A journalist writing a book on the ongoing development of the web recently asked me for some Big Thoughts on the relationship between new technology and ideas. Rather than attempt that, here are some Small Thoughts that I hope amount to at least the sum of their parts. In one sense, the web is a lot like the world: filled with good and evil, dumb
The years between 1944 and 1949—Marshall Plan, GI Bill, the Cold War, fiscal and monetary planning, cultural and economic regimentation--set the stage for the next half century... In the same way that a socialized economy cannot put new technology into effect, and thus yields no civilizational advance, the world of ideas was frozen into a pattern
Why does the US keep being surprised by events? Because the government, whether at home or abroad, acts like an irresponsible teenager driving a fast car. The decision calculus is myopic in the extreme. No thought is given to the effect of its decisions on others, and no uncertainties are ever presumed. When the crash occurs, there are fleeting
A remarkable story , from our own hometown newspaper, showing how licensure is ultimately backed by the police power, and on behalf of a producer cartel, in this case the veterinarians: Brooke Williams Staff Writer W ednesday, March 3, 2004 The owners of for Paws Boutique in Auburn were arrested Monday in connection with instances of practicing
Writes a friend: “I thought this letter might gladen your heart”: “Dear Grandfather, my job at the music store has ben going great. It’s amazing how my attitude towards the work has changed since being introduced to free market-Austrian economics. I understand the nature of exchange much more clearly now, and I understand that 1) when I exchange
Reuters : The U.S. agency that provides a safety net to company pension plans will announce a $10 billion deficit this week, a congressman said on Tuesday, warning that it raised the prospect of a taxpayer bailout. It would be a record deficit for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC), which a year ago reported its worst year ever and has seen
Here is Hal Varian struggling to answer a question Menger dealt with in 1892 (why is money accepted?) and Mises addressed in 1912 (whence comes its value?). Still Varian’s column is fun and interesting. (Thanks to David
The Iraq disaster is more obvious and undeniable than ever, yet everyone is trying to avoid taking responsibility for the fiasco. Politicians are trying to account for their votes for the war. Bureaucrats are offering excuses for staying silent. Warmongers are elucidating all the reasons why others foiled their plans. In the same way that 13
In Iraq, the US has followed a pattern of carrots and sticks for the better part of twelve months. Build a police station, shoot a political dissident, repair a school, shut down a newspaper, fund a hospital, arrest a cleric, shell out millions to buy off political support, mow down a few families at checkpoints in civilian areas. This can’t work,
What is the Mises Institute?
The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.
Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.