Sometimes I have read the critique that supporters of the free market seem to cherry-pick. It is said that when good things happen in the economy, it is attributed to the free market. But when bad things happen, it is attributed to government interference. How would you respond?
Sometimes I hear people post stupid questions, how would you respond?
‘Sometimes I have read the critique that supporters of the free market seem to cherry-pick. It is said that when good things happen in the economy, it is attributed to the free market. But when bad things happen, it is attributed to government interference. How would you respond?’
Ask for specific events.
One can know a priori that voluntary exchange is good and coercion is bad. It’s simply derived from the action axiom.
I personally think it’s statists who are the cherry-pickers not us! The free market has been used as one of biggest scapegoats throughout history.
Basically we argue that good results come from free markets and not from the state because we a have strong theory to justify it. Freedom works. Force doesn’t. Why? Because free peoples create and harmonise, states destroy and distort. Once you grasp this simple fact, everything becomes clear.
Whoops! Accidently pressed “Suggest as answer” on my own post -
I’m not egotistical I swear
This raises the question how we can establish cause and effect, because we can attribute any effect to any cause.
Are people rich? Well, that must be because they are drinking so much wine.
Are people rich? Well, that must be despite drinking so much wine.
So you have to analyze things in a theoretical manner. See:
Praxeology: The Austrian Method (by Hans-Hermann Hoppe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BojfG6fmYEU
and
Theory and History (by Hans-Hermann Hoppe)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n4IYhSk9oQ
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