Private rights and public illusions

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Tibor Machan

A serious confusion exists over government's proper role in society. Whatever is considered important has been presumed to be a "public" or government concern. But, what are the proper limits to this "public" sphere? Should government be limited to protecting individual rights, including the right to private property, under a Rule of Law applied uniformly throughout society? Many sincere and intelligent people answer in the negative and propose a broad scope for government, including the regulation of advertising, firearms ownership, drug use, teenage pregnancy, environment, health care, tobacco and alcohol consumption, AIDS research, employment, education, etc. Private Rights and Public Illusions reveals that few problems concern most members of society in any uniform way, and contrary to conventional belief, both "public" and "private" realms are driven by the self-interests of those involved. Social problems have not only persisted despite massive government programs; such bureaucracies have produced even greater problems, undercut the private solutions of civil society, and given license to some individuals to misuse power over others. The erroneous conception of "public" affairs forms the basis for the intrusiveness of government into the peaceful lives of people. Private Rights and Public Illusions clearly charts what the "public" realms should be, not only to redefine government's proper purview and distinguish it from the private realm, but to protect the productivity, spontaneity, and civility uniquely present in private human life.

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Ayn Rand

The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide.

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Willem Doise

"There are currently a large number of historical, philosophical, political and judicial studies on human rights. However, a thorough social psychological analysis of their intervention in social relations, extending across national and cultural boundaries, has not been available. This book fills that gap, providing a detailed examination of the foundations of human rights principles, the sources of their universality and their limitations." "Using the tools of social representation theory, Willem Doise examines human rights as guiding ideas which can provide institutionalized standards. He then explores how these standards can be used to evaluate the relationship of individuals with authorities and with each other." "Research discussed in this book confirms that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as an important landmark, guiding shared normative social representations across different national contexts. The author also discusses how individuals position themselves in relation to human rights according to what possibilities they see for having these rights respected by both the government, and each other. This, he shows, is clearly related to the value choices of individuals, their experience of social discrimination and injustice, and the actual enforcement of human rights in their countries." "Essential reading for scholars and students studying social representation theory and human rights, it will also be of great interest to those working more generally in the fields of psychology, sociology and anthropology."--Jacket.

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Brian King

Lustmord - A compilation of essays, short stories, memoirs, confessions, letters, manifestoes, poetry, drawings, photographs and other works created by serial killers, mass murderers, cannibals, necrophiles, sexual sadists, psychopaths and assassins. These compelling documents are now available for the first time in one volume - an aesthetic testimony to the emotion and logic of a murderer's mind, a mind filled with terror and hatred, absurdity and horror, pathos and iniquity.