I'm Tom Hurst, and I'm pleased you've chosen to explore my website. First and foremost I consider myself a true Patriot, and I hope that my articles showing the virtues of liberty, free markets and property rights and the vices of statism and socialism persuade you to become one, too! Myself, I've loved liberty, free markets, property rights and the Constitution as far back as I can remember. In high school I was definitely considered a political radical, and was called "Mr. Laissez-Faire" by some while in college. These days I'm most frustrated by the rampant ignorance of economics and history in our society, and by our government's perpetual gutting of the Constitution in its quest for ever more power over us, so I spend a fair bit of time arming myself by studying history, economics and political philosophy. A short list of authors and scholars that influence my thinking and inspire me include Ron Paul, Murray Rothbard, Walter E. Williams, Tibor Machan, George Reisman, Thomas Sowell, Lew Rockwell, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Harry Browne, James Bovard, Robert Higgs, Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Henry Hazlitt, Frank Chodorov, Albert Jay Nock, William Graham Sumner, Garet Garrett, Ludwig von Mises, Ayn Rand, James Madison and, of course, Thomas Jefferson. Do yourself a big favor and seek them out in print or on the web.

On a more personal note, I've lived in Nevada for more than four decades, and in 1976 was the Eldorado High School valedictorian. After that I earned degrees in geology and hydrology at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, which is where I currently earn my keep as a Lecturer in physics. Academia is not my entire life though, and I'm fortunate to have had many other interesting jobs. Those experiences range from being an independent consultant in the natural sciences and a scientist working for numerous government agencies, to managing a world music record label (great fun), leading safaris in Africa and hosting programs on Nevada Public Radio. In 2004 I ran for the United States Senate in Nevada as a Libertarian, but I've since left that party in disgust because of its never-ending, politically correct march towards ideological compromise with the socialists (i.e. most Republicans and all Democrats). While I do intend to run for public office in the future, it will be as an independent candidate. In my spare time I enjoy adventure, real or imagined: back-country hiking and exploring history in rural Nevada fit the bill when the weather cooperates, and vintage travel/exploration books and B-western movies entertain me if it's inclement. When I can afford it I roam around outback Australia, my favorite place besides rural Nevada. Also I really love Star Trek, classical music, camels and, of course, John Wayne.