Timothy P. Carney on "Obamanomics": Crony Capitalism as Progressive Reform

[felpaluche]

Bull's eye!

[CoolScoobydoo]

People complain about Obama's economic policies and that is fine. My thing is this, people want to pay less taxes now. Less taxes is not necessarily going to boost productivity in this country. If I were Obama, I'd say the hell with and let the Bush tax cuts stand and don't spend any money.

[mowgly3000]

@CoolScoobydoo Majority of voters don't want to pay less taxes, they argue for status quo taxation level as opposed to increase in taxation which Obama Admin was pushing for. Low fixed level for all uncomplicated taxation historically encouraged and increased domestic and foreign investment, spending, innovation and job creation, in other words (positive) risk-taking.

[yakyakyak69]

Free the People by throwing OUT the Statist Progressive NeoCons!

STOP Empire Building & Foreign Intervention with 700+ US military bases OCCUPYING almost EVERY nation PRODUCING hatred & jihad resistance!

Trade, NOT bribes/bombs Manipulation OR Isolationism!

STOP Fascist Crony Corporatism, Illegal Immigration & Marxist Redistributionist THEFT.

Return to Constitutionally limited Gov't, Individual Liberty & Responsibility, Sound Money, FREE competition between FREE States & FREE people.

[saper321]

What have we done!?! Can we impeach Obama? 2 more years 2 more years. I'm freaking out.

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher,

And children, knowing they have a secure place and equal opportunities, feel entitled to aspire to the nation's highest pinnacles of success.

The answer to our immigration problems cannot be to destroy one of our oldest and proudest American traditions.

Again, although I do despise many aspects of it, my fight is not really with libertarianism; it is much more with the fundamentalistic side of this political ideology , which ReasonTV subscribes to, and, specifically, with RP!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR so despite your your longs, innocuous speech, I have found little about what you would do? What would you do if you were in that position.

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

..on the law enforcement measures necessary to round up every single illegal immigrant and deport them??

I'm not suggesting some blanket amnesty program either! (How ironic is it that one of the heroes of the small gov't movement, Ronald Reagan, enacted such an amnesty program back in 1986!!?) But, ultimately newcomers put down roots and invest all-out in their lives here because they know their children will be guaranteed full membership.

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

... they were born in the US and even tho there family has been in this country for multiple generations!

Technically, as a Native American, you could be deported back to Asia... You say on your profile that you are against fascism?! Well, this is an interesting conceptual design on fascism right here!

Plus, IF Ron Paul got elected and the federal gov't ceased to exist, even for the most part, who is going to spend the multiple billions of dollars ...

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

...how about the abolishment of birthright citizenship, which would include the abolishment of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution? An argument has been made that this policy, known as "anchor babies", degrades the legitimacy of our immigration system.

But, it would also allow this law to determine that someone who was born in the United States before this law was passed is not a US citizen, even tho they were born in the US and even tho ...

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

ReasonTV is anti-worker, anti-union, anti-consumer, anti-Civil Rights, and ultimately anti-American as is much of libertarianism!!

Now, maybe you aren't a xenophobic white supremacist like Ron Paul but, many aspects of libertarianism, that Paul supports, threaten the safety and security of the United States and its ppl, including their rights & privileges!

Just in case you would like something specific, well, ..

[petiemac12]

Libertarinaism is anti-american...lol....you are a disturbed individual..

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

ReasonTV has other videos, such as those with the Drew Carey Project, and one in particular that criticizes banning things. Some of the things banned that gets criticized in this video are outlandish but, most of the bans make sense if you have the common sense and the minimum level of intelligence necessary to understand why.... I'm surprised that they didn't bitch about the banning of slavery, womens suffrage, and segregation!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR You do realize I don't hang on Reason TV

s every word? I believe largely what they say is right, but somethings I am against. And libertarianism calls for minimal govt, not anarchy.

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

Minimal gov't would be the same thing as anarchy! And from my point of view you are performing consistent fellatio on ReasonTV, disagreeing with nothing...

