This post is from 2019, so kindly disregard the reference to my review of “Natural law and natural rights,” which I wrote up last year. The rest of this post, however, captures my May Day sentiments exactly …
We interrupt our extended review of “Natural law and natural rights” (we will hit Ch. III tomorrow) to take this opportunity to agree with our friend and colleague Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, that today (May 1st) should officially be declared Victims of Communism Day. Also, here is a listing of ten films that dramatize the costs of communism. Let us never forget how ambitious and charismatic men inspired by an evil and odious dogma flouted the due process and property rights of their fellow citizens in the name of the greater good. The larger lesson is this: James Madison was right: men are not angels. Checks and balances and a separation of competing powers are essential features of a well-ordered polis.
prior probability 