Mini-Review: Where Keynes Went Wrong
I’ve just finished Hunter Lewis’ new book Where Keynes Went Wrong: And Why World Governments Keep Creating Inflation, Bubbles and Busts link here (scroll down to bottom).
Understanding the Costs of Healthcare
Will increased government involvement in the healthcare industry cause more or less corporate lobbying? Both mandated-private and single-payer, nonprofit insurance proposals will likely increase wasteful lobbying.
The Virtue of Hoarding
Most people would admit to hoarding money only with a tinge of guilt, because to be a hoarder carries with it the suggestion of being a miser — a Scrooge. And yet, hoarding is a sound strategy.
What’s Wrong with Campaign Finance Regulations?
As reported in Pro-Business Ruling Likely in High Court Campaign Finance Case, it appears likely the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn some federal laws that ban corporate and union expenditures in election campaigns, and some older caselaw that permitted such legislation. Libertarians, and some conservatives, typically have a kneejerk opposition to such regulations based on the argument that such action is protected as “free speech.” In my view, it’s a stretch to classify money donations as “free speech.” Come on.
A Tale of Two Shortages
With his people clamoring for caffeine, Chavez has expropriated his country’s two largest coffee roasters, blaming these companies for the scarcity, hoarding, speculating, and smuggling.
Private Property’s Philosopher
Professor Hans Hoppe, in his outstanding new introduction to the reissue of The Ethics of Liberty, hits the nail on the head. He contrasts Murray Rothbard with Robert Nozick, a much more famous figure among academic philosophers and political theorists. Although both writers embrace libertarianism (Nozick much less ardently or consistently than Rothbard), their styles of thinking differ entirely. Nozick, according to Hoppe, is impressionistic and given to flights of fancy.
The Despot Named Lincoln
Professor DiLorenzo compares Lincoln’s words with what he actually did, and the result is a historical rather than a mythological figure.
Yes, Virginia, there will be death panels
Death panels? Of course there will be death panels when the deal is done. Not in iterations one or two, when legal alternatives exists. But in the end, under total state control, death panels will exist — they must exist.
An Austrian Interviews for a Fed job
It’s not a joke.
i should tell the story about my job interview with the fed here in kansas city. they asked me about optimal monetary policy, and hilarity quickly ensued.
Up from Statism
[Making Economic Sense • Murray N. Rothbard • Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1995 • 439 pages]
