It is theoretically conceivable but scarcely likely that the ruling class will rush to embrace a philosophy and a political economy that will end their power and put them, in effect, out of business. FULL ARTICLE by Murray N. Rothbard
Source link: http://archive.mises.org/15535/the-liberal-dream-of-a-laissez-faire-king/
The Liberal Dream of a Laissez-Faire King
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This puts me in mind of a trout fishery. The trout farmer can theoretically be convinced that allowing the fish to swim freely throughout the lake rather than kept in small tanks will allow the fish to grow stronger and faster, but it is inconceivable to ask the fisherman to refrain from fishing. At the end of the day, a king exists because and in order to extract value from the subjects. Convincing him to take the “long view” and do less micromanagement doesn’t stop any of his subjects’ wealth from being harvested, just temporarily delays it. And it’s much harder to keep a fisherman from fishing when he’s hungry.
Not really applicable here but this is a Micronation heads up:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704775604576119931268333632.html
“The proponents of a carbon tax (or “cap and trade”) continuously point out that there is a “consensus” on the natural science linking human activity to rising global temperatures. But the economic arguments, needed to show that the benefits of a carbon tax outweigh its costs, are far less conclusive.”
How can it be far less than conclusive than absolutely false?
“In one notable meeting, the fervent margrave of Baden asked his master Mirabeau whether or not the physiocratic ideal was making sovereign rulers unnecessary. Perhaps they might all be reformed out of existence….But Mirabeau, dedicated as were all the physiocrats to absolute monarchy, drew back, sternly reminding his younger pupil that while the role of the sovereign would ideally be limited, he would still be the owner of the public domain and the preserver of social order.”
Mirabeau sounds like a Randroid. We must have a philosopher King! Objective Law!
When Will Kings And Rulers Adopt Classical Liberalism?
The first step in converting to classical liberalism any king or ruler is the return to a commodity money. Under a sound money the short and medium and long run improvement of any and all economies and the advancement of civilization within any society will obviously be the result of the principles of liberty and justice that are the fruits of a free market.
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