Comments (1)

• IMHO

  "In one sense Gregg is setting an unnecessarily difficult task for himself. Even the most compelling, multifaceted set of arguments is unlikely to persuade a neighborhood facing a major plant closing not to support interventions into the market economy. Only the most resolutely libertarian souls can be so dispassionate when it comes to their own situation. The people he actually needs to persuade are everyone else, to show them that although they should help their fellow human beings through this necessary adjustment process, they should not let their kindly sentiments lead them to favor state intervention."

  I not too long ago had a conversation with someone regarding the establishment of a very large shopping center. The center had had a devastating affect upon the business district of the town in which this person lived. It is frequently the case that such large business ventures receive incentives from state and local government in the form of tax credits, etc.

  The person to whom I was speaking said that they wished they could figure out a way to obtain funding for the town, again from state and local government, in order to stimulate economic growth.

  The surprising thing is that the person to whom I was speaking was a Libertarian, and I had to remind them that using taxpayer dollars in an attempt to revitalize the town was against libertarian principles. That the correct solution would have been to prevent the incentives from being given to the developers of the shopping center in the first place.

  On the one hand, I felt rather heartless saying what I did; but on the other hand, recognized the fact that this person needed some help getting their feelings back in sync with their principles.

  Published: January 2, 2008 2:29 AM