Well said. The comments, however, are depressing. For example, "I, for one, am not alarmed at what I don't know that my government is doing to protect me and my family." And then there were those who analogized government secrecy to personal privacy, e.g., "Do you tell everyone in your family everything you know?" and "I am sure you will call your son a hero if he goes about telling people about everything that goes on in your home."
I very much enjoyed your article, and give it a resounding "Hear Hear!" Living in the uber-conservative area that I do, it is delightful to find a voice that opposes big government and supports accountability. There are those who would give the military license to commit any number of atrocities in the name of "freedom" or "national security." Thank you for giving voice to what rational people should be thinking.
Richman is an economist. In a modern market society, people tend to specialize. Austrian economics provides no special guidance in military affairs.
Richman displays his ignorance of history, when he claims that Jefferson was a "non-interventionist" (whatever that means). The inconvenient facts are, Jefferson founded the US deep-water navy, and acted militarily abroad to put down Barbary Coast pirates. They were conducting a Jihad of kidnapping and plunder against infidels in coastal areas of Europe, and against international merchant ships.
In the real world, sometimes assassinations and wars are necessary to protect natural rights to life, liberty and property. Which Richman would know, if his world were not populated fuzzy teddy bears, distorted ideology, and invented history.
You say that Sheldon is ignorant of history when he claims that Jefferson was a non-interventionalist, but then you admit that you don't even know what being a non-interventionalist means. How ignorant of you.
Taking military action against pirates that are attacking innocent merchants doesn't equate with invading countries that don't pose any threat whatsoever.
I am a historian in the same sense that I am economist, namely, a lifelong serious noninstitutional student of the discipline. My references to Washington and Jefferson were about the wise doctrines they espoused. If Jefferson didn't practice what he espoused, that in itself does not undermine the case for the doctrine. People in power always say murder and mayhem (war) are necessary to protect freedom. What else is new?
"They were conducting a Jihad of kidnapping and plunder against infidels in coastal areas of Europe, and against international merchant ships. "[Kevin]
The word Jihad means whatever they want it to mean. Today a Jihad is to kill infidels in America. Back in Jefferson's day it was theft on the Mediterranean Sea (piracy).
We will pay for indefinite war and loss of freedom and privacy forever because the Kevins know their Islam history.
"...a video of a (U.S.) helicopter gunship killing and injuring unarmed Iraqi civilians, including two children, and two newsmen as they walked down a street in Baghdad."[CSM]
I can understand why that could affect national security.
Well said. The comments, however, are depressing. For example, "I, for one, am not alarmed at what I don't know that my government is doing to protect me and my family." And then there were those who analogized government secrecy to personal privacy, e.g., "Do you tell everyone in your family everything you know?" and "I am sure you will call your son a hero if he goes about telling people about everything that goes on in your home."
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed your article, and give it a resounding "Hear Hear!" Living in the uber-conservative area that I do, it is delightful to find a voice that opposes big government and supports accountability. There are those who would give the military license to commit any number of atrocities in the name of "freedom" or "national security." Thank you for giving voice to what rational people should be thinking.
ReplyDeleteRichman is an economist. In a modern market society, people tend to specialize. Austrian economics provides no special guidance in military affairs.
ReplyDeleteRichman displays his ignorance of history, when he claims that Jefferson was a "non-interventionist" (whatever that means). The inconvenient facts are, Jefferson founded the US deep-water navy, and acted militarily abroad to put down Barbary Coast pirates. They were conducting a Jihad of kidnapping and plunder against infidels in coastal areas of Europe, and against international merchant ships.
In the real world, sometimes assassinations and wars are necessary to protect natural rights to life, liberty and property.
Which Richman would know, if his world were not populated fuzzy teddy bears,
distorted ideology, and invented history.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteYou say that Sheldon is ignorant of history when he claims that Jefferson was a non-interventionalist, but then you admit that you don't even know what being a non-interventionalist means. How ignorant of you.
Taking military action against pirates that are attacking innocent merchants doesn't equate with invading countries that don't pose any threat whatsoever.
Why don't you get your head out of your rear end?
You're right on target, Sheldon, as usual.
I am a historian in the same sense that I am economist, namely, a lifelong serious noninstitutional student of the discipline. My references to Washington and Jefferson were about the wise doctrines they espoused. If Jefferson didn't practice what he espoused, that in itself does not undermine the case for the doctrine. People in power always say murder and mayhem (war) are necessary to protect freedom. What else is new?
ReplyDeleteWikileaks has not indicated how it is produced tens of thousands of State Department cables or bank documents he claims to hold.
ReplyDelete"They were conducting a Jihad of kidnapping and plunder against infidels in coastal areas of Europe, and against international merchant ships. "[Kevin]
ReplyDeleteThe word Jihad means whatever they want it to mean. Today a Jihad is to kill infidels in America. Back in Jefferson's day it was theft on the Mediterranean Sea (piracy).
We will pay for indefinite war and loss of freedom and privacy forever because the Kevins know their Islam history.
Try Tehran, 1953, Kev.
"Search me, I've got nothing to hide."
ReplyDeleteOk then, now bend over.
And what did you say last night about your boss (or your customers) ? Tell us what you think of your neighbors too.
"...a video of a (U.S.) helicopter gunship killing and injuring unarmed Iraqi civilians, including two children, and two newsmen as they walked down a street in Baghdad."[CSM]
ReplyDeleteI can understand why that could affect national security.