Democracy Gets the Credit for the Benefits of Free Markets
2353 sats \ 14 comments \ @kepford 12 Apr econ
I was listening to some political commentator ramble on about how great democracies are and something occurred to me. Most of the positive things people talk about when they say we need to defend democracy are really the benefits of free markets.
When I say free markets I'm referring to relative freedom. There are few truly free markets. Most markets are distorted by states and banks but some countries have more or less economic freedom. Democracy isn't the worst system for sure but honestly it can't take credit for all the prosperity and health we see. I would argue this prosperity comes from freedom. Not the act of voting for "representatives".
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152 sats \ 3 replies \ @AG 12 Apr
This is such an interesting topic we are trying to analyze in the ~AGORA as there's no such a free market if, first, there are no rights to trade between free men and women.
Do you mind sharing the video you were looking at?
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
Human rights, property rights, and law all predate democracy. I'm sure you know this, just stating this for others.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
It wasn't a video and it wasn't interesting. It was the same "protect our democracy" propaganda we hear nonstop these days.
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55 sats \ 0 replies \ @AG 12 Apr
oh well, I was hoping for something interesting to watch during the weekend :)
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65 sats \ 1 reply \ @Signal312 12 Apr
Very good point.
I keep on meaning to read Democracy – The God That Failed by Hans-Hermann Hoppe. It's supposed to be very good.
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10 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
It is very good. I don't agree with Hoppe on everything, but his writing made me think about things I had never even considered. This is the mark of a good thinker / writer. I feel like that book and Rand's writings really opened my mind.
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55 sats \ 0 replies \ @globalmerchantio 12 Apr
Absolutely
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0 sats \ 6 replies \ @jakoyoh629 12 Apr
Democracy is about far more than just a vote. It's about the fundamental freedoms of expression, religion, sexuality, and much more.
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60 sats \ 4 replies \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
I disagree. Those often exist in democracies but I would not say they come out of democracy. Plenty of democracies violate these as well. I would argue those are all moral ideals. A democracy can and many do violate these rights. The founding fathers in the US for example were very wary of democracy for this reason.
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50 sats \ 0 replies \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
Reading this book and thinking about incentives for many years changed my thinking about democracies. We rarely hear any critical thought about democracy. It is literally a sacred cow. As I said, it is far from the worst state system but it should be looked at critically for the many trade-offs. Leaches use this religious belief in this system to maintain power and steal wealth from the masses. Millions die in wars funded by these people. They have no skin in the game. They print money to no end.
Democracy: The God That Failed | Mises Institute
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165 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 12 Apr
Unmasking Democracy: A Moral Virtue or a Flawed Tool?
By Sergio Lopez
Mises saw democracy as a means to peacefully transfer political power, period.
A practical take on what democracy is and what it isn't
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50 sats \ 1 reply \ @kepford OP 12 Apr
I'm a believer in Jesus. My view is that many of the things people like about democracies have more to do with His teachings. His teachings and morals have spread like a virus through the world. Even those that hate Christianity and religion have been affected by the idea of grace and defending the weak, poor, and needy. I've come to think that "Democracy" has been built up into a quasi-religious belief as a defense mechanism against admitting the true sources for the positive things in the "free world".
Its also become clear to me that many, maybe most worship the power of the state. This sadly includes many Christians. People seek to gain control of the systems of power to do what they see as good and right. The "one ring" if you will. And it will always corrupt those that seek it and those that hold it. It is a poison.
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165 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 12 Apr
"Democracy" has been built up into a quasi-religious belief as a defense mechanism against admitting the true sources for the positive things in the "free world".
That's very interesting and I hadn't thought about it that way. I agree with all the rest, unreservedly.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @AG 12 Apr
Oh believe me go much much further than that
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