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR no it would not. Read Hobbes, that is basic libertarian ideology. people form social contracts that stave off true anarchy

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

...stave off social contracts that stave off true anarchy, unless of course you destroy a substantial portion of the federal gov't, which would virtually guarantee anarchy!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR Read about the social contract. Please just do it. The govt can never do what the social contract can achieve

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994,

This form of libertarianism believes that a strong central gov't is an evil thing. That the individual should be allowed to, very largely, do as they choose with, virtually if not literally, no oversight by any governmental power whatsoever. I would have more respect for these ppl if they were honest about what they actually call themselves! I think they should just come right out and say it .."I'm a Dixiecrat!!" Ron Paul is the very epitome of this.

[petiemac12]

That is not what it teaches. Government has it's place in libertarianism (what used to be liberalism) but central planning is what's forbidden. Get your facts right!

[SpookeyR]

"Libertarianism" is a dangerously misguided ideology of junk political ideas! Given the society that we have today in America and Americas position in the world, libertarianism is very much anti-American, pro-racist, pro-anti-Semitism, pro-segregation, pro-bigotry, and pro-xenophobia!! And it isn't one political ideology but more an amalgamation of various anti-central gov't ideas, ranging from minimal federal gov't to an absolute non-existent federal gov't!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR America's position in the world? What? We are number one in just about everything positive. We have:

The most immigrants (ever)

the most Jews (Except for Israel, home of the Jews)

The least amount of segregation

and the least amount of bigotry

And yes, less govt is good

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

...the most Jews!? Is that your anti-Semitism showing??

We still have a good deal of economic segregation and, some would say that, we have more of that now than we have ever had before! I don't know how much bigotry other countries have but there is still a massive amount of bigotry in this country, duh!!

Less gov't is good generally speaking, but not at the cost of the very society that we live in. But, you just don't understand why.

I feel sorry for you.

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR show me your sources of where you a pulling these statistics please. And look at France's Arab pop.

Your precious govt is forcing them to segregate away from main french cities! Same with most European countries!

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

"And look at France's Arab pop.

Your precious govt is forcing them to segregate away from main french cities!"

I'm not French and I don't live in France!

So, why are you changing the subject?? Feeling defeated are you!?

Awvw, poor you!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR no, I was stating that France )(which has amounts of govt to your liking) segregates Arabs into poverty. Why aren't YOU answering my question:

Where are your statistics and facts?

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

I'm not French and you blatantly implied that I was and that is how you changed the subject and brought upon yourself a massive FAIL!!!

Ahh, changing the subject is the atypical tactic of the ignorant crybaby troll!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR I never said you were French. By continuing to go off topic, I assume all of my requests are not going to be answered?

If you have no more arguments, at least go out in dignity by saying " I lost" but don't act like a two year old and insult me

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

LOL!!! So, I have you bloodied & with a stomach full of teeth, shattering your arguments into billions of little pieces ...and I'm the on that's acting like a child!??

You lost, FAILURE!!!

You can either beg for my forgiveness or stop responding altogether. Or, you can like the typical troll, ...ramble like an insufferable jackass!

Come on, crybaby!! Pick one! I do not have all night!!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR one last time. WHERE ARE YOUR FACTS? STATE YOUR FACTS OR BY DEFAULT I WIN THE ARGUMENT

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher1994

I stated my facts and I did that more than once! Anyone who reads these comments will have to go back a few days, and that's if they started now but, the reality is that I won this argument three fucking days ago, you pathetic troll!!

LOL!!!

[RMMHS4RP]

A good interview, but I wonder why so many people talk about returning the Republicans to their small government roots. During the 19th century, the Republicans were the party of central banking, subsidies to big business, & high tariffs, while the Democrats were basically the party of laissez-faire.

Sadly, the progressive movement ruined the Democrats and now neither party genuinely supports the free market. We need a revolution of ideas. Only then will the parties change their tune.

[yakyakyak69]

The Radical Collectivist, Socialist, Progressive, Liberal, Populist Left will NEVER understand that the central planning they love is actually Crony Corporatism.

These FOOLS will never understand that it was Crony Corporatism and Gov't & Fed Central Planning that creates the boom and bust cycles.

