At risk of starting back to back threads, I will ask 2 unrelated questions in one post...
1. Any libertarian talk shows on XM, Sirius, and/or TV? or shows that regularly feature today's libertarian experts?
2. When I read, espcecially economic, history, foreign policy,and philosophy I understand everything quite easily. I "get it" and absorb it fairly well. My problem I am finding is articulating it to someone else. Do I really not understand it as well as I think or just not remembering or trying to hard to spit back out exactly what I read? What are some techniques I can do to better convey my knowledge to others without sounding like I don't know what I am talking about but yet not sounding like an elitist ass?
2) try to articulate on us and we will help you
Where there is no property there is no justice; a proposition as certain as any demonstration in Euclid
Fools! not to see that what they madly desire would be a calamity to them as no hands but their own could bring
In response to 2, read more. A lot of Austrian/ Libertarian arguments can be somewhat intricate, you're not going to absord all the information in a single reading of the same book. Either read the book again or preferably read another exposition of the same problem by a different author.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
Omoplata:2. When I read, espcecially economic, history, foreign policy,and philosophy I understand everything quite easily. I "get it" and absorb it fairly well. My problem I am finding is articulating it to someone else. Do I really not understand it as well as I think or just not remembering or trying to hard to spit back out exactly what I read? What are some techniques I can do to better convey my knowledge to others without sounding like I don't know what I am talking about but yet not sounding like an elitist ass?
Repeat your arguments again and again, whether this be outloud, or written, until they become second-nature.
Abstract liberty, like other mere abstractions, is not to be found.
- Edmund Burke
First, my own question: do you do Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, mixed martial arts, and/or submission wrestling? Just asking because omoplata is a bad ass submission in jiu-jitsu which has spread to the other aforementioned arts.
Anyway:
1. There aren't any truly libertarian shows in the MSM that I know of.
2. You need to practice explaining via debating others. This will spur you to learn more about your own beliefs and develop ways to get your point across.
Political Atheists Blog
krazy kaju: First, my own question: do you do Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, mixed martial arts, and/or submission wrestling? Just asking because omoplata is a bad ass submission in jiu-jitsu which has spread to the other aforementioned arts.
First thanks for the responses so far...
krazy, yes, I train Brazilian jiu jitsu. It is an addiction and I recommend it to anyone at any stage of their life. Do you train?
I recommend that you simplify your perspective by focussing exclusively on the non-aggression principle, the right to private property which starts with your own body and understand that these are moral stances. Whenever somebody presents a political opinion that seems objectionable to you, say: "I do not believe that is morally correct because I think it is immoral to coerce people." Let your oponents be the ones to offer complicated arguments for how they justify coercion. By keeping the non-aggression principle at the fore-front of your political view, I believe it is easier to retain the libertarian models of alternative markets for various services when you encounter them in your reading.
Invariably, your opponents will try to say that the market can not offer everything at economies of scale that are affordable to everybody. That is a common statist justification for government granted privileges and monopoly. To counter this, always remember the libertarian duct tape: insurance. In Libertariania, insurance companies will likely be the first to expand their services to include coverage for fire protection, policing, pensions, child education and practically anything else people may want. So, if their argument is economies of scale, just tell them that insurance companies can compete for customers.
Omoplata:krazy, yes, I train Brazilian jiu jitsu. It is an addiction and I recommend it to anyone at any stage of their life. Do you train?
I do BJJ at the University of Michigan BJJ club. I'll be doing more jits at one of the Saulo associates here as soon as I can.
krazy kaju: Omoplata:krazy, yes, I train Brazilian jiu jitsu. It is an addiction and I recommend it to anyone at any stage of their life. Do you train? I do BJJ at the University of Michigan BJJ club. I'll be doing more jits at one of the Saulo associates here as soon as I can.
That is awesome. What belt are you? Have you competed? How is the BJJ at Michigan? A Saulo school will have a great lineage. Good luck bro. Mine is Helio Gracie-> Francisco Mansur (9th Degree Red Belt) -> Milton Regis (3rd degree black belt) -> Me.
Sorry to go way off topic.
Double post....
Omoplata: First thanks for the responses so far... krazy, yes, I train Brazilian jiu jitsu. It is an addiction and I recommend it to anyone at any stage of their life. Do you train?
Hello, first and foremost, welcome to the forum. Second, I am about to start training in BJJ, do you have any advice?
1. nah, you don't need them anyway
2. As advised by Walter Block, Tackle the really difficult questions. Or the objections that seem difficult to respond such as: But what about the Roads? and What about the police, and defense? and What about externalities, pollution etc? and finally, Refute the "Free rider problem"
There is plenty of literature and media on mises.org to tackle all the above questions. If you become proficient or good enough to answer these objections, it will make it much easier to handle more minor criticisms. Work on your weaknesses.
do we get free cheezeburger in socielism?
Nick. B: Omoplata: First thanks for the responses so far... krazy, yes, I train Brazilian jiu jitsu. It is an addiction and I recommend it to anyone at any stage of their life. Do you train? Hello, first and foremost, welcome to the forum. Second, I am about to start training in BJJ, do you have any advice?
Not sure of your personal situation (age, fitness level, prior wrestling/athletic experience, where you will be training etc) but I will try and give you the same advice I got when started.
The most important thing I found when I started was, keep going. You will be sore, you will be bruised, your ribs will hurt, you will be sucking wind within the first 30 seconds of your first roll. Just get to that next class. Soon your body will adjust and your cardio will become insane.
Leave your ego at the door. Guys half your size with be tapping you like there is no tomorrow. That is the beauty of jits. I am a blue belt and a brand new white belt can still catche me once in awhile (its rare but it happens ).
Always be learning. Learn from your mistakes. Ask questions and not just from your professor. Higher belts love to help out new guys if...
you are not a cocky ass. When I started I always thanked the guys for their patience if they were fine tuning a technique for me. Absorb everything. If you get caught in an arm bar, ask your partner what you did wrong to get caught. Think about your mistakes, before you know it, you won't be making them anymore and guys who were schooling you will have to work harder to submit you. Then you will be submitting them...
Any other questions let me know, I kept it pretty general. But I could talk jits all day. Good luck.
I'm only a white belt and no, I haven't competed. I'm fresh out of high school wrestling. The UM BJJ club is quite good, or so I hear from other BJJ guys around here. Pretty much every teacher in Michigan is a Saulo affiliate because he used to teach in Michigan, I think.
GilesStratton: In response to 2, read more. A lot of Austrian/ Libertarian arguments can be somewhat intricate, you're not going to absord all the information in a single reading of the same book. Either read the book again or preferably read another exposition of the same problem by a different author.
Ok, with that said, I have read Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson twice so far...what is very similar but written by a different author and no less effective?
Economics for Real People does a better job of explaining the Austrian POV, IMO.