Conservative Magazines and the Presumption of Liberty: A Content Analysis on Sex, Gambling, and Drugs

Daniel B. Klein () and Jason Briggeman ()
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Jason Briggeman: George Mason University

No 131, Ratio Working Papers from The Ratio Institute

Abstract: Conservatives say they are for small government and individual liberty, but a content analysis of leading conservative magazines shows that most have preponderantly failed to take pro-liberty positions on sex, gambling, and drugs. Besides many anti-liberty commissions, the magazines may be criticized for anti-liberty omission—that is, failing to oppose anti-liberty policies. Magazines investigated include National Review, The Weekly Standard, The American Enterprise, and The American Spectator. We find that National Review has had the strongest record on liberty on the issues treated, while the others have preponderantly failed to be pro-liberty or have even been anti-liberty.

Keywords: Conservative; liberty; sex; drugs; gambling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-02-24
Note: To appear in The Independent Review
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