In a few threads I have been on it seems like this forum is filled almost exclusively with anarchists with the odd minarchist thrown in. Maybe I'm wrong but I can't help feeling that perhaps some of the more famous Austrian economists are not quite so fundamentalist as they guys here. I thought I'd test this out with the following question. For each person in the list below, please append the percentage of GDP that you estimate that each person would ideally like to be spent on the public sector (police etc). I know this is very unscientific and you'll be guessing to a large degree, but I'm curious to see if everyone will insist its zero for all of them.
Ludwig von Mises ......?%
M Rothbard...................?%
Tom Woods.................?%
Peter Schiff...................?%
Ron Paul.......................?%
Henry Hazlitt ................?% (I know its not zero for him)
The list may seem strange to you - it simply corresponds to the ones I've heard of or have watched on youtube. Feel fee to add names.
What Went Wrong with Economics
It's been a problem on the forum lately. People have what they want to talk about, and instead of making new threads, they inject it into any current discussion.
@ the premise of the thread,
Hoppe is an anarchist. Block is an anarchist. I don't know if Doug French is an anarchist, but I know he was a student of Rothbard's, who was an anarchist. There are far more anarchists @ LvMI (GMU and other institutions may differ) than there are minarchists. There are minarchists, but in almost all cases, they are very radical, and firemen are not part of radical minarchism. A fireman has nothing to do with justice, he is merely a service provider, no different from pest control or flood restoration service.
There is a reason why many of us are anarchists. Two years ago, I was a Ron Paul minarchist. I'm also a Schiff fan, and he is very radical. Now whether he is or is not an anarchist, I don't really know. Obviously, with a potential campaign, he has to parse his words, so I don't think we could call his radio show and get a definitive answer.
As far as Mises and Hazlitt, they have passed. A lot has changed in the world since they were in the debate, and knowledge has continued to advance.
Ron Paul, definitely an anarchist at heart. No one who references Lysander Spooner and supports secession down to the individual level could be a minarchist. A minarchist is not for a minimal voluntary state, a minarchist is for a minimal involuntary state.
Ludwig von Mises ......0.05%
M Rothbard...................0%
Tom Woods.................0%
Peter Schiff...................0%
Ron Paul.......................0%
Henry Hazlitt ................0.05%
Now, how about you respond to some of my responses to you.
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
Daniel: Ludwig von Mises ......0.05% M Rothbard...................0% Tom Woods.................0% Peter Schiff...................0% Ron Paul.......................0% Henry Hazlitt ................0.05%
This is of course is a perfect example of what I meant! I am hoping for a second opinion.
mickanomics: Daniel: Ludwig von Mises ......0.05% M Rothbard...................0% Tom Woods.................0% Peter Schiff...................0% Ron Paul.......................0% Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% This is of course is a perfect example of what I meant! I am hoping for a second opinion.
Do you have proof that the percentages would be different? What do you think the percentages would be?
The question is invalid because they are Austrians. Let's see if you can figure that out. (My money says he can't)
Daniel: Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% Do you have proof that the percentages would be different? What do you think the percentages would be?
On page 69 of economics in one lesson he talks about public sector "policemen, firemen, street cleaners, health officers, judges, legislators and executives" playing an important role. Do you think you could get all that for 0.05% of GDP? 0.05% of GDP corresponds to around 1 person in 2000.
Caley McKibbin: The question is invalid because they are Austrians. Let's see if you can figure that out. (My money says he can't)
You win the bet. I can't work it out. Please explain.
mickanomics: Daniel: Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% Do you have proof that the percentages would be different? What do you think the percentages would be? On page 69 of economics in one lesson he talks about public sector "policemen, firemen, street cleaners, health officers, judges, legislators and executives" playing an important role. Do you think you could get all that for 0.05% of GDP? 0.05% of GDP corresponds to around 1 person in 2000.
Yes. Btw, 300,000,000 X 0.05% = 150,000 people. You fail again.
DD5: Daniel: Ludwig von Mises ......0.05% M Rothbard...................0% Tom Woods.................0% Peter Schiff...................0% Ron Paul.......................0% Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% Curious, do you think Ron Paul is anarcho-cap?
mickanomics: Caley McKibbin: The question is invalid because they are Austrians. Let's see if you can figure that out. (My money says he can't) You win the bet. I can't work it out. Please explain.
Anyone who knows anything about AE knows that you don't make prescient determinations of optimums.
Daniel: DD5: Daniel: Ludwig von Mises ......0.05% M Rothbard...................0% Tom Woods.................0% Peter Schiff...................0% Ron Paul.......................0% Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% Curious, do you think Ron Paul is anarcho-cap? Yes, in heart he is.
RP said on TV that he is against all taxes.
DD5: Daniel: DD5: Daniel: Ludwig von Mises ......0.05% M Rothbard...................0% Tom Woods.................0% Peter Schiff...................0% Ron Paul.......................0% Henry Hazlitt ................0.05% Curious, do you think Ron Paul is anarcho-cap? Yes, in heart he is. How do you know?
You asked me if I think Ron Paul in an an-cap. I said "yes". I never said I knew.
Daniel: Yes. Btw, 300,000,000 X 0.05% = 150,000 people. You fail again.
I estimate there are currently over half a million *police* in the USA. And you're talking about 150,000 for all the services combined?