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Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

MB — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:33:45 GMT

Yesh.

While not a fan of the Chicago School (prefer Austrian School, which is why I'm here), and think their biggest mistake was on monetary stuff. But to call Friedman a central planner or statist or the like is out of line. The Chicago School is a free market school.

There are some great videos with Friedman you can watch on YouTube. We need someone with this sense of positiveness for liberty, IMO.

Friedman on Donahue in 1979: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1lWk4TCe4U (5 parts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lp2kGJASGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GapXLpLoZBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0Ocv8aMBjk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brBvdjoNC6Y

Friedman on Donahue in 1980: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE1nJJBoxvk (5 parts)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTK2ul76oYc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E3jDdNTFXE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuS9QJ2IYSI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJbtVZWOiY

Milton Friedman on Libertariaism (4 parts): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PaN9M4WwHw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDV0YII6lk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhgy0ymD-NI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64mr-cjxZfU

I challenge the people here to watch these and still call him a statist, socialist, or central planner. I don't think he speaks about money or monetary policy in these.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Libertyandlife — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:50:00 GMT

Are there any good debates in audio or video between leftist and market anarchists? I'd really love to watch Walter Block make Chomsky look like a baby.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

MPP — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:33:13 GMT

no he wasn't. Read his books and watch the videos posted by OP.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Joe — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:54:34 GMT

Brian, I haven't read much of the collectivist anarchist material, but I think one way to imagine it would be like anarcho-capitalism, but without any property rights. They claim to be the real anarchists because it means without rulers and they think that property owernship and/or hierarchy are just private rulers. They usually commit all kinds of heinous acts of vandalism when they have their protests. Hence the the reason why libertarian anarchists sometimes call them 'Vandarchists.' Their colors are black and red, and this is their main symbol:

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Caley McKibbin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:01:49 GMT

Isn't communism kind of impossible without a big government? I feel like anarchy and communism would be inversely proportional.

All ideological variants manifest as the same totalitarian beast when an attempt is made to force them into being.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

BrianAnderson — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:58:45 GMT

Isn't communism kind of impossible without a big government? I feel like anarchy and communism would be inversely proportional.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Conza88 — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:55:17 GMT

On that note, (though not a debate) apparently Rothbard did an interview with some news organisation for his book, For A New Liberty.

So that is probably out there, sitting in the archives somewhere.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Giant_Joe — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:09:58 GMT

"Post scarcity world" would probably date it in the early 70's.

Ironically, at a time where people were claiming that capitalism was failing to produce enough food to sustain the Indian population.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Runyan — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:06:27 GMT

Around 19 minutes into the first mp3 of Intro to Micro, Rothbard states "I had a debate with some turkey at, I think at, American University in Washington on the question about 'Do we live in a post scarcity world?'".

It's a long shot, but it might be worth a call to the archives at AU Washington to see if they have an official recording on file. "Post scarcity world" would probably date it in the early 70's.

Edit:

Also, in the opening minutes of Austrian Economics, An Introduction (1972) he talks about having debated "post scarcity types"; might be refering to the same debate.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

William — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:48:34 GMT

Okay, here is Walter Block. By the end of the show they think he is a racist, not because of his ideas, but the way he describes them.

This is just a case of Block casting his pearls before swine. He didn't have a chance for any intellectually honest or worthwhile debate/ presentation of ideas. He was set up to play the heel.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

William — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:26:44 GMT

Brian:
I didn't even know there was such a thing as anarcho-communism.

The term "anarchist" as (well as the word "libertarian") were, until very recently, almost exclusively radicl left wing terms. I would not at all be suprised if 90% of all self identified anarchists, and perhaps even the majority of most self identified libertarians in Europe, were extreme leftists.

If you are interested in some of the more traditional forms of anarchy and theory look up the terms: anarcho-communism, anarcho-syndicalism, Individualist anarchism, anarchy without adjectives, and mutualism. I would particularly recommend looking into individualist anarchism as it tends to relate well to anarcho-capitalistic sympathies, as well as having some very profitable literature and thinkers

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Coase — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:20:00 GMT

I only just finished listening to the first discussion, but I agree with the above assessment. The hosts clearly have little or no understanding of economics and the various subjects being discussed. Block was calm, reasonable, logical, and comprehensible. Most of all his patience was extraordinary; he was willing to keep answering their silly questions and respond to their ill-informed and unreasonable objections. I would have thrown up my hands in frustration and walked out after ten minutes.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Caley McKibbin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:16:09 GMT

He sure is a diplomat.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Aquila — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:09:35 GMT

Okay, here is Walter Block. By the end of the show they think he is a racist, not because of his ideas, but the way he describes them.

http://mises.org/media/1885

EDIT: They have him on a second time at a later date. http://mises.org/media/4208

I've listened to both appearances. The host and overwhelming majority of callers are uber-collectivist, hyper-emotional racialists incapable of judging things from an objective, rational, or empirical standpoint. Walter Block did a superb job of politely dealing with their tantrums. I admire how he kept his cool and remained respectful despite the extremely hostile environment; I wished I possessed his patience and gravitas.

Re: Did Rothbard smack down people in debates?

Caley McKibbin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:04:43 GMT

Milton Friedman was a socialist.

Just look at the things Awnold says these days.