I realize there are few hardcore socialists today, at least here in the Philippines. But the enormous majority believe in socializing sectors like health care, education, insurance. Fanatic leftist intellectuals here dominate the top universities and praise the European Social Democratic welfare state as the epitome of civilized society. They do not realize that this is also socialism, only piecemeal socialism. The task now is to de-legitimize democracy, interventionism and welfarism. I want to ask what are the best books to read about the welfare state. I know Hazzlit has some good ones but I'd also appreciate books from outside of Austrian economics. Using praxeological arguments like democracy leads to de-civilization because it encourages high-time preference, and time preference is the foundation of (Bohm Bawerkian) capital theory and capital theory is foundational to economics.... as Hoppe points out... does not really appeal to interventionists ,even though it's a wrecking ball of a theoretical argument since they, are empiricists. So I maybe it would be better if we speak in their 'language' first before moving on to praxeology. There are some articles that I found but I'm asking for the best books.
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/933
http://www.city-journal.org/html/9_2_oh_to_be.html
http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/5616.aspx
....
Sheldon Richman - Tethered Citizens: Time to Repeal the Welfare State (2001)
http://www.fff.org/books/1890687014.asp
http://www.amazon.com/Tethered-Citizens-Repeal-Welfare-State/dp/1890687014
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul462.html
http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2001/07/18/tethered_citizens
Historical view: Dave Bieto - From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State
http://www.amazon.com/Mutual-Aid-Welfare-State-Fraternal/dp/0807848417/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267028180&sr=1-7
"The advent of the welfare state did not create aid networks out of nowhere. In fact, the welfare state only replaced voluntary, solidarity-based networks of social aid with a less efficient and more uniform bureaucratic structure. David Beito’s timely From Mutual Aid to The Welfare State tells the oft-ignored tale of mankind’s gravitation toward government-run welfare, and demonstrates that politics is not the only (nor the best) way to meet social needs."
Kenneth:as Hoppe points out... does not really appeal to interventionists ,even though it's a wrecking ball of a theoretical argument since they, are empiricists. So I maybe it would be better if we speak in their 'language' first before ....
Basically, you don't want to scare them off to quickly. The Road to Serfdom comes to mind, however I think this is better:
Omnipotent Government: The Rise of Total State and Total War
Found another one. "Regulating the Poor" by Frances Fox Piven