Death By Drug War - Freedomain Radio Interviews Dr Jeffrey Miron of Harvard

Jeffrey Alan Miron is an American economist. He served as the chairman of the Department of Economics at Boston University from 1992 to 1998, and currently teaches at Harvard University, serving as a Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Harvard's Economics Department.

Miron is an outspoken consequentialist libertarian. He was one of the 166 economists to sign a letter to congressional leaders in opposition to the bailout plan put forth by the U.S. federal government in response to the global financial crisis of September--October 2008. He advocated that those companies that floundered during the crisis should be bankrupt instead of receiving government help. He has proposed three policy reforms to help the US economy recover from the financial crisis: cutting entitlements, freezing regulation, and replacing the existing tax code with a flat tax on consumption. Miron has also spoken out against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, arguing that it is economically unfeasible and will increase the US deficit; instead, he suggests limiting government intervention is the best way to lower overall health care costs and make health care accessible to the most amount of people. He has studied the effects of drug criminalization for fifteen years, and argues that all drugs should be legalized.

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[RodCornholio]

17:28 The reason why it is hard to get Joe Schmoe Average to get on board with the End the War on Drugs idea, is because they (fallaciously) equate legality with morality; in other words, "If I support decriminalization/legalization­, I must be FOR the offensive, immoral idea of getting your daughter hooked on cocaine."

It creates cognitive dissonance in average people. They get uncomfortable, then revert to their comfotable status quo.

[JaysThoughts]

In the 1970's if you bought heroine or acid you were most likely getting it from someone who was a university level chemist who had done at least one professional tour with his skills as used in Vietnam. In this day and age if you buy those things you are most likely getting a product made in some teenager's basement with a cracker jacks lab based off ingredients he found through planted disinformation Psyops through Google.

[umbdude]

Great interview! But there's so much background noise. =(

[Hashishin13]

Its probably heavily "regulated"(read burdened) by government. I know the hospitals and doctors are, so that is the other half of it. You should look up misesmedia and stefbot channels on youtube.

[jeffiek]

I don't know, I can only guess.

I would expect a variety of solutions for different people. Babies, teen-agers, and seniors have vastly different needs. Insurance, associations, and simply wealth ( I don't think Jobs worried about his medical bill ).

I would expect lower cost without arbitrary laws ( different division of labor ). Notice how nurse practitioners now do work that used to be restricted to doctors.

[jeffiek]

(cont) Regulations that drive up cost would be gone. For example, I need routine tests (hypothyroidism - not expensive, not life-threatening, just an example ). It is illegal to simply go to the lab and have the test done. I must first pay a doctor for a prescription.

Another example is lasik eye surgery, the closest thing we have to free markets. Costs are going down.

I would also expect better preventative care.

[jeffiek]

(cont) I would expect that a society moral enough to forego using threats of force (a.k.a. government), would also be moral enough to care for each other ( when care is deserved ) voluntarily.

Summing it up, some would pay more, some would pay less. Life would simply be different.

Regardless, it is the MORAL way to live.

[AnnRKey]

It's been so long I can't remember why I asked that question. I guess I would like to know how pricing would work. Would the less healthy have to pay more than the healthy in the free market?

[jeffiek]

One needs to be careful of definitions here.

The "health insurance industry" as practised is in reality a heavily regulated ( gov't influenced ), managed care system provided by gov't created corporations. It resembles the classical definition of insurance in name only. This is an anathema to free market folks.

How do free market folks feel about a group of people providing a form of risk management paid for voluntarily (unpolluted by tax law)?

Great. Where can I find one?

[WeAskThePeople]

it should NEVER have been made ILLEGAL in the first place..

---------------- REMEMBER THAT -------------------

no REGULATIONS , no TAXES , no PRISONS , no DEA SWAT RAIDS

no ASSET CONFISCATION , no GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION !

nick off OBAMA. !

VOTE >>>>>>>>>>NO PROHIBITION <<<<<<<<<<<< VOTE

FREEDOM & HUMAN RIGHTS. No compromise.

GO the TOMATO MODEL. ... free to GROW & USE as we DECIDE..

USA government is full of IDEOLOGICAL MORALIST FUNDAMENTALIST morons.

[GrowJunkieXL]

Everything in life is a reflection.....

[DarkStatic69]

legalize weed! its a plant! if you want smoke it eat it if you dont want it then don't. if i smoke will it hurt you?! no so dont hate it