Who Needs Economic Freedom When You Can Vote?

In this clip, Professor Jason Brennan explains why economic freedoms should matter as much as political freedoms. While democratic participation is important, giving someone the right to vote is not the same thing as giving someone control over his or her life. In the absence of constitutional limitations that preserve large spheres of economic liberty, collective decisions can lead to losses of autonomy. Professor Brennan points out that economic freedom is about more than just dollars and cents; it's about providing individuals with the autonomy to "lead the lives that they regard as authentically theirs." Decisions about careers, spending habits, and financial plans belong in an extensive sphere of liberty that allows individuals to shape their lives according to their own values and goals.

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[4HITMAN7]

NO to democracy, YES to republic and a bigger YES to voluntary society.

"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself."

John Adams

[HandyMan101]

If you understand economics... Personal autonomy IS societal well being.

[therealfriday13th]

Wow, right off the bat you present an argument that NOBODY IS SERIOUSLY MAKING.

[lanner95]

fucking capitalist.

[Kevin Swinson]

Hmm....If Libertarianism would only help rich white men....why are so many rich businessmen vehemently opposed to it?

[dark7element]

Cry some more, libertarians. The rest of the nation is waking up to the fact that you are nothing but a bunch of rich white people (overwhelmingly male) armed with a Just-world fallacy and a myopic obsession with microeconomics.

[Nafetitive]

U.S Constitution, Article 4, Section 4: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government..."

The word "democracy" is never used within the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or the Declaration of Independence. The more we become a democracy, the less we become a Republic, and vice-versa.

[Jayremy89 .]

In the US everybody has to be like a lawyer, know the obsessive city laws, state laws, federal laws and tax codes. The punishment of not, getting sued, screwed or thrown in jail. Just one example of the limited freedom here, and the fact so much our country seems to be filled with the legal/business law field. Most people just try to cheat and circumvent the rules as well to avoid obligations or get benefits.

I guess one easy indicator of an over-bloated bureaucracy and restricted economy.

[Keeban3]

NO to republic. NO to John Adams. NO to organized theft. And an even bigger YES to voluntary society.

[4HITMAN7]

I see what are you trying to say. My country is known a "Parliamentary democracy" and when we have a referendum (witch is direct democracy every democratic state has it) and people vote it must be respected even though the constitution doesn't allow it, it is useless it is written to protect the government from the people.

[CodenameBourbon]

Ah, but what you are describing is a specific type of democracy, namely Direct Democracy. China can be called a country with democratic system, people vote. In both cases, citizens vote, directly or indirectly. The rheotorics you are spouting is unintuitive and inaccurate. Democracy = there's voting. So saying USA is or was not a democracy is misleading. I know that in this constitutional republic just because a majority says something it won't just happen, but there are still voting.

[4HITMAN7]

Well it is not the same thing just because you can vote, I can see why you would say that. The root difference is that in a democracy you can vote to take rights or stuff from people with for example green eyes, 51% rule the other 49% in a republic minority is protected from majority and vise versa. The individual is the foundation of society. Of course that system does not exist anymore.