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Lessons in Freedom: A Small Pleasure of Book Production

Tibor R. Machan

One of my books is a collection of prominent essays by mostly contemporary libertarian political-economic thinkers.  Its title, The Libertarian Reader (1982), was so well chosen that years later someone quite prominent, David Boaz of the Cato Institute, also used it for a collection of essays he put together, The Libertarian Reader (1998). (Just in case you didn’t know, in the publishing world it is acceptable to make us of the titles of already published books.)

One of the hopes of authors and editors of books is of course that these will be bought and read, not to mention in huge numbers.  But unless one is a famous author or so dedicated to learning of the fate of one’s works, it is rare that one learns whether they have made the rounds. (In the academic world, of course, professors often assign books they have written or edited in their classes, although such self-dealing is widely frowned upon.)

I do know that another book of mine was at least considered for display in a movie or TV program because some years ago I received a form letter asking that I give permission for a producer to do just that with my The Pseudo-Science of B. F. Skinner, originally published by Arlington House of New Rochelle, NY (later reprinted by the University Press of America) and once reviewed very favorably in by Robert W. Proctor and Daniel J. Weeks in The American Journal Of Psychology (Summer 1990).  But I never learned if this ever came to pass.

But what about welfare you ask

Rick Lowe

A reader of our post yesterday, while sympathetic to the point raised, wondered what happened to those people in society that cannot work or help themselves.

This is a legitimate question, although she was conferring the responsibility to help on the "government". I quickly pointed out that private charity was pushed out by government mandates as noted by Dr. Richard Ebeling in a lecture entitled The Economics of Liberty and The Welfare State, watch it here… and I still think private charity is the best route.

If that doesn't help, read The Poverty of Welfare: Helping Others in Civil Society by Michael Tanner.

Here's what sums it up best as far as I'm concerend.  It's from Donald J. Kochan and his 1997 article for The Freeman entitled, The Pervasive Duty to Rescue: Only Private Charity Can Help Those Truly in Need of Assistance.

"…Government programs create dependency, create flawed incentives, and are too broad and generalized to target resources effectively. They hurt more than they help. In tort law, an individual can be held liable for a failed rescue when his heroic attempts are beyond his capacity and actually do harm to the one in need of assistance. The government, however, is not liable for the harm its rescue programs do.

"Only private charity can meet the requirements of those truly in need of assistance. Private funds can be targeted toward those in actual need. Moreover, private organizations are smaller and more localized, allowing them to address the specific problems that needy people have and apply specific solutions, instead of merely sending out impersonal checks drawn against government accounts. Finally, private charities must be more accountable, for they do not have the coercive power of taxation available to ensure continued funding.

"Government programs, unfortunately, have co-opted this superior private approach. Many people believe that they need not get involved because of a flawed perception that the government is doing the job. Moreover, many cannot afford to assist privately, given the drain on their budget from taxation. In tort law, a person can be held liable for preventing a needy individual from getting more effective assistance.[6] That, essentially, is what the government does by its discouragement of private charity, but again, the government is not liable for the harm it does.

"The rules of the common law, developed over many centuries, usually exhibit a profound wisdom in the ordering of human affairs. The rule against compulsory rescues is such a rule. If you were obligated to help everyone in need, the demands on your time and money would be almost endless. The only solution to the problem that protects the individual’s freedom of action and property rights is the one adopted by the common law: there is no legal duty to rescue. There may be a moral duty, but the law leaves that to the individual and his conscience." (Emphasis added).

Using the coercive force of government to "help" the less fortunate only encourages depedency, and I don't think that's what society wants. It is surely not what's best.

Liberty Is Not Complicated

Rick Lowe

I just picked up a copy of Ron Paul's new book, Liberty Defined.

David Gordon reviews it here... for Mises.org and says as Ron Paul "puts the point with characteristic force":

For more than 100 years, the dominant views that have influenced our politicians have undermined the principles of personal liberty and private property. The tragedy is these bad policies have had strong bipartisan support. There has been no real opposition to the steady increase in the size and scope of government. Democrats are largely and openly for government expansion, and if we were to judge the Republicans by their actions and not their rhetoric, we would come to much the same conclusion about them. (p. 20)

I'm looking forward to reading the 50 essays included here.

Steven Pinker: The Decline of Violence

Rick Lowe

Dr. Pinker always provides great food for thought.

