Political Theory
The Transformation of the American Right
6. Ronald Coase: A Libertarian Critique
There are many enemies of a free society. Some, like Ronald Coase, call themselves libertarians or free enterprisers. Block’s main critique of Coase is that Ronald Coase denies any private property rights. Coase deals with externalities through taxes only, but not with property rights at all.
4. Introduction to Libertarianism II
Block continues to parse all of the cases of libertarianism found in his book, Defending the Undefendable. Privatization solves the tragedy of the commons scenarios. Rent control resulted in nobody building residential units.
1. Free Trade
Free trade is "I give you something; you give me something in return". Trade rights are part of property rights. Nosick calls trade a capitalist act between consenting adults. If you trade, you won't fight. It becomes harder to have wars. Trade benefits all parties.
5. Environmentalism
Environmentalism sees market failure as the cause of environmental problems. Block sees the absence of private property rights and the interference of government as the causes of problems. Libertarianism provides solutions. Man is not a cancer on the planet. Markets have not failed.
2. Introduction to Libertarianism I
Block says he was a pinko commie type at 22 who believed that laissez-faire capitalism would result in mass starvation. Then, he met Ayn Rand and read Atlas Shrugged and Economics in One Lesson. Block says libertarianism is the non-aggression principle. Keep your mitts to yourself.
What We Mean by Decentralization
Lew Rockwell writes on how to square universal rights with radical decentralism in politics and globalization in economics.
Natural Elites, Intellectuals, and the State
This monograph engages the long-running controversy about the origin of the state.