They will NEVER acknowledge that Gov't IS the problem!!

[petiemac12]

END THE FED....Ron Paul for President 2012....Peter Schiff and Rand Paul for Senate 2012....Take our country back!!!

[SpookeyR]

@petiemac12: Yea, take back the country and destroy it by electing a white supremacist into power....great plan!!

[2025jackson]

"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." Benito Mussolini

[dissolutionman]

@2025jackson No. Mussolini never, ever said that. I am getting really tired of seeing this everywhere.

[petiemac12]

Even if he never said it, he still went down that path.

[3martijns]

LEANING TOWARDS FASCISM.

[whoo689]

Special interests and government officials advocate and put in place tariffs and other trade restrictions which make it harder for developing nations to develop. Look at our embargo with Cuba. No one in their right mind would say the Cuban people are better off b/c they can't trade with us. But those policies are imposed by GOVERNMENT, not the free market.

Yes, capitalism isn't perfect, but it's so far the best economic system we know of.

[MichelleLovesHayat]

@whoo689 You're right, and that's because man himself is not perfect. People who believe that we can achieve utopia through the barrel of a government gun are deluding themselves. Civilization needs rewards, incentives, healthy market competition, and a sound unit of exchange to thrive.

[whoo689]

Capitalism and competition allow foreign workers to come here to get an education, get a degree and take their knowledge back home to become successful workers or businessmen that drive growth. Are you aware of microfinance, capitalistoverlord? It was a system where certain banks gave small loans to 3rd-world people looking to start businesses so they could raise themselves out of poverty. Microfinance has been very successful.

Who is it that implements tariffs? Not true capitalism!

[whoo689]

Crony capitalism, unfortunately, is what the US and many nations have. But a lot of liberals, including yourself I think, Capitalistoverlord, have confused it with REAL capitalism (no restrictions on trading or competition or entry and no corporate welfare).

Whenever you wanna criticize capitalism, ask yourself one question: Is this REAL capitalism or crony capitalism? Real capitalism is defined by strong competition with no favored companies. No market distortions.

[vinnykster]

@whoo689 Right on the money! You explained it perfectly! I wish more people would understand this. The wool has been pulled over the masses eyes by the Keynesians lol! Thankfully there are people like us who understand the Austrian TRUE free market/capitalism system that is compatible with liberty- something that the corporate welfare state, warfare state and social welfare can never ever achieve.

[heavymetalsoldier]

So, someone who speaks out against Obama, or has a opinion different than liberals, is a jackass? Thats fucked up. Tired of people saying Republicans are rich white people. Well, I have never been rich in my life, and yet, I supported almost ever Republican candadite, both local, and national

[SpookeyR]

To support them is to support Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, and Beck. And if you do, either you're morbidly wealthy or you possess weapons grade stupidity; either way don't subscribe to my channel...

Drew Carey is a very funny guy! I remember seeing him once in an interview with Tom Snyder on his show years ago. He is very funny but, politically and socially he's a moron!

Damn shame!!

[WhitereddoG]

drew Carey dosnt belong in the same category as fox news. if you had a scene in your head you would know that he is 100% different to them ass holes.

[SpookeyR]

Drew Carey is a spokesperson for ReasonTV, WhitereddoG.

ReasonTV supports an anti-American, anti-worker, pro-bigotry, and a pro-modern day slavery ideology!

Drew Carey is, dare I say, a genius comedian! But, he is a politically and socially ignorant jackass (Just like Rush, O'Reilly, and Hannity, in being anti-American, anti-worker, pro-bigotry, and pro-modern day slavery!), who is adding his two bits to try and destroy this country in being a spokesperson for ReasonTV, duh!!

[Sondre7]

You are an idiot

[whoo689]

Yes... And I suppose every LIBERAL program or social policy has worked 100% of the time. Get a clue. "Pro-bigotry"?? How?? Libertarians support FREEDOM across the board!! We're all for equality of opportunity including for women, minorities, gays, etc. I dunno about the rest of the commenters, but as a libertarian, I'm all for gay rights and marriage. Bigotry?? That's the furthest thing from a libertarian's mind, spookey. Don't equate us with those talk show jackasses.

