One of the peculiarities of the American Revolution was that its leaders pinned their hopes on the organization of decision-making units, the structuring of their incentives, and the counterbalancing of the units against one another, rather than on the more usual (and more exciting) principle of substituting "the good guys" for "the bad guys.".
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What is politically defined as economic "planning" is the forcible superseding of other people's plans by government officials.
What is politically defined as economic "planning" is the forcible superseding of other people's plans by government officials.
All revolutions...have been led by persons who knew oppression well, but not on their own skin.
All revolutions...have been led by persons who knew oppression well, but not on their own skin.
A little government and a little luck are necessary in life; but only a fool trusts either of them.
A little government and a little luck are necessary in life; but only a fool trusts either of them.
A politician will always tip off his true belief by stating the opposite at the beginning of the sentence. For read more
A politician will always tip off his true belief by stating the opposite at the beginning of the sentence. For maximum comprehension, do not start listening until the first clause is concluded. Begin instead at the word "but" which begins the second, or active, clause. This is the way to tell a liberal from a conservative -- before they tell you. Thus: "I have always believed in a strong national defense, second to none, but ... " (a liberal, about to propose a $20 billion defense cut).
The fact is that up to now a free society has not been good for the intellectual. It has neither read more
The fact is that up to now a free society has not been good for the intellectual. It has neither accorded him a superior status to sustain his confidence nor made it easy for him to acquire an unquestioned sense of social usefulness. For he derives his sense of usefulness mainly from directing, instructing, and planning- from minding other people's business- and is bound to feel superfluous and neglected where people believe themselves competent to manage individual and communal affairs, and are impatient of supervision and regulation. A free society is as much a threat to the intellectual's sense of worth as an automated economy is to the workingman's sense of worth. Any social order that can function with a minimum of leadership will be anathema to the intellectual.
We are anxious when there is a dissonance between our "knowledge" and the perceivable facts. Since our "knowledge" is not read more
We are anxious when there is a dissonance between our "knowledge" and the perceivable facts. Since our "knowledge" is not to be doubted or questioned, it is the facts that have to be altered...
Making capitalism out of socialism is like making eggs out of an omelet.
Making capitalism out of socialism is like making eggs out of an omelet.
A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman, of the next generation.
A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman, of the next generation.
I gave 'em a sword. And they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish. And I guess if read more
I gave 'em a sword. And they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish. And I guess if I had been in their position, I'd have done the same thing.
