'The Conservative Nanny State' - Freedomain Radio Interviews Economist Dr. Dean Baker

[arkadyka]

I am not following this. Stef thinks that an economist who advocates Medicare and Medicaid as revolutionary thinker? Not to cast wide nets, but anyone holding statist programs like medicare/medicaid in high regard is hardly in any position to be making free market critiques? I would read the book, but how is the author NOT a standard liberal/socialist?

[obama200]

How stupid. I hear the first thing about drug patents. Does this author realize that it take 1 billion dollars to develop a drug from start to finish? How are drug companies supposed to recoup their money if after 1B is invested, some generic company duplicates the chemical structure and sells the drug dirt cheap? If drug companies can't recoup their invested money, no new drugs would ever be developed!

[lnd3005]

In a free market scenario, there would be no patent enforcement, so either trade secrets, or something comparable, would become key, or there will be general shift toward generics.

We are actually already seeing a shift like that, just b/c new and useful drugs are becoming more difficult to discover. So ultimately it may not matter, for drugs.

But in medical devices it's likely a problem. I won't put solving that problem past the human imagination, though!

[obama200]

In a free market there is no fraud which would mean no theft of intellectual property. Generics represent a theft of intellectual property. Pfizer invests $1B in drug development (average cost) and some company rips off the chemical structures and synthesizes the drug without having to fund $1B for development. This would bring drug production to a massive slow-down.

[lnd3005]

In a free market there is no state (b/c the state is a forced monopoly on security, and so is inconsistent w/ a free market). W/o a state there is no intellectual property. Only secrecy can protect information if there's no state to enforce, say, patents or copyrights. In a free market, what you've called fraud or theft, as pertains to information, would happen all the time, b/c there would be no overarching coercive authority to stop it.

[lnd3005]

Though I'm sure you're aware of it, I'll remind you that most of the money spent by Pfizer or any company developing new drugs, is spent on satisfying regulatory requirements. In the absence of the state, these expenditures would be much reduced. Private consumer safety agencies would still exist in a free market, of course, and the drug companies would spend money to get their approval. But I think it's safe to say this process would be much more efficient than the state parasitism of today.

[lnd3005]

Something else we should keep in mind is that the days of the billion dollar drug are coming to a close. The patents for the blockbuster drugs are expiring, and new ones aren't being found at the rate they used to be. Pharmaceuticals companies are trying to find niche markets now, for specific and rare diseases. From what I've heard from those better educated on the topic than I, these markets are are less susceptible to the generics predation you describe.

[mkhomero]

Very productive interview! Keep up the good work!

[Twiggy269]

23:57 make me puke Stefan.

This is why I don't like Anarchists, or left wing collectivists (Baker)

[RoyvanKeulen]

Good interview and interesting ideas.

Too bad his book wasn't published. I understand the added value of having a publishers approval (although The Fountainhead was refused about 12 times before being published and although The Long Tail has been reviewed)...

[DecassyJake]

As a subject of her majesties brittannic regime I have little to say about US politics, exept to express ironic wonderment. I don't mind what your point of view is, as long as a gun isn't used to back it up.Peace Love and Anarchy in all of your Newish Year to come!

[regresseur]

This whole video is wrapped in a gigantic fallacy, which is that all of the problems discussed continue to exist or were created by the right, which is laughable. At one point Mollynew says something along the line that the right claims to support free market, yet does not support 3rd party... so I guess those who are pro-free market are obligated to support a third party? ... I could go on. If Dean Baker were president, we'd resemble Soviet Russia within a few years.

[dkleitsch]

The USA is less than 5% of the world population, but accounts for 60% of all medical research.

Socializing research will make things grind to a halt.

Dr. Baker seems to be another closet social engineer.

Capitalism does not exist, it never has.

Fascism is what we have been operating on for years, don't try and blame the mess we are in on capitalism.

[lnd3005]

The bulk of medical research has been socialized, everywhere on the planet. And it has been since... always, as far as I know.

People in industry just don't do basic research, in any field.  It's left to the universities, which are publicly funded.

[tpsisokayiguess]

I'm very thankful for all of those awesome interviews! They really are very educational.

Furthermore, my impression is that you try to give yourself more credibility by consulting experts. I have to say I am skeptical of you because I'm not convinced on matters of morality and free will, especially. Specifically, if it is a good idea to advance the language of morality.

I'm also concerned about your honesty, because you do seem to interpret critiques of your theories as personal attacks.

[tpsisokayiguess]

Now, it may seem like I'm hyprocritical for attacking you myself. (BTW, I fully endorse you consulting experts or any method to further your credibility).

But my point about your (intellectual) honesty is concerning the several people that you've banned from your discussion boards, seemingly for the sole reason of disagreeing with you and not letting of of asking questions?

If that's too big of a false representation, if you could clarify the situation perhaps...

[tpsisokayiguess]

I guess my larger point is that you could consider doing more meta-discussions about your very role in a revolutionary movement.

And to publicly engage in self reflection of your methods. You know... being skeptical and open and honest with your viewership. I think that could give you a lot of credibility and would make for interesting debates.

Or maybe you're too convinced of your own ideas (which I understand; I am myself), that you don't think it would be beneficial or worhwile the effort..

