More on Murray Rothbard’s Legacy

Norman Singleton, former legislative aide to Ron Paul writes:

Today marks twenty years since the passing of “Mr. Libertarian,” Murray Rothbard.  Rothbard was Ludwig Von Mises’ top American student, and Mises’ heir as the world’s top Austrian economist. Rothbard was also a top-notch philosopher, historian, and political and social commentator. Rothbard blended economics, political philosophy, history, and the sociology of the state together to create modern libertarianism.

Rothbard also founded the modern libertarian movement and served as a friend and adviser to Campaign for Liberty Chairman Ron Paul. Here are some excerpts from Dr. Paul’s tribute to Rothbard from the Mises Institute’s collection of tributes to Rothbard, Murray N. Rothbard: In Memoriam:

 

Murray was a world-class Austrian economist, and he influenced thousands of students. I was one of them, for he taught me about economics and liberty, and encouraged my political work against war, inflation, and big government.

Although I had read Murray for years, I didn’t meet him until 1979. I wrote him, he wrote back, and I invited him to the “belly of the beast,” the U.S. Congress. I knew he had a great mind, but instead of a pompous professor, I discovered a joyous libertarian, and one of the most fascinating human beings I’ve ever met.

 

I loved talking to this down-to-earth genius. And he told me he enjoyed meeting a Congressman who had not only read his books, but used them as a guide in his votes and legislation. A close and lasting friendship was the result, which wasn’t hard. Murray was the sweetest, funniest, most generous of men.

 

Thanks in large part to the rEVOLUtion inspired by Dr. Paul, Rothbard’s influence today is greater than ever, especially among the young people inspired by Dr. Paul to study the ideas of liberty.

 

I am proud that I am one of the many people who learned from, and where inspired by, Murray Rothbard. Reading Rothbard, as well as having the privilege of hearing him lecture and conversing with him, deepened my understanding of, and commitment to, the ideas of liberty, peace, and sound money.

While there are a few areas with which I disagree with him, there is no doubt that everything I write about libertarian theory and Austrian economics (and to some degree revisionist history) would be little more than a fluffy white cloud inside my brain without the work Rothbard had already done – I would have no language or concepts upon which to build had he not done the work for me.

And did he ever do a lot of work!  But more than his prolific and tireless writing, what stands out to me most about Rothbard is his consistency.  In all of his work, he kept as a guiding light the idea of non-aggression and the corresponding concepts of private property and free trade.  Principled is the proper word to describe his writing... One of the things I have gathered while learning about and poking around our libertarian / Austrian corner of the world is that there are many who don’t like Rothbard, or perhaps better said who believe that he shouldn’t be so prominently displayed.  I know there are minor issues, such as Rothbard’s view of fractional reserve banking (and regular readers of my blog know where I fall on this issue).  But I think the big issue is Rothbard’s steadfast opposition to all aspects of the State.