[whoo689]

No one here is "anti-worker." We're just a little more suspicious of unions and those who claim to be "fighting for the middle class", as should you. But because you're a liberal who thinks criticizing those two entities is somehow "anti-worker", you give full faith and credit to the Democrats, socialists and unions, even if what they're doing is NOT in your best interest sometimes. For example, closed shops?? Do you REALLY like being forced to join a union to work in some states?

[whoo689]

This country was founded on liberty and free-market principles, ya know. sure, maybe laissez-faire doesn't work for the benefit of all, but it was a much better system than Communism and socialism ever could be. I'm certainly not advocating a return to that, though. However, capitalism DOES work for lots of people. Poverty is always going to exist. You can't eliminate it entirely, just like racism. No matter how big capitalism makes the pie, there's only so much to go around.

[whoo689]

"pro-modern day slavery" makes absolutely no sense. Libertarians support the individuals and worker dignity in its purest form. We don't support trade agreements that give benefits to the upper-class at the expense of workers trying to get by. True libertarians don't support actively crushing the middle class, but we do support opportunity.

Besides, a lot of liberal programs like the minimum wage just end up hurting the lowest among us. and not many people even work at wages that low here

[SpookeyR]

" "pro-modern day slavery" makes absolutely no sense "

Have you watched any of ReasonTV's videos!!?

They support big business and the morbidly wealthy and are against any and all of the checks and balances that are in place to keep ppl safe, free, from being ripped off, and allow them to keep more of their money! ReasonTV says that "we don't need a babysitter" but, in reality, much more often than not, these are the checks and balances that make America such a wonderful place to live in!

[chenieee]

@SpookeyR liberty and freedom are to much for you to appericate

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR Look up libertarian in Google dictionaries, exact opposite of what you said

[SpookeyR]

Libertarianism is a pro-segregation, pro-bigotry, pro-xenophobic, anti-American system of hypocrisy that wants to destroy the United States of America by destroying the federal gov't.

If you'd stop being politically ignorant you might actually be able to understand that but, you have your head buried so far up your ass that I don't think that's going to be forthcoming.

Awvw, poor you!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR no its not. Libertarianism comes from the Latin word Freedom. We believe in everything opposite of what you have stated. In google dictionary, type in "Define:Libertarian".

Who teaches you guys that blatant lie?

[SpookeyR]

@Christoppher,

"Who teaches you guys that blatant lie?" Ron Paul has shown me the truth. Yes, it is and it is bc the word has come to be misrepresented and misused.

My fight isn't with libertarianism per say, it is with the xenophobic white supremacist Paul! But, there are many specific aspects of libertarianism that get cloaked in a patriotic skin, where there is a putrid horror lurking underneath, in particularly when it comes to a form of libertarianism known as libertarian fundamentalism!

[Christoppher1994]

@SpookeyR I don't believe in Ron Paul or any old Washington inhabitant

[strangetonic]

Why do people keep calling Ron Paul a "libertarian"? He's a Christian-fundamentalist Bircher who promotes the John Birch Society's conspiracy theories about the Federal Reserve. He's also called evolution "just a theory." He's *not* a libertarian!

[whoo689]

Well, that may be true, but he's a libertarian Republican, and he's the best we've got in Congress right now. If you know a better libertarian in House or Senate, show me.

[Christoppher1994]

@strangetonic what does religin have to do with someone's political ideology? I know many Christians who support abortion. does that make them progressive?

[jmcdonald1231]

Niggers

[ArtinEmil]

Silence, you niggot !

[XCritonX]

Obama is more like a fascist. They do the same thing, choose the companies and industries to promote. Everything is based on friendships and political cronyism. Bigger business wins, small business dies, or doesn't get started. Entrepreneurisim and freedom shrivel, work ethic dies, and the economy will totally collapse. This leads to revolution and either communism or a return to limited government and freedom.

The whole mess hinges on having a government big enough to cause the problem.