[kolomgorov]

What a delight! I'm a big fan of Dean Baker (and you as well Stef). I like how you come from different economic schools but come together under mutual values.

[PsyogiBottoms]

Though I love and support you 100% Steph - but I'm tired of hearing about all the problems - I know all the problems.

What I don't know is what I can actually do to end this Fascist, Imperial rule.

As just not paying taxes and not participating isn't going to be enough.

I want to push back - hell - kick back - how, without violence can this actually be achieved?

[FearsEdge]

If most people do not even acknowledge what the real problems are, how can we expect mainstream support to fix them? Spreading awareness and educating people is crucial, and that's what Stephen is doing. I wouldn't be an anti-statist now if it were not for him, and I try to spread the word. If you want to do something about all of this, try and educate people on the violence and tyranny inherent in the statist system.

[FearsEdge]

sorry, Stefan, not Stephen.

[PsyogiBottoms]

We all know our Government is corrupt, We all know those with all the guns are vile, evil, mentally defective murderers. OK, now what?

Telling all your friends and family and co-workers what they already know isn't really doing anything but waxing each others cocks.

Make you feel good, but really doesn't accomplish much more than that.

Sort of like Praying for Help - Makes you feel good? But it ain't gonna change a God Damned thing.

So - I say - Mr. College, what is the plan man?

Where to X.

[PsyogiBottoms]

I do Fears, I do, and I have much respect for Stef and what he is doing.

However, when I do educate people - they already know all of this, most of us intellectuals do. This isn't anything new or recent - anyone that actually paid attention in school could figure it out.

Yes, it is helpful to educate the ignorant, but I fear that Stef is preaching to the choir here. We, that are subscribed, have heard this over and over. Great pointing out the ugliness - but doesn't really do much beyond that.

[PsyogiBottoms]

To put it another way. Its like standing around listening to another hooker tell you about how horrible it is that our Pimp busts us up when we don't give him the $50 he demands everyday.

She can tell all the Johns waking by, you can tell all the other whores, but at the end of the day, week, year... Do you really think you and all the Hookers on the street are going to do something about it?

Do you think you John is?

So standing around cheering on the head hooker (or cop) ain't doing much.

[andyissemicool]

It can't be achieved without violence. The only two routes are changing the entire culture and how we think about the state (which would take generations) or violence against the state. Neither are appealing.

[PsyogiBottoms]

And so we are trapped.

[andyissemicool]

I would use the word "fucked", but that works too :).

[tpsisokayiguess]

You have to understand that bringing these points home, that is, educating people about ideas of anti statism and voluntarist societal structures, freedom, new ways of education, honesty and psychological insight, all are actually the most powerful revolutionary tools available.

If you want to practically engage in revolt, I suggest driving agorism as far as possible. Perhaps even engage in some form of pacifistic confrontation...(?)

Basically, love and create as example.

[GodOfTheInternets]

@PsyogiBottoms

I suggest "we" start an organization "Anarchism Without Adjectives" that focusses on refuting the stereotypical idea of anarchism "far-left naive teenagers who prefer chaos". I'm personally a social-anarchist but If I had to choose between anarcho-capitalism and statism I'd choose the first... A website and a lot of willing people would be needed. I wrote a little pamphlet as introduction for IF this movement ever sees the light.

[alistairproductions]

@PsyogiBottoms buy gold and silver

[PsyogiBottoms]

Let's have a video on solutions that actually have an effect.

Don't you think all this waxing over corruption, lies and deceit that we are all aware of and can do little to actually change is a bit like verbal masturbation? I mean - yeah - a vile mafia controls our lives and country...now what?

When do we stop talking about it and actually get down off the soap box and start pushing back?

You can pontificate until you're blue int he face - doesn't stop them from raping you or your child.

[chitchcott]

Go on then, do something.

[DCLugi]

I think we all realize that this is a gradual, generational movement. I think Stef also knows that his lifetime of work is only a spark in a slow burning inferno.

[order9066]

I look forward to Dr. Dean Baker's next book, the Liberal Nanny State. Both political parties worship big government.

[stefminus]

dean baker does not dispute that. the difference is that the "conservatives" claim to be opposed to doing it.

[regresseur]

What is the value in pointing out that some people on the right are essentially leftists?

[TripperLV]

I could only watch part of the video and will finish later. But so far this is a really interesting video. Thanks for posting! RJ

[libertyplayground]

so... if this dean baker guy decries government economic intervention, why is he a leftist?

[stefminus]

he's pointing out hypocrisy and how the wealthy frequently become wealthy by gaming the system. it IS possible to listen to a criticism from someone that you would normally disagree with. baker's work is very good, and should discourage anyone in liberty circles from selling out and siding with "conservatives".

[utubehayter]

because Frederic Bastiat was a leftist too.

[kolomgorov]

You know, I believe free markets were originally a leftist doctrine (before state corporatism). The free market was originally a revolutionary doctrine with the aim of helping the small guy against aristocracy and mercantilism. That's why you have classical liberals like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill both endorsing markets and being egalitarians at the same time.

[libertyplayground]

yes i'm aware, I'm using the modern colloquial definition of leftist.

Dean Baker writes for the American Prospect, a modern left-liberal site.

Baker even wants to put the Fed under control of congress. He's wacky.

[Damedor]

Is there a way to watch this in regular quality?