Walter Block Supports Rand Paul

[Warlord]

From the Washington Post article I found Prof. Block's comments fascinating:


"If I were Ron, and my son were running for president, and we were in the same situation, I would shut up,” said Walter Block, an economics professor at Loyola University in New Orleans. He rated Ron Paul a 98 on his personal scale of libertarianism and Rand Paul a 70, and said he supported them both.


“Ron is a millstone around Rand’s neck, in the sense that he’s not helping him — or, at least, he’s not helping him be Rand,” Block said. “Because Rand is a compromiser, and Ron and ‘compromise’ don’t belong in the same sentence.”

Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/daddy-issues-are-ron-pauls-hard-core-stands-a-problem-for-sons-presidential-bid/2015/01/25/e23b1cdc-a4a9-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html

Since Prof. Block supports Rand Paul I wonder how other hardcore libertarians will and his scorecard rating of 70 is interesting too... I wonder what other politicians rate highly on the scorecard and whether Block supports Rand because of the rating or because of deference to his father

[The Gold Standard]

Where does it say he supports Rand? He just said if his son were running for president he would shut up. Also, his comment about being a 'compromiser' looks more like a shot than a compliment.

[Warlord]

Where does it say he supports Rand? He just said if his son were running for president he would shut up. Also, his comment about being a 'compromiser' looks more like a shot than a compliment.

The journalist said he supported him. There are no direct comments about his support but he went on the record there with the journalist

[Brett85]

Where does it say he supports Rand? He just said if his son were running for president he would shut up. Also, his comment about being a 'compromiser' looks more like a shot than a compliment.

"He rated Ron Paul a 98 on his personal scale of libertarianism and Rand Paul a 70, and said he supported them both."

[libertyplz]

Where does it say he supports Rand? He just said if his son were running for president he would shut up. Also, his comment about being a 'compromiser' looks more like a shot than a compliment.

At the end of the second line that warlord quoted "he rated Ron Paul a 98 on his personal scale of libertarianism and Rand Paul a 70, and said he supported them both."

[Vanguard101]

I never liked Block's scorecard. One minute he highly praises Rand Paul. The next minute, Friedman isn't a libertarian, Ayn Rand somehow is, Mises and Hayek are the same on the spectrum, and Ron Paul is near perfect. Anyways, Block has already said he supports Rand.

[specsaregood]

geezus, do you people bother looking at existing articles? This is like the 4th new thread with an unbroken link to the same wannabe hitpiece.

[Warlord]

geezus, do you people bother looking at existing articles? This is like the 4th new thread with an unbroken link to the same wannabe hitpiece.

Yes I know that but im highlighting something in the article that I found interesting to libertarians that Prof. Block is supporting him

[Feeding the Abscess]

Block isn't a purist when it comes to the political realm. He also will say different things to different audiences; in libertarian circles, he'll be critical of Rand. In mainstream circles, he'll defend him against attacks.

This isn't a surprise to anyone familiar with Walter Block. And if it is, it shouldn't be a revelation.

[Inkblots]

Block isn't a purist when it comes to the political realm. He also will say different things to different audiences; in libertarian circles, he'll be critical of Rand. In mainstream circles, he'll defend him against attacks.

This isn't a surprise to anyone familiar with Walter Block. And if it is, it shouldn't be a revelation.

It's a good example that you can criticize someone and still support them - 100% agreement isn't necessary. A lesson that many libertarians refuse to learn, at some great cost.

[CPUd]

Isn't Block the guy who went to Ron's rally at the Sun Dome and gave a talk about 'eviction theory'?

[Feeding the Abscess]

It's a good example that you can criticize someone and still support them - 100% agreement isn't necessary. A lesson that many libertarians refuse to learn, at some great cost.

Most people criticizing Rand are doing so in libertarian circles. I've been one of Rand's harshest critics on this forum, and I've been doing so for five years. I'm not nearly as critical of him when I'm on a non-political forum, or in an environment that is something other than libertarian. It's not uncommon at all for other libertarians to be the same way; critical of him in their own circles, and supportive of him versus Hillary Clinton or John Bolton.

[Matt Collins]

Dr Block gets it half right... yes Ron needs not to hurt Rand's chances, but Dr Block is also apparently ignorant of Rand's voting record.

[r3volution 3.0]

If Rothbard (that would be "Mr. Libertarian," founder of modern anarcho-capitalism) were alive, he'd take the same position.

Over the years, Murray supported far worse candidates that Rand.

