The Nature Of Man?
The nature of man is to reap the rewards of a market economy, while spending his efforts on avoiding any and all PARTICIPATION in the economy. In other words, the vast majority of people would prefer to live in countries with advanced market economies, largely because of the quality of life that can be obtained…
The Common Law vs Fiat Law – Definitions and Expositions
Today, someone, in an obscure little news group, expressed his libertarian sentiments by saying: “Common law is good enough for all: You must not cause harm, damage or loss, infringe on the rights of others or use mischief in business. To be accused you must have a flesh and blood accuser who can provide proof…
No Surprises In Wikileaks: It Only Illustrates The Obvious: Overreach By Our Bureaucracy.
SURPRISE? NO SURPRISES IN WIKILEAKS AT ALL. These are common diplomatic cables, written in the common business-language-of-state. Anything ‘shocking’ is simply the result of how people speak when they believe that their communications will remain private. Look at your own email, or personal conversations. We all trash-talk whenever we can. It vents our frustrations. For…
Tyler Re-Reads Road To Serfdom And Misses The Point
I don’t particularly like criticizing Tyler Cowen, but this is a bit ridiculous, and I”m going to have to chalk it up to excess holiday tryptophan. Last time I read Road To Serfdom was this fall, driving cross country. Actually, I listened to it on tape. And I cautiously pulled aside whenever I needed to…
Two Founder Quotes Translated Into Forgone Opportunity Costs
“To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical idea.” — James Madison Becomes: “Liberty represents the ability of each individual to achieve his greatest happiness, but only by servicing the wants and needs of others, and to do so by participating in…
To Time Magazine on Taleb: Quantity and Probability.
Mr. Galdel, of Time Magazine, asks readers what questions he should put before Nassim Taleb, author of The Black Swan, and implies, without understanding his own cognitive bias, that the liberal belief in our own wisdom and control of our own destiny is unquestionable. http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/11/23/whats-wrong-with-bernanke-and-qe2-ask-nissam-taleb/ Taleb has recently been bashing Bernanke saying he doesn’t know…
What does free speech have to do with copyright law?
An interesting question from Mises.org: ” What does free speech have to do with copyright law?” It’s fascinating how this fairly simple set of ideas can exist in the public discourse without understanding the rational foundation upon which the concepts of free speech and copyright are based. a) Books, magazines, movies, plays, music (at least,…
Is There A Cartel Effect Under Minimum Wage?
From: SMALL TRUTHS ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE http://stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_and_mumbling/2010/11/small-truths-about-the-minimum-wage.html Something troubles me about this debate on the minimum wage. How do we know that employers in at least some sectors, artificially reduce wages by forming a wage-price cartel using state-sponsored price fixing of minimum wages? Wages are, aside from compensation, also a form of data, and…
What Do The Elections Mean For The Economy?
In a staff meeting the other day, one of our senior people asked me what the elections mean for the economy, since our business (advertising and marketing) is highly influenced by the direction of the economy. We are a leading indicator of both upward and downward trends. I responded that the question depended upon the…
The Liberal Gene
Researchers have determined that genetics could matter when it comes to some adults’ political leanings. According to scientists at UC San Diego and Harvard University, “ideology is affected not just by social factors, but also by a dopamine receptor gene called DRD4.” That and how many friends you had during high school. The study was…
A Study On Corruption, Without A Definition Of Corruption. Is That In Itself Corruption?
From http://dmarron.com/2010/10/31/how-corrupt-is-the-united-states/ “According to a recent study, the United States has more public sector corruption than do many other developed economies.” “Perception” is only a measure of popularity. It is not a fact of relative corruption. The problem faced by the USA is that it is too large, and our political system is insufficient for…
Recommended A Book On Philosophy? Hmmm. Maybe a Library of them.
Last weekend a friend of mine surprised me by confessing to have an interest in philosophy (which surprised me, I thought all he was interested in was traveling and fly-fishing) and recommended a book, Philosophy of Language , by Scott Soames. I am wondering, what do folks here think of Soames and of his book,…
Our Failure To Keep It.
The takeover of the administration of state by the middle class in England created a problem for politicians. WIth their new found responsibility, they were not against the king any longer, and now were against each other. Some were cognizant of the risk. Conservatism: Sentiments of freedom from totalitarianism, brotherhood of protection of the city,…