General

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Esuric — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:32:21 GMT

liberty student:

Libertyandlife:
I think it would make most sense for it to be implemented gradually.

Why?

Because capitalism is still a radical idea to most, something only "extremists" adhere to. People don't understand it, aren't comfortable with it, and as such, will not immediately indorse it. The socialists have always been more strategic in their approach. Most liberals simply say they're right, and criticize those who are wrong; but this does not get us even one step closer towards our goal.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

MatthewWilliam — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:49:46 GMT

Libertyandlife:

David Friedman has interesting ideas, if an anarcho capitalist society were to exist, I think it would make most sense for it to be implemented gradually.

I agree with this in principle, but reality leads me to a very different conclusion.

The immediate eradication of the State would mean that many many people suffer short term pain, and the country would suffer one hell of a recession. On the other hand, gradual eradication would mean that there'd be time for special interests to muster, practically stopping the process in its tracks.

I owe this point to Milton Friedman himself (in Tyranny of the Status Quo and Capitalism and Freedom, I think)

P.S. While I didn't enjoy The Machinery of Freedom, a pdf copy can be found here coutesy of this blogger.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Eduard - Gabriel Munteanu — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:32:14 GMT

I don't know whether it's irony or fortunate evolution, but Milton's grandson is also an anarcho-capitalist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patri_Friedman

I feel like there's some hope with educating our offspring.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Justin Laws — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:47:31 GMT

Libertyandlife:

David Friedman has interesting ideas, if an anarcho capitalist society were to exist, I think it would make most sense for it to be implemented gradually.

Are you sure this is not just a subjective line of thinking rather than a rational line of reasoning?

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

liberty student — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:43:40 GMT

Libertyandlife:
I think it would make most sense for it to be implemented gradually.

Why?

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Libertyandlife — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:38:40 GMT

David Friedman has interesting ideas, if an anarcho capitalist society were to exist, I think it would make most sense for it to be implemented gradually.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

DanielMuff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:27:25 GMT

liberty student:

Andrew:

He is a utilitarian when it comes to Anarcho-Capitalism, not of a Natural Rights perspective.

A subjective ethicist not an objective ethicist.

Someone's gonna have to explain the those terms to me. Or at least link me to an article. Grazie!

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

liberty student — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:42:09 GMT

Andrew:

He is a utilitarian when it comes to Anarcho-Capitalism, not of a Natural Rights perspective.

A subjective ethicist not an objective ethicist.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Beaners — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:34:22 GMT

He's not a real utilitarian in any way. He simply states, that economic arguments are more or less leading to utilitarian arguments, and since economics as a sience is far more advanced than ethics, he's merely taking this route. He even admits to being more of a 'rights-based libertarian' at heart, but that he as an economist has more knowledge about what practically works instead of how society is supposed o be.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Andrew — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:15:00 GMT

He is a utilitarian when it comes to Anarcho-Capitalism, not of a Natural Rights perspective.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Angurse — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:49:21 GMT

deadmanoncampus:
David Friedman is not a pure anarcho capitalist. He thinks that a Government is necessary for National Defense.

In the chapter on National Defense, he just confesses that he doesn't have a good solution for national defense.

Friedman:
These arguments suggest that it may be possible to defend against foreign nations by voluntary means. They do not prove that it will be; I am only balancing one imperfect system against another and trying to guess which will work better.

That doesn't mean he is endorsing government in any way.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

deadmanoncampus — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:56:09 GMT

David Friedman is not a pure anarcho capitalist. He thinks that a Government is necessary for National Defense.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Zach_the_Lizard — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:23:54 GMT

Daniel:

It would have been a lot shorter if Block would have simply said, "wtf u talkin' 'bout?"

Perhaps Block hadn't yet discovered teh internetz at this point. I woulda written, "lol wut?"

That was a quite nice collection of letters. Thanks for finding it and sharing it. It's amazing how many gems are lying around in the open, waiting to be pounced on.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

Thedesolateone — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:10:17 GMT

Thanks for leading me onto that, it was a lovely read, although by the end I had very little respect for Friedman.

Re: Milton Friedman and his son

DanielMuff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:24:29 GMT

Angurse:

Snowflake:
Man block goes on forever and ever writing though...

Friedman:

Please specify for me in not more than two brief paragraphs how you perceive a feasible transition in a nongradual way from the present state of affairs to your ideal, justified state of affairs.

Block:

[10 paragraphs]

Block did apologise, and he was right.

It would have been a lot shorter if Block would have simply said, "wtf u talkin' 'bout?"