It was Misesian (myself) vs. Rothbardians (nir, wilderness, and Conza), and it got rocky a few times. But tempers cooled, concessions were made, compliments were passed, common ground was discovered, and new ways of looking at the issue were found by both sides.
In the America of Thomas Jefferson's Declaration these categories and institutions were to have the opportunity which they were never fully to achieve in their constricted English home.
"While there are many who will agree that they, personally, should not kill, steal, enslave, it is only the individual with a first-rate moral nature who will have no hand in encouraging any agency — even government — in doing these things for him or others."
Property is that beautiful foundation from which libertarians approach conflicts.
"The powers of the federal government were actually enumerated, and thus the states and the union were a check on each other. That principle of division was the most efficacious restraint on democracy that has been devised."
Competition is a process of the formation of opinion: by spreading information, it creates that unity and coherence of the economic system which we presuppose when we think of it as one market.
The private sector could take care of itself if the government would just leave it alone.
On the contrary, free enterprise and limited government have a proven track record and sound theoretical underpinnings.
The essential critical faculty cannot be developed when we copycat the questions and conclusions of others.
Free minds are inventive minds. That is why America has always been a land of inventors.
