Walter Block, Austrian Free Market Economist, Used to be a Communist

[FrankRep]

I was shocked, but I'm glad he left his old Communist ways and became a Free Market Capitalist.



Walter Block, Austrian Free Market Economist, Used to be a Communist



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3HQ_yGjUyc


Walter Edward Block (born 21 August 1941) is an Austrian School economist and prominent anarcho-capitalist. He is currently Professor of Economics at Loyola University New Orleans and Senior Fellow with the Ludwig von Mises Institute.

[Travlyr]

That is partly why he is still confused on classical liberalism.

[supermario21]

Anyone have video of that abortion speech he gave at We Are The Future? That was an epic fail. Knowing this now, he should have spoken about how he converted from communism to capitalism. It would have shown all the young people there that the Democrat party is never an option!

[NIU Students for Liberty]

That is partly why he is still confused on classical liberalism.

How is he confused?

[Travlyr]

How is he confused?

Classical Liberalism allows for the state, laws, and government for property ownership, distribution, and justice.

"The program of liberalism, therefore, if condensed into a single word, would have to read: property, that is, private ownership of the means of production... All the other demands of liberalism result from his fundamental demand." - Ludwig von Mises

Private ownership of the means of production =/= private ownership of everything in the world. Roads are public for a specific reason and that is trespassing laws. Rivers, Parks, Great Lakes, Oceans, and Air are for the public as well.

We call the social apparatus of compulsion and coercion that induces people to abide by the rules of life in society, the state; the rules according to which the state proceeds, law; and the organs charged with the responsibility of administering the apparatus of compulsion, government. - Ludwig von Mises

[whippoorwill]

bump

[heavenlyboy34]

That is partly why he is still confused on classical liberalism.

WTF are you babbling about? He doesn't even talk about anarchism in the video. He says he was a commie "as all jews were" (his words,paraphrased a bit). He talks about how the Randians convinced him of laissez-faire. And if you bother to read what he's actually written/said about classical liberalism, you'll find he understands it better than you do.

You would do well to actually pay attention to what threads are about before commenting. Otherwise, you detract from the discussion.

[Travlyr]

A Future of Private Roads and Highways
Mises Daily: Thursday, April 16, 2009 by Walter Block

I advocate the complete, total, and full privatization of all roads, streets, highways, byways, avenues, and other vehicular thoroughfares. And I am serious about this, deadly serious.

This propaganda is inconsistent with Classical Liberalism.

[Paul Or Nothing II]

Well, seeing this sort of thing can only be inspiring for those hoping to spread the seeds of liberty as much as they can, that if a hardcore commie can be converted to voluntaryism then anybody can be.........given of course, that they aren't completely intellectually bankrupt unlike some people out there who'll talk about liberty, freedom & all that, & yet fully support government robbing, coercing & enslaving people......

[Travlyr]

Well, seeing this sort of thing can only be inspiring for those hoping to spread the seeds of liberty as much as they can, that if a hardcore commie can be converted to voluntaryism then anybody can be.........given of course, that they aren't completely intellectually bankrupt unlike some people out there who'll talk about liberty, freedom & all that, & yet fully support government robbing, coercing & enslaving people......

Are you referring to Ludwig von Mises, Ron Paul, Murray N. Rothbard, Thomas Jefferson, or me?

"Liberalism is therefore far from disputing the necessity of a machinery of state, a system of law, and a government. It is a grave misunderstanding to associate it in any way with the idea of anarchism. For the liberal, the state is an absolute necessity, since the most important tasks are incumbent upon it: the protection not only of private property, but also of peace, for in the absence of the latter the full benefits of private property cannot be reaped." - Ludwig von Mises

I believe it's worthwhile for all of us to tirelessly pursue the preservation of the elegant Constitution with which we have been so blessed."- Ron Paul

"Ron Paul, in short, is that rare American, and still rarer politician, who deeply understands and battles for the principles of liberty that were fought for and established by the Founding Fathers of this country. - Murray N. Rothbard.

"The policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits." - Thomas Jefferson

"No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him." - Thomas Jefferson

Because I agree with all these statements.

[Confederate]

Hans-Herman Hoppe was a communist as well.

[Travlyr]

Hans-Herman Hoppe was a communist as well.

Interesting. And it does not surprise me at all. I grew up in freedom and have always cherished my independence.

[matt0611]

I believe Hayek started out a socialist as well. Not a full-commie mind you but at least a democratic-socialist.

[heavenlyboy34]

A Future of Private Roads and Highways
Mises Daily: Thursday, April 16, 2009 by Walter Block



This propaganda is inconsistent with Classical Liberalism.

False. Classical liberals favor private property and socialist roads are antithetical to that ideal.

[heavenlyboy34]

Interesting. And it does not surprise me at all. I grew up in freedom and have always cherished my independence.