Watch more videos from Reason.TV here…

Beyond Politics: The Roots of Government Failure by Randy T. Simmons

Rick Lowe

The Independent Institute first published this work on Public Choice Theory by William Mitchell and Randy T. Simmons back in 1994 (I think I bought it in the late 1990's) and while it remains relevant, Dr. Simmons has Revised and updated it.

The brief introduction says:

"In the updated and revised edition of his ground-breaking work, Randy Simmons challenges the traditional theories surrounding “market failures” and demonstrates that “government failures” are far more common and harmful to society."

Hope you enjoy the brief interview of Dr. Simmons by Dr. William Shughart below.

Order your copy of the book here…

Lessons in Freedom: Ayn Rand & Murray Rothbard: Diverse Champions of Liberty

By Tibor R. Machan*

No one should attempt to treat Ayn Rand and Murray N. Rothbard as uncomplicated and rather similar defenders of the free society although they have more in common than many believe. As just one example, neither was a hawk when it comes to deploying military power abroad. There is evidence, too, that both considered it imprudent for the US government to be entangled in international affairs, such as fighting dictators who were no threat to America. Even their lack of enthusiasm for entering WW II could be seen as quite similar.

And so far as their underlying philosophical positions are concerned, they both can be regarded as Aristotelians. In matters of economics they were unwavering supporters of the fully free market capitalist system, although while Rand didn’t find corporations per se objectionable, arguably Rothbard had some problems with corporate commerce, especially as it manifest itself in the 20th century. One sphere in which they took very different positions, at least at first glance, is whether government is a bona fide feature of a genuinely free country. Rand thought it is, Rothbard thought it wasn’t. Yet the reason Rothbard opposed government was that it depended on taxation, something Rand also opposed, so even here where the difference between them appears to be quite stark, they were closer than one might think.

Are government bureaucracies hopeless?

Rick Lowe

Many of us think government bureaucracies are hopeless, particularly when we have to deal with them on a daily basis. And the unfortunate thing is, we can't usually take our business elsewhere like we can when we don't like how we're treated in the private sector.

Nicholas Snow at Fee is correct when introducing a review of Professor Ludwig von Mises book, Bureaucracy, he writes:

"Most bureaucracies are seen as terribly inefficient. The average person may even rant about how terrible the DMV or post office is (no matter how much it tries to appear like a normal business). Most people may understand that the problem has to do with incentives, but they will still probably think there is no choice but for the State to perform such functions. They likely believe that making a few changes or putting in the right bureaucrats can fix things."

Read more here…

Read a review of Bureaucracy by Henry Hazlitt here (pdf)…

Order your copy of Ludwig von Mises, Bureaucracy here…

Bahamas Handbook 2012 in stores now

Rick Lowe

Just received a copy of Dupuch Publications, Bahamas Handbook 2012.

As usual it does not disappoint with beautiful photography and extremely well written stories from all over The Bahamas, historical and current.

If you don't have a copy, please go out and buy one from any of our local bookstores. It is undoubtedly the best annual publication in the country.

Visit Dupuch Publications here at Dupuch.com

Christopher Hitchens: Rest in Peace

Rick Lowe

One of my favourite authors and speakers, Christopher Hitchens died on Thursday, December 15, 2011. He was only 62, but has left us a treasure trove.

Here's how Douglas Murray of The Spectator put it.

"We have lost our sharpest wit, one of our finest writers and one of our best minds. There are no false consolations to be had. Only the truth that from now on, instead of knowing what Christopher thinks, we will have to consider what he would have thought. We will, in other words, have to think for ourselves. If we manage it then, in large part, it will be thanks to Christopher and the incomparable example – in life and work – that he provided." [More…]

Here's a link to some of his wonderful quotes...

See Vanity Fair's Memoriam here…

Enjoy the Christopher Hitchens YouTube Channel here...

The Man Without A Hobby: Adventures of a Gregarious Egoist

R. Lowe

I just received my copy of the 2nd Edition of Dr. Machan's autobiography entitled The Man Without A Hobby: Adventures of a Gregarious Egoist.

The prologue reminds us that he was smuggled out of Communist Hungary when he was 14 years old. If the book is as interesting as that saga, it will be a great read.

As you know, Dr. Machan gives us the priviledge of posting his articles here at WeblogBahamas, and there are few that don't make me stop and think.

If you would like to buy any of Dr. Machan's books click here…

See his blog archive here...