Mises Wire

It is one thing to understand economics and quite another to be able to explain how economics works. Those who favor free markets also need to be able to explain and defend them.

College professors have suddenly discovered entrepreneurship and are teaching about it in their classes. However, while it is an interesting subject, one cannot teach someone how to be a successful entrepreneur. 

Total war against civilians didn‘t begin with World War II. It was official policy of the Union during the Civil War to lay waste to southern cities, towns, and farms. Tactics northern generals used against civilians became the blueprint for armed forces in Europe and Japan 80 years later.

When politicians intervene in the economy, they often do it in the name of mitigating “greed” or “profiteering.” While they can pass laws regulating prices and the like, they cannot repeal economic laws. Instead, they can only make things worse.

The standard argument for government services is that only government can build enough roads to meet transportation needs. However, the disconnect between production and consumer choice ensures misallocation of resources under government roads, including traffic congestion.

Dreams about “sound management” and “a return to fiscal responsibility” do little more than propagate the idea that central banks will do a good job so long as the right people are in charge.

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have toured the country calling for massive government takeover of the economy and other socialist initiatives. For socialists, Sanders and AOC have become the new “Keepers of the Secret” of making socialism viable.

Sen. Ted Cruz was recently interviewed by Tucker Carlson, with Cruz advocating “regime change” in Iran. However, Cruz doesn‘t know enough Iranian history to make any qualified judgment on Iran or its people.

Surveillance technology along with expanded telecommunications erodes our ability to keep private things private. However, the growth of collectivist ideology makes this worse, since collectivists believe that all of life is political. 

Most supporters of the free market when Murray wrote MES supported a limited state, but Murray wanted to get rid of the state altogether. This was too much for the Cold Warriors.