Why did you stop?

[Travlyr]

False. Classical liberals favor private property and socialist roads are antithetical to that ideal.

No, that is wrong. Classical liberal philosophy as described by Mises is summarized as follows.

"The program of liberalism, therefore, if condensed into a single word, would have to read: property, that is, private ownership of the means of production... All the other demands of liberalism result from his fundamental demand." - Ludwig von Mises

Private ownership of the means of production =/= private ownership of everything.

[ronpaulfollower999]

A Future of Private Roads and Highways
Mises Daily: Thursday, April 16, 2009 by Walter Block



This propaganda is inconsistent with Classical Liberalism.

Why does it have to be a public road? Why should all roads be public, but not railroads? Instead of building public roads, why can't we build streetcars? I'd think the free market would make a better decision to determine where a road is needed, where mass transit is needed, or where nothing is needed at all.

[Demigod]

I was a full commie as well,even member of the party.It took me a lot of time to really accept everything about liberty and capitalism.

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Anyone have video of that abortion speech he gave at We Are The Future? That was an epic fail.

If you can't get over that, maybe you should go find the video and download it to your computer to you relive it over and over again.

He made a stupid assumption, talked off an expected topic, and apologized for it. Move on with your life. Everyone else has.

[fisharmor]

OP doesn't surprise me a bit... I've seen with my very eyes evidence, supplied by the man himself, that Will Freaking Grigg of all people supported the War on Terror early on.

This propaganda is inconsistent with Classical Liberalism.

So, in Jefferson's day, how many roads were owned and maintained by the state?

[Travlyr]

Why does it have to be a public road? Why should all roads be public, but not railroads? Instead of building public roads, why can't we build streetcars? I'd think the free market would make a better decision to determine where a road is needed, where mass transit is needed, or where nothing is needed at all.

In a free society, road commissioners are elected officials accountable to the people. The elected official is responsible for making sure the roads get built properly. The roads are built by getting competitive bids from private road building contractors.

Private roads can operate along side of public roads. Private ownership of land comes with trespassing laws. Public roads are not protected by trespassing laws. If all roads were private, then a homeowner/landowner would be forced to trespass on private land to leave his/her property.

[Travlyr]

OP doesn't surprise me a bit... I've seen with my very eyes evidence, supplied by the man himself, that Will Freaking Grigg of all people supported the War on Terror early on.



So, in Jefferson's day, how many roads were owned and maintained by the state?

I don't exactly know how Virginia was surveyed. Many states are divided up into 640 acre sections of land one mile long by one mile wide and the public roads were the perimeter. Elected road commissioners are elected for each township and are charged with managing the roads.

[heavenlyboy34]

No, that is wrong. Classical liberal philosophy as described by Mises is summarized as follows.


Private ownership of the means of production =/= private ownership of everything.

No, it's correct. Mises' definition is perfectly compatible with private ownership of roads. We already have some private roads-like the Summerlin Parkway The Dulles Greenway, and 40 thousand private roads in England and Wales.

[Tpoints]

No, that is wrong. Classical liberal philosophy as described by Mises is summarized as follows.


Private ownership of the means of production =/= private ownership of everything.

they're not the same?

so what is public if not everything?

[Travlyr]

No, it's correct. Mises' definition is perfectly compatible with private ownership of roads. We already have some private roads-like the Summerlin Parkway The Dulles Greenway, and 40 thousand private roads in England and Wales.

Private roads are fine along side public roads.

[Travlyr]

they're not the same?

so what is public if not everything?

No they are not the same. The means of production is produced by labor. Land that is not mixed with labor can be public land the same as natural lakes, rivers, parks, roads, oceans, and air.

[Demigod]

Why does it have to be a public road? Why should all roads be public, but not railroads? Instead of building public roads, why can't we build streetcars? I'd think the free market would make a better decision to determine where a road is needed, where mass transit is needed, or where nothing is needed at all.

Local roads have always been public and maintained locally,only highways have been built by private enterprises from time to time although most were built either by a central government or a number of local governments joining together .Railroad,airfields and ports do not equal roads.

Highways,Railroad,Airfields and ports are in competition with each other as ways to get from ine local road network to another local road network so they can be private.But local roads have no alternative ,if you make them private you turn your private property into a private prison.

[Tpoints]

No they are not the same. The means of production is produced by labor. Land that is not mixed with labor can be public land the same as natural lakes, rivers, parks, roads, oceans, and air.

so basically, non-commercial land and resources can be publically owned and controlled?

[Travlyr]

so basically, non-commercial land and resources can be publically owned and controlled?

In a free society, public land would include public roads, public parks, public buildings, rivers, natural lakes, oceans, and inhabitable land. Everything else could be privately owned.

[jj-]

Ah, there is something wrong with his mind. No wonder he is an anarchist and not a real capitalist.