Why do all these bloggers and writers so badly need this unelected (and unelectable?) guy from Kentucky so badly?Well let me count the ways. Within the span of 24 hours, Rand Paul has put the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its proper context as an infringement on private property rights, and then questioned President Obama's stance on BP, calling it un-American.
To understand the theoretical basis for Paul's stance on BP, see Lew Rockwell's Why Not Feel Sorry for BP?
See Edward Gonzalez on the importance of private property in the context of discrimination.
And EPJ Irregular, Michael Labeit, links to an important article by Walter Block on the economics and ethics of discrimination.
Cowen appears to have missed this, but for the first time in a long time a candidate has put the debate on an intellectual basis rather than a contest of who can promise the most goodies to buy off voters.
As for Cowen 's teasing question mark next to Paul's electability. Well Cowen may not have noticed this either, but Paul just won the Republican primary in Kentucky and the latest polls show him ahead against all Democratic comers.
Aside from these points, the tweet is informative.
Q: Why does Tyler Cowen exist?
ReplyDeleteA: So that knucklehead Keynesians and statists can refer to a supportive "thoughtful mainstream libertarian" when promoting their nefarious schemes.