29 Dec 2010

Surreal

Economics, Humor 7 Comments

I was picking my son up from the airport. Since he is a little guy, I had to get a pass and go through security, so that I could meet him at the gate as soon as he got off the plane.

Because of the Northeast fiasco, I got to the airport really early in case there were long lines. I brought Mises’ Theory of Money and Credit to pass the time–always a fun book when you have a spare hour.

As I’m approach the security line, a TSA guy–a white guy in his late 40s or early 50s I’d say–asks me what book I’m reading. I show it to him and explain, “I’m an economist and I have to review it.” (I’m actually writing a study guide, but no need to give the government more help in thwarting the Institute’s mission of free-market education.)

I was stunned when the guy answered, “Oh good stuff. Have you ever read Bastiat?”

I said of course. Then he said, “Yeah Bastiat…though he’d be rolling over in his grave now.”

Then the guy started talking about an investment book he was reading. I actually had to let people cut me in line because he wasn’t done discussing.

7 Responses to “Surreal”

  1. Anon says:

    What was the name of the investment book he was reading?

    • bobmurphy says:

      I don’t remember. I didn’t recognize it. It was a modern-day discussion of Graham I think.

  2. Martin says:

    “a modern approach to Graham and Dodd investing” by Thomas P. Au? Looking forward to the study guide!

  3. Yancey Ward says:

    “And, as he was patting me down, he asked if I had read anything by this Bob Murphy dude.”

    • Yahya says:

      Nice.

  4. Keith says:

    That”s eerie. Hmm. I wonder if the guy feels bad about being a part of an evil institution like the TSA.

  5. Not an Economist says:

    It wasn’t Robert Wenzel doing a spot of moonlighting was it?