Title Page
BAGELS, BARRY BONDS,
AND ROTTEN POLITICIANS
BURTON S. BLUMERT
EDITED WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
DAVID GORDON
Copyright Page
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of reprints in the context of reviews. For information write the Ludwig von Mises Institute, 518 West Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, Alabama 36832. www.mises.org
Foreword
Since the hyper-statist Progressive Era especially, American intellectuals have tended to disrespect and even hate business people. Instead of troubling themselves to learn about the real world of commerce, and the entrepreneurs who are responsible for the material well-being of the world, intellectuals have tended to promote everything evil, from Communism to perpetual neocon wars. Business people in turn have rightly suspected that anything smacking of scholarship might pose a mortal threat. But this split is not inevitable. As Murray N.
Preface
Anna Marie Robertson, “Grandma” Moses, lived 101 years and was recognized as one of America’s great Folk artists in the twentieth century. Her work continues to be exhibited in fine galleries throughout Europe and the US.
Amazingly, she had never painted a stroke until her early 70s!
Well, move over Grandma. Here comes Blumert.
Introduction
Burt Blumert was one of the closest friends of Murray and Joey Rothbard, and it was in that connection that I met him in 1979. As he often did, he had invited the Rothbards to dinner and I was fortunate enough to be included as well. It was immediately apparent that Burt was a remarkable person. He knew almost everyone important in the libertarian movement, as well as in the hard money community of which he was a leading member. In his conversation, his sparkling wit was always apparent: he had an inexhaustible repertoire of funny stories.
1. Let Them Eat Bagels
BLUMERT IS SO COOL HE GETS TATTOOED
It all began with a chance meeting at the local Social Security office. Although I’m no fanatic on the matter, I scrupulously avoid such places. Not because they are the very embodiment of the welfare state, but because they smell awful. It must be the combination of aging people sitting in decaying surroundings.
2. World War II and Other Glorious Events
YOU CAN EVEN SELL A SOVIET MISSILE AT THE RIGHT PRICE
Pssssst: I’ve got a terrific deal for you on a six-year-old Indian elephant. It’s a steal at $1,000.”
“You can’t be serious. What would a city dweller possibly do with an elephant?”
“Tell you what. I’ll lower the price to $800 and include one year’s supply of hay.”
“This is ridiculous. I live in a three-room apartment in Berkeley and they don’t even allow a parakeet.”
3. Thanks A Lot, Ron Paul—My House is Now a Campaign Headquarters
4. I Hate Doctors—At Least, Most of Them
AT LEAST,MOST OF THEM
I HATE DOCTORS
(Transcription)
Burt: “You’ve been my physician for over twenty-five years. You can’t just dump me like you would a broken heart-lung machine.”
Doc: “There’s no room for sentiment in medicine, and frankly, your quaint right-wing viewpoints aren’t as interesting as they once were. I’m turning your medical records over to young Dr. Kaloofka from my office.”
5. Gold, Gold, Gold, Gold—And More Gold
—AND MORE GOLD
THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE SLAMS GOLD AND GOLD OWNERS
In a scurrilous article in New Yorker magazine (July 7, 2000) titled “Gold People: Will They Ever Be Rich Again?” author James Collins doesn’t think so.
