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Best way to get a person hooked on Austrian economics?

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al gore the idiot Posted: Tue, Jul 21 2009 7:18 PM

What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics? I know most people just dread hearing the word "economics". You really can't get them to read a book about it. So what are some good short articles to get a person started? Or audio clips?

Paul

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asusenior:
What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics? I know most people just dread hearing the word "economics". You really can't get them to read a book about it. So what are some good short articles to get a person started? Or audio clips?

You can always try Block, he has a habit of catching people with outrageous concepts...

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outrageous

1 a: exceeding the limits of what is usual b: not conventional or matter-of-fact :fantastic
2: violentunrestrained
3 a: going beyond all standards of what is right or decent 

the 1st definition and not the 2nd or 3rd     Stick out tongue

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Esuric replied on Tue, Jul 21 2009 7:38 PM

asusenior:

What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics? I know most people just dread hearing the word "economics". You really can't get them to read a book about it. So what are some good short articles to get a person started? Or audio clips?

Paul

Peter Schiff on youtube.

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asusenior:
What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics?

Blackmail.

 

 

or Tom Woods.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
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Sukrit replied on Tue, Jul 21 2009 7:59 PM

I would go with a Youtube video of Tom Woods, Ron Paul, Robert Murphy or Peter Schiff. Some people don't have the mental fortitude to read an entire book, so a video on how Austrian economics predicted the economic crisis of '07/'08 would be best.

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nirgrahamUK:
3 a: going beyond all standards of what is right or decent 

What not this one?

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my view of Block is that he seems always careful to conform to the libertarian standard of rightness and decency. 

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McDuffie replied on Tue, Jul 21 2009 8:13 PM

Knight of BAAWA got me thinking about it. My daughter, at age 12, is really the one who inspired me to look into it. She asked me "Daddy, what caused the Great Depression?" I went looking for the answer, and found an interview with Amity Shlaes, which led me to Russ Roberts site, which led me to looking up stuff about Hayek, which then led me here.

Read my Nolan Chart column "Me & My Big Mouth"

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nirgrahamUK:
my view of Block is that he seems always careful to conform to the libertarian standard of rightness and decency. 

Very careful indeed, but I think that is why he is a good people grabber....

Calling Prostitutes and Drug Dealers, Free Market Heroes gets anyone's attention....

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i suppose that the wisdom here is that a good way to 'intrigue people' is to ask them quesitons that challenge them, and compel them to come to you for satisfying answers.

Where there is no property there is no justice; a proposition as certain as any demonstration in Euclid

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Harry Felker:
Calling Prostitutes and Drug Dealers, Free Market Heroes gets anyone's attention....
its also perfectly right and decent :-p

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Esuric replied on Tue, Jul 21 2009 8:19 PM

McDuffie:

Knight of BAAWA got me thinking about it. My daughter, at age 12, is really the one who inspired me to look into it. She asked me "Daddy, what caused the Great Depression?" I went looking for the answer, and found an interview with Amity Shlaes, which led me to Russ Roberts site, which led me to looking up stuff about Hayek, which then led me here.

That's awesome. I asked by 7th grade teacher, she replied, "Capitalism."

"If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion."

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Nitroadict replied on Tue, Jul 21 2009 10:33 PM

asusenior:

What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics?

"How to Get a Person Hooked on Austrian Economics" by Nitroadict


Scenario #1: "Asking if Someone Knows the Labour Theory of Value"

 

[   ] If No, proceed to introduce them to the Subjective Theory of Value & sprinkle some name drops.  Yummy. 

      [   ] If they are eager to learn more, give them some nutritious breadcrumbs to follow on the internet.

      [   ] If they are not eager to learn more, grab the nearest bunny & threaten to shoot it if they refuse to learn more.  

      [   ] Since no one can resist the death of an innocent woodland creature, please go back to the beginning of the scenario.

 

[   ] If Yes, smile & nod & walk away.  You've got that dental appointment, remember?

      [   ] If they are genuinely curious to talk to a possible comrade, mumble something about the man keeping you down & fumble with your car keys. 

             That root canal  won't take care of itself!

      [   ] If they follow you to your car, stand still, control your breathing, & try not to grind your teeth.  Remember, their vision is based on movement!

