The “Day in the Life” piece is deserving of vicious parody.
I realize why even as a political agnostic I keep coming back to libertarians. “Taxes are theft and government is evil” is much more tolerable moralizing than “your wise overlords have your best interest in mind and you should be ashamed of not liking them”.
And to be fair to Gene, I sincerely doubt that he or Voegelin or whoever else he takes his cues from would sink to this level of patronizing-ness. Even though his whole political standpoint amounts to always giving ruling classes the benefit of the doubt, which is pretty uncool.
I dunno, Louis. Gene has had some whoppers lately. Something like, the state/politics is the embodiment of justice. (That’s not an exact quote, and Gene if you’re reading please correct me.) But it was in the same zip code as that.
And then he also said he liked the way the Romans would anoint a dictator to take care of an emergency, and then relinquish his power once it was over.
“And then he also said he liked the way the Romans would anoint a dictator to take care of an emergency, and then relinquish his power once it was over.”
And when you commented on this, I replied “Bob, I think you’d better go read up on how this worked in the Roman Republic.”
Guys, I do not know what is going on in American libertarianism. I see that Bob and Gene were cooperating closely in former times. I read articles co-authored by the two. I read Gene´s “Economics for Real People” with some chapters written by the two of you. But now you seem to be fighting each other. Why that? This makes me really sad. I should really drink another bottle and go to bed.
I like his bus over the desert analogy. But it’s starting to sound like Gene’s in favor of anointing a bus driver and a bodygaurd with all the guns that have complete say over what everyone on the bus is doing at all times.
Anyone check out the list of government achievements?? Number one on the list, and I kid you not: Regulation of the business cycle. As they explain:
“Thanks to government intervention, we have been able to avoid the enormous amount of human suffering caused by these economic meltdowns – the massive joblessness, the destitution, the rampant hunger, the disease, the riots, the hopelessness and the despair. By any measure, eliminating these depressions and this misery has been one of the greatest – and often unheralded – achievements of our federal government.”
http://www.cafepress.com/govtisgood.373594843
Oh snap! I think I’m about to get more popular at the office…
“An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution”
Wait, you mean all that money we spend on national defense isn’t really doing the job?
The “Day in the Life” piece is deserving of vicious parody.
I realize why even as a political agnostic I keep coming back to libertarians. “Taxes are theft and government is evil” is much more tolerable moralizing than “your wise overlords have your best interest in mind and you should be ashamed of not liking them”.
And to be fair to Gene, I sincerely doubt that he or Voegelin or whoever else he takes his cues from would sink to this level of patronizing-ness. Even though his whole political standpoint amounts to always giving ruling classes the benefit of the doubt, which is pretty uncool.
I dunno, Louis. Gene has had some whoppers lately. Something like, the state/politics is the embodiment of justice. (That’s not an exact quote, and Gene if you’re reading please correct me.) But it was in the same zip code as that.
And then he also said he liked the way the Romans would anoint a dictator to take care of an emergency, and then relinquish his power once it was over.
Did I do a good job?
“Even though his whole political standpoint amounts to always giving ruling classes the benefit of the doubt, which is pretty uncool.”
Does it now?
I’m being hyperbolic, but if your primary concern is not rocking the boat you’re just making life easy for those sitting on top of it.
“And then he also said he liked the way the Romans would anoint a dictator to take care of an emergency, and then relinquish his power once it was over.”
And when you commented on this, I replied “Bob, I think you’d better go read up on how this worked in the Roman Republic.”
I don’t believe you’ve done so yet.
I don’t think I saw your response, but you’re right I haven’t read up on it yet.
Guys, I do not know what is going on in American libertarianism. I see that Bob and Gene were cooperating closely in former times. I read articles co-authored by the two. I read Gene´s “Economics for Real People” with some chapters written by the two of you. But now you seem to be fighting each other. Why that? This makes me really sad. I should really drink another bottle and go to bed.
At the risk of sounding cliched: He’s not the man I married.
Can a person not change mind? Apparently only statist to libertarian conversions are comprehensible.
Sure a person can change his mind. Gene and I made fun of each other even when he was a libertarian.
I like his bus over the desert analogy. But it’s starting to sound like Gene’s in favor of anointing a bus driver and a bodygaurd with all the guns that have complete say over what everyone on the bus is doing at all times.
Prof. Amy compares taxes to tithing. Gov’t as religion. Yikes!
Sorry, but I missed the disagreement. Anybody got a link?
Does Gene not identify as a libertarian any more? When did he have his road to damascus moment?
Anyone check out the list of government achievements?? Number one on the list, and I kid you not: Regulation of the business cycle. As they explain:
“Thanks to government intervention, we have been able to avoid the enormous amount of human suffering caused by these economic meltdowns – the massive joblessness, the destitution, the rampant hunger, the disease, the riots, the hopelessness and the despair. By any measure, eliminating these depressions and this misery has been one of the greatest – and often unheralded – achievements of our federal government.”
Awesome.