Single Question Litmus Test

Miscellaneous General
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1

It has probably been about 10 years since I found Austrian Economics and Libertarianism. Watching the news - so many folks talk like Misesians (less like Rothbardians) - but are ultimately just co-opting the philosophy, or aping the popular themes.

The main tenet of strict libertarianism seems to be the “Non-Agression Principle” In other words - if you asked someone their guiding philosophical tenet they might answer “The non-agression principle.”

It got me wondering what other single questions one might ask in order to seek out adherents to the cause. The one above doesn’t come up in conversation much. There is the obvious one:

"Who is your favorite economist?

That doesn’t come up in conversation either. I also thought you might use the indirect approach:

“What should we do with the department of education?” if they answer “Eliminate it” - we are probably pretty close.

Does anyone else have any good litmus test questions (that might come up in a normal conversation) to gauge if someone is a Austrian adherent?

2

Me: “tu ne cede malis … ?”

Them: “sed contra audentior ito!”

3

LS how can I top that…

I test them on the following tongue twister

Expropriating property protector protects property no more, the protector protecting property is a private one for sure!

4

+1

Another one would be if you are having an economics conversation with somebody and you say:

“Who is the first economist that pops in your head whose first name is Carl/Karl?”

If one responds Carl Menger,then he is more than likely an Austrian. We all know who the other infamous Karl is…

5

How about:

“Was Hitler an Austrian?”

If they respond:

“I thought he was German” His history is as clear as the EU’s finances.

“Yes” Adeqaute historian in the making.

“Yes, but not in the sense of Murray Rothbard was” He’s out of the closet

“Yes, but not in the sense Mises was” Good economist in the making but poor weather man

6

@Physiocrat

I do not get why saying “Yes, but not in the sense Mises was” would make one a ‘poor weather man’

7

Sorry, maybe a little too involved. I just meant that his geography would be off and hence make a poor weather man. Note to self again: humour that needs to be explained is not funny.

8

I got it! :stuck_out_tongue:

That made me laugh.