[rgpvid]

Obamanomics is a misnomer... but the government's crony capitalism is an abortion. Laying it at Obama's feet - despite his continuation of the nonsense - leaves you open to the very easy accusations of racism and classicism.  But god do I hate corporatism.

[MarmaladeINFP]

Why this focus on Obamanomics? Obama isn't doing anything all that different than any president would do in the same situation. It isn't a matter of Democrats or Republicans. Both parties are for big business, but Democrats are maybe a bit more sneaky in how they go about supporting big business.

[chuska8383]

Wow...more nonsense!

Capitalism does NOT beget crony capitalism or corporatism.  True free market laissez faire capitalism involves, if anything, progressively LESS regulation over time. Just come out with it and admit it: the system we have in place now where government and private business interests have merged is fascism! We're a mixed economy and have become more statist/collectivist/centraili­zed/socialist and now we're broke! Yet this idiot is insinuating its the nature of capitalism!

[MarmaladeINFP]

What we have now certainly isn't socialist or free market. It's a mix of elements, but ultimately it seems to be fascist in the merging of government and capitalism. I like the ideal of a free market, but there is no historical example of free markets ever having existed on the national level. Even though capitalism isn't necessarily corporatism, the larger corporations get corporatism becomes inevitable. Both capitalism and socialism only work well on the small scale of communities.

[chuska8383]

I'm sorry but there is nothing wrong with large corporations. In fact, in a free market, the larger that the economy gets, the more effecient and productive it becomes as capital continues to be accumulated and labor can become increasingly separated and specialized.

As far as there being no historical example of free markets - you're correct. However, the closest any country has ever gotten was the US in the 19th and early 20th century - a time of unmatched economic growth: a true legend.

[MarmaladeINFP]

On the large scale corruption is inevitable. Corruption happens on the small scale as well but at least then it can be managed by community standards and civic participation. There are only two options on the large scale: big government controlling big business or vice versa. The latter was the case in 19-20th century US. The control big business had over big government led to massive corruption and horrendous harm to most of the population. Let's not get any closer than that to a 'free market'.

[chuska8383]

@MarmaladeINFP No, I'm sorry - that is simply not true. Just because something gets to be "big" doesn't mean that the system has to act any differently, that the Rule of Law is somehow impotent, or that tyranny must ensue. You have swallowed a major and devious Marxist fallacy that the free market leads to fascism. This is absolute and complete bunk! Pure capitalism has never been seen anywhere but the closest we ever came was when we had the most liberty and highest standards of living.

[MarmaladeINFP]

The age of the Robber Barons certainly was a time of great increase of wealth, but it would be an outright lie to say it was a time of the most liberty and highest standards of living. The most stable and affluential time in our history were the decades directly prior to Reagonomics. The era of Reagonomics was dominated by tax and spend where income disparity increased and the deficity boomed.

[whoo689]

Income inequality is a bullshit measurement, esp. for advanced economies like the US where wealth is very spread out. To talk about the fact that CEOs have gotten massively richer means nothing unless you can show that it's happened at the expense of middle class folks (i.e. they got poorer). But if all classes become wealthier, and the rich just get richer, so what??

There will ALWAYS be economic inequality. Poverty will always exist. We can mitigate its effects only.

[whoo689]

Economic development is what liberals should focus on, if anything. Bitching about inequality makes no sense. It's just the same old class warfare.

[MarmaladeINFP]

I came across an interesting piece of data recently. Supposedly, in poor American states, the poor vote Democrat and the rich vote Republican. And, in wealthy states, both the rich and the poor vote for Democrats. Middle income states were supposedly somewhere in the middle with the rich voting for both Democrats and Republicans, but I don't know who the middle class votes for in poor and rich states.

[MarmaladeINFP]

I agree that income inequality in and of itself doesn't mean anything especially if it is a wealth society where even the poor are better off. To determine the importance of income inequality, we'd have to look at the statistics on societal health. I haven't researched it in detail, but the statistics I've seen is that societies with the least inequality have the highest standards of living. This is supposedly true even when comparing states in America. If you know of different data please share

[CapitalistOverlord]

Poverty is something that can always be undone. However, capitalism is not a system that undoes poverty.

