America. With falling cancer rates, reduced costs of clean energy, population stability, and innovative cures to pollution Bailey offers a balanced and hopeful vision of humanity’s future.

 

Foundation for Economic Education

 

Max Borders, The Dark Art of Persuasion: Ten Spells to Enchant Your Audience

Are you an effective spokesperson for freedom? Do you want others to see the light? People aren’t blank slates to be written on by reason alone. That is why we have to learn the arcana of persuasion — including linguistic techniques, social psychology, and value types.

Bob Ewing, How to Advance Liberty: The Secrets to Winning Hearts & Changing Minds

What skills and tactics can you apply right now that will exponentially increase your influence, empowering you to win hearts and change minds? Award-winning communications expert Bob Ewing shares the secrets of his success and teaches you how to immediately and effectively advance liberty in your own sphere.

T.K. Coleman, Steve Horwitz, Abby Hall,  Communicating Liberty panel discussion

Are you interested in advancing freedom in your community? Join this panel to discover how to best connect with new audiences on a personal level and the key elements of classical liberalism.

 

Libertarian Party

 

Wes Benedict,  How Libertarians Go On the Offensive

After a Q&A on how to get involved with the Libertarian Party, we’ll introduce the media techniques at the heart of our strategy to drive the conversation towards cutting government and advancing liberty, not just defending against more government growth. Attendees get a free Libertarian Party T-shirt and the book “Introduction to the Libertarian Party” by Wes Benedict.

 

The Independent Institute

 

Ivan Eland, Is Obama’s Foreign Policy Weak?

Republicans have criticized Obama’s foreign policy for making the United States seem weak abroad.  Compared to other recent presidents is this charge true?  Or is this alleged malevolent benevolence in the eye of the beholder, thus rendering Obama’s foreign policy really rationale and sensible?

Abby Hall, From ‘Protect and Serve’ to ‘Comply or Die?’ The Militarization of U.S. Police

The distinction between domestic police and U.S. military forces has rapidly eroded. Historical attempts to constrain and separate military from domestic police functions have largely failed. The citywide “lockdown” and searches of Watertown, MA in 2013, and the use of tear gas, the National Guard, and arrests of journalists in Ferguson, MO in 2014 are but two recent illustrations of domestic police acting as military forces. This talk examines the mechanisms through which U.S. police forces have become militarized. It examines the role of domestic crises, and the larger “War on Drugs” and “War on Terror” in the accelerated militarization of domestic policing.​

Dr. Stephen P. Halbrook, The Second Amendment: A Universal Human Right

The pendulum of the recognition and the destruction of the right to keep and bear arms expresses phenomena of freedom and tyranny throughout history.  Rooted in the American founding as a reaction to British attempts to disarm the colonists, the right was extended to freed slaves by the Fourteenth Amendment.  The disarming of political opponents and the Jews was a key element of Hitler’s dictatorship and the Holocaust.

 

Charles Koch Institute

 

Sam Patterson, How can Bitcoin advance wellbeing in society?

Bitcoin has become popular among advocates for liberty, but can the digital currency be used for more than an alternative to fiat currency? This talk discusses the potential that cryptocurrencies have for enhancing wellbeing around the world.

 

Students For Liberty

 

Women For Liberty International

Female representatives of Women For Liberty explain how and why they started the international Women For Liberty movement. The panel includes representatives from Africa, Europe, South Asia, Latin America and North America.

Telling the Liberty Tale (storytelling competition)

Stories matter! This event is a storytelling competition that will last for 1 hour with 2 rounds. Storytellers, previously selected by application, have 3 to 8 minutes to tell their story of individual liberty.

Media and Politics

What effect does the Media have on the public? How about on our politics? This session addresses the lessons to be learned for libertarian activism.

Leading Liberty: How to Join the Movement’s Premiere Leadership Programs

Learn the ins-and-outs of the reputable Campus Coordinator Program from SFL’s staff and top leaders.

Liberty Art Gala Hosted by Jeffrey Tucker

Come celebrate the launch of Liberty.me Create with Jeffrey Tucker. Watch as libertarian artists perform their creative work, such as music and slam poetry. If you are interested in performing, contact Monica Lucas at [email protected].

Outside-the-Box Activism

Tired of the same old activism ideas? Time to go outside the box! This session features top North American student activists discussing dynamic new activism ideas to supercharge your influence on campus and spread liberty like never before!

Leaving a Legacy of Liberty

Do you want to transform your campus? Hear from SFL leaders who have done just that! This session will break down the basics of activism, leadership, and strategy to bring on new members, find new leaders, and liberate your campus.

 

Other Breakout Sessions

Garret Atherton, Liberty in Action: Real Activism, Real Results

Sponsored by The Institute for Justice 

Naomi Brockwell, Freedom on Film

Sponsored by The Moving Picture Institute

Betty Aldworth & Stacia Cosner, Full Repeal: Replacing the War on Drugs with Sensible Policies

Sponsored by Students for Sensible Drug Policy

Isaac Morehouse & T.K. Coleman,  Vote for Yourself 

Sponsored by Praxis

Greg Lukianoff,  Litigating for Liberty: FIRE’s Stand Up For Speech Initiative

Sponsored by The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

Katherine Timpf, Yael Ossowski, Bill McMorris, moderated by Rachel Swaffer,  WHAT THE NSA ISN’ T TELLING YOU ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE, MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, AND TAYLOR SWIFT: Gen-Y journalists fight for a free society.

Sponsored by The Franklin Center

Holly Fretwell, Investing in the Environment and Humanity

Sponsored by Property and Environment Research Center

Zachary Caceras, Sara Sanchez, & Mónica Zelaya, The Libertarian University

Sponsored Universidad Francisco Marroquin 

Norman Horn & Jason Rink, Christian Libertarian Solutions to Common 21st Century Problems

Sponsored Christians For Liberty

James Lark,  The Teachings of Chairman Jim:  The ‘Nuts and Bolts’ of Building a Libertarian Organization on Campus

 

More breakout sessions to be added soon!