So recently I’ve been in a series of debates with a friend of mine who is liberal. We’ve agreed on everything on the social level, but on other areas, we most certainly disagree (she is fully liberal, I’m a libertarian so I’m only socially liberal). Anyway, she thinks that we should nationalize hea…

First of all you need to realize you’re probably never going to convince her. You need to assess how important her agreeing with you actually is, because relationships of all kinds have been destroyed over a lot less. I’m aware that I don’t know you, or her, or your relationship…but I’m telling you…

I would suggest making sure she understands that the current system is NOT free market health care. One thing you might mention is how government enforced monopolies in the health market limit competition, reduce innovation, and raise prices.

Okay, thanks. The problem is though, she’s stuck on the whole thing about “what about the poor.” I have a hard time answering that, because when I talk about compassionate, caring people intervening, she seems to think that 98 percent of the world’s people don’t give a crap, and that the remaining p…

Thanks very much for the info, John. I don’t think I really have to worry about losing her as a friend, because she is very much willing to listen and is pretty open minded, and we are both liberal in the social regard. I think it’s just a matter of giving her all of the information, because I think…

I believe Wheylous has posted this before but i cant find the post- Argument by argument Basically if alot of people who you debate with, care about the poor, then it is undeniable that in a free market with private charities there will be alot of resources for the poor- since obviously alot of pe…

Here- [image] How Molyneux answers most "but how will the private market X" Political Theory I’ve been thinking of writing about this topic for a while now, but while scanning through Molyneux’s Practical Anarchy, I noticed a good summary of my idea. I will pr…

You should also note that before the state took control of the medical industry, services in that industry were cheaper and mutual aid organisations existed to cheaply provide such services for ‘the poor’. You should also note that doctors generally were happy to help those in need and without the m…

I would put it to her this way. Let’s say the Earth was rapidly becoming uninhabitable and scientists had worked out every detail of migrating to the Moon. The only obstacle is getting there. Now, we all agree we need to get people to the Moon. In fact, it’s such an urgent matter that even libertari…

Wow, thanks for the great stuff everyone. This helps a LOT.

My debate with a liberal friend

Economics Economics Questions

John_James September 20, 2012, 7:42pm 6

In that case you’ll find plenty of ammo here:

The Ultimate Beginner meta-thread

Guides and Knowledge for your Intellectual Journey

Introduction to economics

Introduction to political philosophy

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My debate with a liberal friend

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