      [   ] After losing interest, they've resumed the normal trolling of campus hallways.   Please go back to the beginning of the scenario.

 

[   ] If they are confused, tell them "Don't Worry", & that economics is hard.  We should go shopping instead.  Yay!

      [   ]  If they seem depressed, it's time to whip on by that new pet store & buy them a pet bunny!

      [   ]  If they seem ecstatic, it's time to mention what would've happened to a certain bunny if they did know about the Subjective Theory of Value, but didn't like the sprinkles on top.

      [   ] If you are still reading this, you need to go outside, read some books, go back inside, read some wikipedia, & never be afraid to discuss econ with others who either are ignorant of Austrian Econ or are it's detractors.

      [   ] If you have no one with to discuss Austrian Economics, let alone anything else, role play as someone else & go back to the beginning of the scenario.   

"Look at me, I'm quoting another user to show how wrong I think they are, out of arrogance of my own position. Wait, this is my own quote, oh shi-" ~ Nitroadict

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Nitroadict:
Nitroadict

I got a critical hit with my +5 Flame tongue!!!!

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AJ replied on Wed, Jul 22 2009 1:53 AM

The Tom Woods lectures on Youtube, especially the ones that cover Meltdown. There at least four very good ones in that vein.

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asusenior:
What is the best way to get someone into Austrian economics?

Water torture.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
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Roll it in paper with a bit of tobacco and tell them to smoke it.

What sort of a stupid question is "how do you get somebody hooked on Austrian economics?" I hate to tell you this guys, Austrian economics is a science, and not a particularly easy one at that. If you want to introduce somebody to Mises, Hayek, Kirzner et al make sure they're interested in economics to begin with. Otherwise you're just going to end up with the same libertarian apologists that we have now, only, they're going to call it Austrian economics because they think it's a priori.

Seriously, we need more Austrians who can put PhD after their name, not .wordpress.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Bob Dylan

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GilesStratton:

Roll it in paper with a bit of tobacco and tell them to smoke it.

What sort of a stupid question is "how do you get somebody hooked on Austrian economics?" I hate to tell you this guys, Austrian economics is a science, and not a particularly easy one at that. If you want to introduce somebody to Mises, Hayek, Kirzner et al make sure they're interested in economics to begin with. Otherwise you're just going to end up with the same libertarian apologists that we have now, only, they're going to call it Austrian economics because they think it's a priori.

Seriously, we need more Austrians who can put PhD after their name, not .wordpress.

That's just being an anti-establishment person using establishment methods. Austrians should have a wide knowledge of economics, that's why I think that Robert Murphy and Roger Garrison are so beneficial to the school.

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Thanks for all your replies. I think I'll try the youtube route with Schiff, Woods, Paul, or Murphy. I think it is paramount, especially in today's times to get people better informed about what's really going on today's precarious situation. They're just too much misinformation, propaganda, and confusion spewed by the media.

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asusenior:

Thanks for all your replies. I think I'll try the youtube route with Schiff, Woods, Paul, or Murphy. I think it is paramount, especially in today's times to get people better informed about what's really going on today's precarious situation. They're just too much misinformation, propaganda, and confusion spewed by the media.

The mainstream media isn't the only place / group of people / entities / etc. that are spewing out propaganda, confusion & misinformation. 

Remember: the Internet is an ocean of information 2 feet deep.  It's also not a truck, but keep your BS detector on moderate alert & do practice runs with it daily & you should be fine.

"Look at me, I'm quoting another user to show how wrong I think they are, out of arrogance of my own position. Wait, this is my own quote, oh shi-" ~ Nitroadict

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<<What sort of a stupid question is "how do you get somebody hooked on Austrian economics?" I hate to tell you this guys, Austrian economics is a science, <<and not a particularly easy one at that. If you want to introduce somebody to Mises, Hayek, Kirzner et al make sure they're interested in economics to begin <<with. Otherwise you're just going to end up with the same libertarian apologists that we have now, only, they're going to call it Austrian economics because <<they think it's a priori.

Ok, I'm not talking about becoming an economics expert. I'm just talking about getting the basics of libertarian economics - something that just scratches the surface. Basic stuff that everyone should know.

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