The Cost Of Rights: Why Liberty Depends On Taxes

All legally enforceable rights cost money. A practical, commonsense notion? Yes, but one ignored by almost everyone, from libertarian ideologues to Supreme Court justices to human rights advocates. The simple insight that rights are expensive reminds us that freedom is not violated by a government that taxes and spends, but requires it - and requires a citizenry vigilant about how money is allocated. Laying bare the folly of some of our most cherished myths about rights, this groundbreaking tract will permanently change the terms of our most critical and contentious political debates.

To "fight for your rights", or anyone else's, is not just to debate principles but to haggle over budgets. The simple insight that all legally enforceable rights cost money reminds us that freedom is not violated by a government that taxes and spends, but requires it -- and requires a citizenry vigilant about how money is allocated. Drawing from these practical, common sense notions, The Cost of Rights provides a "useful corrective to the all-or-nothing feel of much political debate nowadays" (The Economist).