Consulting by RPM || Free Advice Blog

Rothbard on the “Sustained Sneer”

Ryan Griggs alerted me to this footnote in Rothbard’s Man, Economy, and State (p. 975 of the Scholar’s Edition)in which he describes Galbraith’s rhetorical style when dealing with opponents:

92 Galbraith’s major rhetorical device may be called “the sustained sneer,” which includes (a ) presenting an opposing argument so sardonically as to make it seem patently absurd, with no need for reasoned refutation; (b ) coining and reiterating Veblenesque names of disparagement, e.g., “the conventional wisdom”; and (c ) ridiculing the opposition further by psychological ad hominem  attacks, i.e., accusing opponents of having a psychological vested interest in their absurd doctrines—this mode of attack being now more fashionable than older accusations of economic venality. The “conventional wisdom” encompasses just about everything with which Galbraith disagrees.

As Ryan asks, sounds familiar doesn’t it…?

Bob Murphy Show ep. 29: No, Ilhan Omar Wasn’t Taken Out of Context

My latest episode.

As I mention in the beginning, this Friday (April 26) I’ll be at Connecticut College talking about the economics of climate change.

On Monday (April 29) I’ll be at Lock Haven University talking about free-market health care. (That link will have my details after they have their Nigel Farage event.)

Both are open to the public.

Thoughts on Christianity

I am sure I’ve said something like this on the blog before, but here’s what I posted on Facebook today…

Bohm-Bawerk’s Own Theory of Interest

In ep. 28 of the Bob Murphy Show, I lay out Bohm-Bawerk’s own theory of interest.

Potpourri

==> Nelson Nash died in late March. This issue of Bank Notes has some tributes to him, including mine. (In the new Lara-Murphy Report [sub required] I have a longer one.)

==> In the latest Contra Krugman we talk about Krugman going after Stephen Moore. I thought Krugman’s crack about Freedom Fest was pretty low, tell me if you agree.

==> In related news, David R. Henderson has a good piece on the Moore nomination, specifically his gentle yet firm (that makes sense right?) pushback on Mankiw. (Note: Of course I disagree with David about Scott Sumner.)

==> History was made yesterday on Twitter.

A Testimony on Becoming Christian

I don’t think I already shared this? Anyway, BraveTheWorld has shared her experience of going from intellectual atheist to Christian. It interests me because I had a similar journey.

I am curious about which (if any) of her points resonate with people, because at some point I’ll devote a podcast episode to this topic (in my case).

A Strident Yet Funny Take on Assange

I really liked this provocative video. I clicked on some of their/her other stuff, and it’s a bit fuzzy. (E.g. they don’t seem to really know the difference between wealth and income.)

Also, on the claim that the IMF money was tied to Assange, here is Jason Ditz.

Jesus Trying to Help Those in the Process of Murdering Him

At my Bible study tonight we read this section from John 18:

³³ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When I was younger the part I put in bold had always confused me. Why didn’t Jesus just give him a straight answer?

But tonight one of the guys in our group suggested that Jesus was trying to get through to Pilate. I agreed with him. Jesus is challenging Pilate to decide for himself: Is Jesus the King of the Jews? Later on, when Pilate delivers Jesus to the crowds, he calls him (without irony) the King of the Jews.