Capitalism has done so well in the United States, because it's the economic center of the world.

Capitalism hasn't worked in Dubai, where the workers aren't allowed downtown. Capitalism hasn't worked in Rio De Jienaro, where everyone one person living in a house, 10 people live in favelas.

Looking outside the US, you'll find poverty and despair, all caused by capitalism.

[DoomHippie]

@CapitalistOverlord

How did a Free Market system become the economic center of the world, then? By your logic, America never could have become the economic center anyways.

After researching your arguments:

Not allowing workers in a certain area is government regulation, not Free Market.

Also, Brazil is the largest South American economy, and the 10th largest economy in the world. Additionally, economic progress is slowed by government research regulations in Brazil.

[jetboyJ22]

CapitalistOverlord, would you please give me an example of a non-capitalistic system un-doing poverty better than capitalism?

Capitalism raises the standard of living for everyone. Your own examples prove this. The United Arab Emirates, by some estimates, has the fastest growing GDP in the world (it grew 35% in 2006 alone). It has the 14th highest per capita GDP in the world.

[whoo689]

Have you forgotten about the Asian Tigers?? These are several Asian nations which, within literally the span of the last 40-60 years (a very short time relative to other economic expansions such as in the US and Britain), became economic powerhouses!! Japan is and has been the 2nd most powerful economy for quite some time. China is already the 3rd. S. Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are all very wealthy with strong middle classes, given their smaller sizes.

[whoo689]

Who is it that's giving you these Marxist talking points?? Do you HONESTLY believe that capitalism only causes poverty?

What about Communism all throughout the Cold War? Those nations were mired with poverty and low growth. Long lines for things like meat and bread. Shitty grocery stores with very little choice. I'd say compared to that capitalism has done pretty well.

[whoo689]

You just answered your own point. Who is that's not allowing the workers downtown in Dubai?? It's gotta be the GOVERNMENT! Obviously the companies aren't preventing them from going downtown. Besides, you're listing cities. Look at the BIG picture (nations as a whole). You'll find that they are much wealthier with capitalism in general than without.

How about India? They are turning into an economic powerhouse thanks to capitalism. No one can deny that.

[Christoppher1994]

@CapitalistOverlord capitalism is what got all of the ex soviet block countries out of poverty and into the world of economics. Dubai is not a capitalist country, it has major government in involvement in the market.

Under capitalism, workers wages (without govt support) have been increasing, far above the minimum wage, that gets more people out of poverty. Poverty is caused by government

[Zakdayak]

@Christoppher1994 Armenia is out of poverty? Uzbekistan?

[SuperJBird]

Nice camera

[furyofbongos]

"free markets generate more income and hence more taxes"

... and just what kind of "free" market is this Nick?

There is no "free" in taxation. There can be no free market with a government around.

[Moragauth]

Two cheers for that!

[MarmaladeINFP]

There can be no free market with a government around. And there can be no free democracy with transnational corporations around. The best option would be to get rid of all large governments and all large corporations. All capitalistic and political power should be localized within communities.

[XCritonX]

They call that Communism, it doesn't work. See the early years of USSR.

In order to "get rid" of large corporation we have to use force to steal their capital. That capital belongs (about 50%) to regular Joe investors and 401ks. Stealing is wrong, no matter the justification.

Shrinking government will allow natural competition and weaken corporate interests. With out big governments guns and jails we have nothing to fear from big business.

With out any government we have no rule of law.

[Soonerliberty]

"Without any government we have no rule of law." That's not exactly true, seeing as how most of Anglo-Saxon law emanates from the common law, which was bottom-up law. Legislative top-down law was a much later addition. In either case, there is always room for a system of private law, which is even developing right now: arbitration, mediation, etc. Most law develops civilly from mutual agreement,. not top-down authoritarianism.

[XCritonX]

If only the world was made up of such noble people that they needed no government. If only we could make our government of such noble people. Unfortunately the worst, power hungry tyrants tend to seek the power of rulership.

BTW: I am all for arbitration and mediation when done in good faith. However, try arbitrating with the mob.

The only thing worse than government is anarchy.