E.G. George H.W. Bush in '92, Lyndon Johnson in '64

Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW40TzWcnOA) of Rothbard discussing his LBJ endorsement

He supported these bastards because they were marginally less evil than the alternative, which is what a rational person does: choose between the best or least bad of the available options.

[Feeding the Abscess]

If Rothbard (that would be "Mr. Libertarian," founder of modern anarcho-capitalism) were alive, he'd take the same position.

Over the years, Murray supported far worse candidates that Rand.

E.G. George H.W. Bush in '92, Lyndon Johnson in '64

Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW40TzWcnOA) of Rothbard discussing his LBJ endorsement

He supported these bastards because they were marginally less evil than the alternative, which is what a rational person does: choose between the best or least bad of the available options.

Note that there is a difference between preferring one candidate over another, and adjusting rhetoric, political positions, and image to 'better' reflect the candidate.

[Jeremy]

geezus, do you people bother looking at existing articles? This is like the 4th new thread with an unbroken link to the same wannabe hitpiece.

Why does it matter that it's unbroken? It's not like it's a poll.

[Vanguard101]

Block isn't a purist when it comes to the political realm. He also will say different things to different audiences; in libertarian circles, he'll be critical of Rand. In mainstream circles, he'll defend him against attacks.

This isn't a surprise to anyone familiar with Walter Block. And if it is, it shouldn't be a revelation.
This


If Rothbard (that would be "Mr. Libertarian," founder of modern anarcho-capitalism) were alive, he'd take the same position.

Over the years, Murray supported far worse candidates that Rand.

E.G. George H.W. Bush in '92, Lyndon Johnson in '64

Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW40TzWcnOA) of Rothbard discussing his LBJ endorsement

He supported these bastards because they were marginally less evil than the alternative, which is what a rational person does: choose between the best or least bad of the available options.

I'm slowly coming to the realization that Rothbard was borderline shit outside his books.

[Christian Liberty]

Most people criticizing Rand are doing so in libertarian circles. I've been one of Rand's harshest critics on this forum, and I've been doing so for five years. I'm not nearly as critical of him when I'm on a non-political forum, or in an environment that is something other than libertarian. It's not uncommon at all for other libertarians to be the same way; critical of him in their own circles, and supportive of him versus Hillary Clinton or John Bolton.

This. That said, I think Walter Block should shut up about this issue in particular. Education is more important than politics.

[Vanguard101]

This. That said, I think Walter Block should shut up about this issue in particular. Education is more important than politics.

I radically disagree

[cajuncocoa]

There's a long explanation at this link. I'm going to cut to the chase and highlight two paragraphs that sum it up:

http://www.targetliberty.com/2015/01/walter-block-comments-on-wapo-story-and.html


What I meant to say, what I think I said, what I’m almost sure I said, was that if I were Ron, and my son were running for president, and my only desiderata was that I wanted him to win, I’d shut up.

But, there are other things that are important, more important, even, than my son winning, and that is promoting liberty. And Ron is the master of doing just that.

[heavenlyboy34]

Note that there is a difference between preferring one candidate over another, and adjusting rhetoric, political positions, and image to 'better' reflect the candidate.

This^^^ Murray's GWB endorsement, if you'll recall, was simply an anti-Clinton/lesser of evils move.

[Occam's Banana]

There's a long explanation at this link. I'm going to cut to the chase and highlight two paragraphs that sum it up:

http://www.targetliberty.com/2015/01/walter-block-comments-on-wapo-story-and.html


What I meant to say, what I think I said, what I’m almost sure I said, was that if I were Ron, and my son were running for president, and my only desiderata was that I wanted him to win, I’d shut up.

But, there are other things that are important, more important, even, than my son winning, and that is promoting liberty. And Ron is the master of doing just that.

Dammit, Walter! What are you talking about? What the hell is wrong with you? Just shut up, will ya?

It should be "desideratum" not "desiderata" ... :rolleyes::mad:

[francisco]

Dammit, Walter! What are you talking about? What the hell is wrong with you? Just shut up, will ya?

It should be "desideratum" not "desiderata" ... :rolleyes::mad:

He's a college professor, he can't be wrong. :p

[Christian Liberty]

There's a long explanation at this link. I'm going to cut to the chase and highlight two paragraphs that sum it up:

http://www.targetliberty.com/2015/01/walter-block-comments-on-wapo-story-and.html

Cool:)


I radically disagree

The more I think the less I see "winning" as a goal in and of itself.