tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post2671586064594221442..comments2024-03-18T17:28:44.693-07:00Comments on Rondam Ramblings: Zed tells it like it isRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11752242624438232184noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-39626762226638940782009-02-03T00:26:00.000-08:002009-02-03T00:26:00.000-08:00Libertarians that I know are not in favor of shrin...<I>Libertarians that I know are not in favor of shrinking government to "nothing"</I><BR/><BR/>Several that I know are. At least one is reasonably famous for it (among other things): David D. Friedman, the economist and law professor. His writings are worth a read, and he makes a stimulating correspondent.<BR/><BR/>Libertarians who identify themselves as anarchists are not particularly hard to Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07226224692209960583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-1374577735625792692009-01-11T00:18:00.000-08:002009-01-11T00:18:00.000-08:00I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on th...I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.<BR/><BR/>FWIW, you're not the only one who thinks Zed is wrong, e.g. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=428785Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11752242624438232184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-1669888912787974222009-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:002009-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00It feels like you keep changing definitions on me....It feels like you keep changing definitions on me. Zed's essay, that you linked to, said (for example): <I>"That is basically the first flaw of libertarianism: If you shrink the<BR/>government down to nothing and have corporations in control then you<BR/>won’t have a rule of law."</I><BR/><BR/>Libertarians that I know are not in favor of shrinking government to "nothing", nor of putting Don Geddishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14921093108555061757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-48120748755513033282009-01-10T00:18:00.000-08:002009-01-10T00:18:00.000-08:00> That's such a different political structu...> That's such a different political structure, we need a different word.<BR/><BR/>You'll have to take that up with the Wikipedia editors, among others. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist and read the first sentence.<BR/><BR/>> These people generally call themselves "libertarians", but they don't at all mean to advocate anarchy.<BR/><BR/>Maybe they don't Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11752242624438232184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-81421156766588325352009-01-09T08:24:00.000-08:002009-01-09T08:24:00.000-08:00I guess I don't know any "big-L" official members ...I guess I don't know any "big-L" official members of the Libertarian party. But as for "small-l" libertarians, I've never met one who advocates anarchy.<BR/><BR/>That's such a different political structure, we need a different word. If you want the word "libertarian" to include anarchists (esp. to have that as the default meaning), then what word would you recommend for those who prefer Don Geddishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14921093108555061757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-63490741956057464182009-01-08T22:26:00.000-08:002009-01-08T22:26:00.000-08:00> If you're referring to the Austrian schoo...> If you're referring to the Austrian school of economic theory, then that's not the same as libertarianism (although it is related).<BR/><BR/>That's kind of like saying that Marxism is not the same as Communism (though they are related). Strictly speaking it's true, but it's splitting a pretty fine hair.<BR/><BR/>> As for libertarianism, there are lots of substyles,<BRRonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11752242624438232184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-7515775274984309442009-01-08T15:24:00.000-08:002009-01-08T15:24:00.000-08:00I'll admit that I haven't heard of "the Austrian s...I'll admit that I haven't heard of "the Austrian school of libertarianism", if that's what you're referring to.<BR/><BR/>If you're referring to the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_School" REL="nofollow">Austrian school of economic theory</A>, then that's not the same as libertarianism (although it is related). But in any case Austrian economists neither want zero government, nor Don Geddishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14921093108555061757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-29689058106494512862009-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:002009-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00> corporations are generally more efficient tha...> corporations are generally more efficient than government<BR/><BR/>Generally, but not always, and sometimes not in some areas that matter a lot. For example, government has a much better track record at providing health care efficiently than corporations.<BR/><BR/>> "Corporations are therefore better than the government at everything"? What libertarian says that?<BR/><BR/>That&Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11752242624438232184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5592542.post-23814172765970032752009-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:002009-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:00I won't discuss the part analyzing the current fin...I won't discuss the part analyzing the current financial crisis. But your linked essay is a horribly biased criticism of libertarianism.<BR/><BR/>The author claims that the "unstated goal" of libertarian doctrine has three parts. He's right, that corporations are generally more efficient than government. But the other two are crazy. "Corporations are therefore better than the government at Don Geddishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14921093108555061757noreply@blogger.com