It was of course the early 1940′s – with the book comming out in 1944 (the same year as Mises’ “Omnipotent Government”).

[I think perhaps you meant "Coke" machines. The capital letter is because it's their trademark.]

“Today political correctness constipates free speech
at many schools…”

[Thank you! "Constipates" is an inspired verb here.]

“Furthermore, some of the distinctions which have
become sadly accepted in the PC game (e.g.,
chairman/woman to chair, or the linguistically
nonsensical history/herstory) just don’t make sense
in other languages.”

[Indeed! "Chair", as a title, is simply ludicrous. Still
worse, I think, is "Chairperson". And once, I did my bit
for the English language by refusing to accept one
such piece of mail that began by addressing me in that fashion. The sender durn well took note in her next communique.]

The Nanny State came later, with FDR and his New Deal, which put into practice the notion of “entitlement”. Not “entitlement” after a lifetime of working and paying into the System (as it was originally set up (with a retirement age of 65 because the average life expectancy at the time was 63)), but an “entitlement” based on concepts like “I’m too weak or stupid to get a good job, so society owes me a ‘living wage’ “, which Democrats are happy to provide, just so long as they keep getting voted in and there are enough people willing and able to work and pay into that System.

One problem with the Libertarian Party in the US is that they’ve been putting up totally unelectable candidates – like Badnarik and Gravel.

tom: “teach the test” The problem seems to be, just what is that test, today? If it doesn’t measure the things you mention – “english, math and science. I WANT my kids to learn these” – to which I would add Critical Thinking – then what use is it? And why not?

Kim: “… as they flee the MA statism and taxes only to reproduce them in NH.”

That is eerily reminiscent of the first MA inhabitants, who fled religious persecution in Europe only to establish it in the New World. As long as I’m doing the persecution, it’s quite OK.

“[homeschooling] … I’m surprised that it’s not being trumpeted as such. ”

That may well be because they want to stay under the radar. In Germany, people have been arrested for having the gall to homeschool their kids.

“…That’s actually a quasi-statist suggestion, …”

I don’t think he meant a formal, organized, structured parallel system.

Anyone wanting to learn about the sad sorry state of education in this country should read Diane Ravitch’s “Left Back: A Century of Battles over School Reform”. It’s been one failed experiment after another.

We really need to look at what’s happening in Britain today to see where we’re headed. It’s not a pretty picture. And by its example, we have been warned.

Pray tell me how voting is going to help. Please discuss Venezualen and Russian examples. (and I have voted since 1973, in every election available to me, so let not that hinder your thoughts)

Then discuss voter registration fraud, census frand and gerrymandering. Be sure to reference the practices and goals of the present administration.

Just suppose that we all vote (OK, 50%). And are never again able to vote in anyone but Democrats.

Please also discuss the prospects for the removal of the 14th Amendment. Illustrate, please, the New York congresscritter who annually introduces a bill for this purpose. Discuss the meaning of this with respect to the Adoration of the One, and one-party government.

Then get back to me about the value of the vote.

We’ve still got a chance, but it’s going to take a lot of work on everybody’s part to take back the country our fathers fought and died for.

These issues, besides sceding moral authority to the authoritarians, are nothing more than statist distractions that will eventually be used as a gift – after their value has played out – to make you sit down and shut up about liberty.