Rothbard was one of the original founders of Cato. Indeed, he named the institute. His shares were taken from him by Crane and Charles Koch. Now, the plotters of the removal of Rothbard fight each other and one of the plotters warns of what may happen to the institute:
Mr. [Charles] Koch’s actions in Kansas court yesterday represent an effort by him to transform Cato from an independent, nonpartisan research organization into a political entity that might better support his partisan agenda.In fact, Cato became a partisan organization for the Koch interests when the great libertarian scholar Rothbard was dumped by these plotters.
In the end, though, things appear to be turning out well for Rothbard. He hooked up with the much more fervent believer in liberty, and the much more principled, Lew Rockwell.
Rockwell's Mises Institute has become the preeminent Austrian School economics organization in the world, reaching millions annually. Rockwell through LewRockwell.com provided the early support for the launching of Ron Paul's phenomenal libertarian presidential campaign. Rothbard was always a supporter of Dr. Paul.
And so, while the plotters now fight each other like scorpions in a bottle, Rothbard's wisdom comes through again. Rockwell, tough as nails, had to himself fight off the Koch brothers as they attempted to squash the Mises Institute.
But Rothbard got it right in sticking with Rockwell. By staying principled and refusing to bow to the dictates of the billionaire brothers, Rothbard finally hooked up with two of the most ardent supporters of liberty today in Rockwell and Ron Paul. And we are all the better for it.
It's Friday, it's a good day for liberty and it's Murray Rothbard's birthday. In other words, it's a very good day to go out and celebrate.
Happy Birthday Murray!
ReplyDeleteYou truly are an Enemy of the State.
http://mises.org/store/Murray-Rothbard-T-Shirt-Black-P217C43.aspx#
Happy Birthday Mr. Rothbard!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you're beaming with joy at how your ideas are ripping across the nation (and world).
Little did you know, that as you relentlessly typed away, your ideas would one day spread digitally, and faster than any human could comprehend.
You planted the seeds, and now we're reaping bushels!
What an inspiration!
Happy birthday Mr. Rothbard!
ReplyDeleteEven in death, Rothbard causes consternation to the Kochtopus. :)
ReplyDelete*raises glass*
ReplyDeleteI've never met Charles, but my one interaction with David was decidedly unpleasant. It left me with the impression that he was anything but libertarian, and in character more in line with the stereotypically spoiled, rude, and bigoted rich kid who grew up with little regard for anyone other than himself. I've never heard of either of the Kochs assisting an individual libertarian in need, or even in need of job. That only helps to perpetuate the common liberal impression of a libertarian world being a dog-eat-dog world with cripples and old people dying in the streets. Famously, they refused to contribute to Ludwig von Mises' widow's health care when she was impoverished in her very old age. Instead, the family typically donates in a self-serving fashion to high profile causes that improve the company's PR reputation. Treating people as a disposable resource instead of an investment and development opportunity is not the type of image that libertarianism can go forward with. I'm not at all surprised that they are now attempting to undermine Cato now that libertarianism is taking hold and gaining credibility in the mainstream. The Kochs' libertarianism could easily have been an opportunistic cover for neo-con corporatists advancements all along. This might explain why when Cato was even more under their influence it so rarely published on social issues or monetary policy, and why they have been supporting Caen and Romney's campaigns rather than Ron Paul's.
ReplyDelete