[MarmaladeINFP]

I agree that stealing is wrong. If you look at the history of large corporations, it's obvious how they stole much of their wealth in the first place (or gained it through other immoral/corrupt methods). Shrinking governments leads to the Robber Barons who valued wealth over human life and civil rights.

[nonantianarchist]

"shrinking governments lead to the Robber Barons who valued wealth over human life and civil rights"

How do you figure? The actual "robber barons" were the ones who built their businesses on government subsidies and coercive monopolies, certainly not the actions of a "shrinking" government.

[MarmaladeINFP]

I don't know why I used the word 'shrinking'. All that I meant was the lack of government regulation. It's not that regulation shrinked but that big business grew. Even though the government was growing, it was growing on the coattails of big business. The Robber Barons controlled government and not the other way around.

[XCritonX]

Interestingly the robber barons era started at the time government started to grow out of its constitutionally mandated responsibilities. See nonantianarchist comment. Free market capitalism is a self correcting, self balancing system. Unfortunately as soon as it is doing well we have the tendency to muck with it and destroy it, then blame capitalism for our own collective failures. Its like a drunk driver blaming physics for getting in an accident.

[MarmaladeINFP]

"Interestingly the robber barons era started at the time government started to grow out of its constitutionally mandated responsibilities."

True, but the cause of government growth was the promotion of big business money. Without the political manipulations, social oppression, and bribery of the Robber Barons the government wouldn't have been able to grow to such an extent. There was no free market to be mucked with and destroyed, or if there was it was done by the capitalists themselves.

[XCritonX]

I can understand why you believe that "the cause of government growth was the promotion of big business money". However I believe that it was the quest for more and more power through government that lead some politicians to sell out to big business, foreign powers, and even internal interest groups who wanted to have free government money or influence. In turn these groups gave support to the politicians campaigns and programs. It is a vicious cycle that we see coming to a head today.

[98nafets]

"There can be no free market with a government around. "

Are you calling for anarchy?

A free market requires property rights which a government must enforce. And if you don't have ANY taxes how would you fund that government?

[Soonerliberty]

He could be just stating a fact. There is no free market as long as there is government around. I think he probably is calling for anarchy, but that does not mean there would be no property rights or absence of law. That is a myth and historically inaccurate.  And in any case, if a government guarantees property rights and holds eminent domain over our heads at the same time, then there are no true property rights.

[ArtinEmil]

There are ways to fund a libertarian government without forceful taxation.

[furyofbongos]

@ArtinEmil - Please tell me more.

The definition of government is a group of people with the sanctioned right to the initiation of the use of force (IUF) within a geographical area. Sanctioned by the people, yes, but nonetheless fundamentally immoral and inescapably destructive (look around).

I'll grant you (somehow) a government without "forceful taxation" (which is redundant), but by definition, with government around there will always be coercion.

[ArtinEmil]

It is hard to go through all the ideas that I have.

Here is a very simple idea (but I have more). Within the US there would be two people: citizens and residents. The residents simply live in US while citizens have formed a contract with the US. The citizens have a few more benefits, like the ability to vote. But as with any membership club they have to pay a small fee i.e. taxes for being part of that club. The residents would not be forced and can live happily too.

[Zakdayak]

Corporatism. Finally a ReasonTV vid nails it.

[whoo689]

Tim Carney sure is going on a lot of libertarian outlets to promote this book. But isn't this book like a year or 2 old? Why now??

[poopstreek]

Nice.

[truvelocity]

This morning, the Supreme Court has now given corporations no spending limit to pay for congressional campaigns, and they based it on "Freedom of Speech."

[Nonoyawns]

Great interview. I'll check out the book!

[MrDurcon]

Reason number 1,846,375 why fox news is ahead of the curve. Glenn Beck is correct.

[mikeoxhuge]

W.t.F.?

.

[tpsisokayiguess]

FASCISM YAY!

[PressForFreedom]

I think they sense the grass roots on their heels,thus the Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations to spend unlimited funds on campaign ads.

[zetsway5000]

Working now nm.

[zetsway5000]

Video isn't working. =/