Defending Capitalism: Ayn Rand vs. Hayek

Posted by dbhalling 10 years, 2 months ago to Economics
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Hayek argues that the reason we need freedom is because of our ignorance or really the limits of the power of reason. Without this limitation, there would be no justification for freedom.


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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I wish. It's a lot easier to get machinery to do what I want it to do than it is to get humans to behave differently so as to get the most out of the machinery. If that existed with the technology, then the client would have been achieving it and wouldn't need me. Thankfully for me, that's not the case. And it is not technology, it is how the humans structure their own activity and use the technology that provides the improvement in efficiency.
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  • Posted by Zenphamy 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Robbie; It seems to me that you're trying to separate or differentiate the mechanical systems/components/facilities (technology) and human actions involved in the process of producing a product. But if you think about what's really happening in efficiency gains, you are still working within the constraints or even unused capabilities of the technology being utilized in the production of the product. Human actions in the process are necessarily associated with the technologies utilized. In order to gain efficiency without adding to or improving the technology, it's necessary to understand the human actions interrelated and interacting with the technology. You're still using the technology to gain efficiencies.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm the one who voted this down. Unless you meant YOUR bullshit has been plentiful of late. If so let me know..I'll give the point back.
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  • Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No I'm not. You have an ax to grind against the Austrian school that is so misplaced you have your head in the sand or up AR's arss. I can't tell which.
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  • Posted by 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Ignoring what they have said does not change what they stated. You are burying your head in the sand.
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  • Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes it is and you wouldn't know since you don't read the Austrian's point of view. Reading from an author comparing AR to Hayek with an AR bias doesn't cut it Dh.
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    Posted by 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    As if the world is disconnected spheres like Maxwell's equations and Kirkoff laws. You knowledge could almost fill a thimble.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I have real practical evidence every day that I work. I've been part of creating over 3 billion dollars of wealth for a major food company over the past 5 years. None of that through technology, but merely by doing things differently and more efficiently.
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    Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I'm on this site because I like Ayn Rand and enjoy her writings. I value the contribution she has made and I'm a capitalist and free market type. This is galt's gulch and I'm hiding from tyranny. Ok if you admit you haven't read much of the "scholars" then you sure seem to be hasty to criticize and to me, you don't seem to be on sound footing when you haven't read it yourself. I'm all about being cordial, but surely will not apologize nor take any crap either.
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    Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes I do and yes I have. All i see from you on here is lay out one quote here and there. And you point out what he's thinking in the quote and your even wrong about that! Seriously, my first post on this thread was clearing up what Hayek meant in that quote. And they are for free markets and capitalism. Just because Db says Austrians are anti-freedom doesn't make it so. I'm not going to waste my time writing back to you if all you do is throw out allegations that Austrians hate freedom and capitalism. So in your point of view, who is the best allies to the AR types? Keynesians, republicans, democrats, progressives? If AR types are the only ones who believe in capitalism then we are screwed. If you think Austrians are against freedom then how much worse are the keynesian, republicans, democrats and progressives? I would love to live in a world where the only really big problem we have is fighting back and forth who's right on IP. Unfortunately, we are a long way from that. Db, to me it seems like your the guy who picked up a ranger rick magazine and learned about squirrels and now your going on and on about squirrels and I'm saying hey look we have a big storm coming and telling me about squirrels is the least of our worries...
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  • Posted by 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    But Austrian do not. I will post a video on point in the next day or two from the Von Mises University.
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  • Posted by 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What exactly is your point? I just said that water makes more sense when I am dying of thirst You are not paying attention.
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  • Posted by 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You do not understand how the bond market works, what money is, how fractional reserve banks work. And you clearly have not read what Austrians are saying about property rights. Just because they say they are for free markets does not mean they are for freedom, reason, or capitalism.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Real wealth is not merely created by increasing technology, but by improving efficiency. Often, efficiency can be improved without technology or capital outlay, but merely by rethinking how things are being done.
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    Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Wow what a bunch of crap in this statement. Before you attack Austrian economics I recommend actually reading a few Austrian books. And I don't mean just 1 or 2. Maybe start with Henry Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson? Just because we might not agree on patents doesn't mean we hate property! We are disagreeing that IP is property! Just like Democrats and Republicans argue about when a baby inside the womb is a baby! For you Db, you seem to be an all or nothing sort of guy. And we do believe that people invent things, they're called Entrepreneurs! Entrepreneurs are at the reason we have the progress we do! Those inventors and risk takers that see an opportunity to solve problems for people and make money for solving that very problem! And our banking system is a fractional reserve banking system and so by definition banks are always insolvent. Seriously Db, you need to read up on Austrian economics. Right now you are arguing like a liberal/progressive/socialist. You're making things up and just attacking people. As I said before, you won't convince anyone here but yourself, sadly. I could address a few more of your wrongly guided statements in your passage above, but I don't feel like writing a novel and discussing technology with you, yet again.
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    Posted by justin_mohr_show 10 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    If you say water is not more valuable in the diamond-water paradox scenario then Db, when your dying of thirst I will hand you a diamond and say here ya go. This should help you in your time of need. I think even Db will realize ok I would rather have some water than a damn diamond. You value the water more in that moment. In a normal situation, you would value the diamond more. People engage in economic activities so we can make our own lives better off! I have already said this! That's why we, free market types, love free trade! I think we are going in circles again.
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