Comments on: Report on FreedomFest

By: TheUKLibertarian

TheUKLibertarian — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:06:32 +0000

I’m confused why so many of the geniuses at Mises are religious. I can just about understand a position that says “I don’t know” but to make a positive claim that Catholicism is true makes no sense to me. It’s a bit disconcerting that so many people who I agree with 100% on economics and politics can be so baffling in this other area.

The Bible having lessons from god is such an insane idea to me. I know that the large online atheist communities probably dismiss all the libertarian arguments made on this site a lot faster when they discover the irrationality (imo) in this area.

By: Ben Hertz

Ben Hertz — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:06:28 +0000

Walter Block is free on Sundays, if you catch my drift.

By: Tom Woods

Tom Woods — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:55:51 +0000

Bruce, no, you are thinking of Gerard Casey.

By: Damian

Damian — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:52:12 +0000

Tom Woods was definitely the highlight of the Mises circle. He received a standing ovation after his talk on nullification.

By: Damian

Damian — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:49:31 +0000

I heard Doug French say that he did not believe in the afterlife so I would assume he is not a catholic, probably an atheist.

By: Telpeurion

Telpeurion — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:28:04 +0000

Is anyone at the Mises Institute not a Roman Catholic?

By: Bruce Koerber

Bruce Koerber — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:05:05 +0000

Was not Doug Casey the presenter at the Austrian Scholars Conference for the topic of religion? If so, what was the reason for that choice, I wonder?

By: Nathan Eames

Nathan Eames — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:15:22 +0000

Phoenix has a river that runs right through town. Just outside of Phoenix are ruins of an ancient civilization: the Hohokam. They didn’t have gov. make work projects so I think you are a little of base.

By: Art Carden

Art Carden — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:24:04 +0000

I posted the following at The Beacon:

A couple of quick thoughts:

1. Market forces aren’t doing anything about the weather outdoors, but they’re helping alleviate it. My guess is that there’s someone on every street corner who will sell you a bottle of water for a dollar (for an interesting story, ask about their relationships with the casinos, the licensing authorities, and the cops).

2. One of the comments on Jeff’s report points out that Vegas probably owes its existence to federal subsidies and messed-up water infrastructure. That’s probably true, but Vegas represents a lower bound on what our creative energies can achieve.

3. I stayed at the Tropicana when I was there for the APEE meetings in April. I asked at the front desk if there was a church nearby. The clerk responded “no, but there’s an In-n-Out Burger if you like burgers.” I’ve had In-n-Out Burger once before, and I’d say it was an experience that brought me closer to God. It turns out there’s also a Catholic church near the Wynn. It was a hike from the Tropicana, but it was worth it.

By: Viva Las Vegas! | The Beacon

Viva Las Vegas! | The Beacon — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:23:12 +0000

[...] Tucker reports from FreedomFest. I’m not there, but Vegas is one of my favorite cities. It’s a place that’s [...]

By: Todd S.

Todd S. — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:12:51 +0000

The establishment of a small township and it’s growth to a full sized city are two different things. I suppose I misspoke when I talked about founding. Most desert settlements could support some population. Without T. Roosevelt’s National Reclamation Act and subsequent New Deal projects, I doubt you’d find cities in that region much beyond a few thousand in size.

By: BioTube

BioTube — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:13:31 +0000

Considering very few towns have been founded since the New Deal, it doesn’t really have all that much to do with anything.

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:46:51 +0000

“Speaking as a theist myself, this Casey presentation was worth the price of admission. In the end, however, the votes from both the “jury” and the entire audience overwhelmingly supported the pro-religion side.”

Putting ideas to a “vote”? Acting like the theists “won” a debate because a majority of the audience cheered in accordance with its prejudice? Ugh.

Thanks for reminding me of why I steered clear of this event after the first one eight years ago.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:54:13 +0000

Addendum: mises institute sessions have been wonderfully packed this morning!

By: Todd S.

Todd S. — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:28:35 +0000

It’s hard for me to accept that capitalism is responsible for many or most of the western desert towns. Without the huge makework projects of the New Deal and governmental work even earlier, I don’t see them being able to support themselves. I can’t imagine someone wandering into the desert, looking around and finding no appreciable water source for a hundred miles, say “this looks like a good spot for a city”. Vegas has some water nearby I suppose, but a city like Phoenix doesn’t.

By: Aubrey Herbert

Aubrey Herbert — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:12:49 +0000

“The opposition was led by Steven Landsburg but the best presenter (in my view) was Doug Casey, who let loose on the longest and most extreme anti-religion tirade I’ve ever heard. I don’t know if he was just playing a role or speaking from the heart; it certainly sounded sincere”

Is this available anywhere? If not, why not? lol.