The Left, The Right and The State [Hardcover]

Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2009

Lew Rockwell's new manifesto is a clarion call creative and thought-provoking on every page for a principled liberty in our time. There are very few books in which you can open up any page and immediately find a quotable and inspiring passage that will make you think hard, laugh out loud, or see things a completely new way. This is certainly one of them.

He covers every topic related to economics and politics, from the business cycle, to trade, to the drug war, to environmentalism. His central thesis is that the threat to liberty comes from both the left and the right, and that neither really offers a consistent way out. The real problem is much deeper than either the right or the left recognizes. It is the institution of the state itself, which everyone seems to want to use to his own philosophical advantage.

The problem, he writes, is that not that we have chosen the wrong flavor of public policy but that we have public policy at all. All forms of policy decisions made by state institutions that affect the uses of private property according to political priorities amount to invasions of liberty. Relentlessly moving from left-wing to right-wing and back to left-wing policy is not progress; it means continued movement down the road to serfdom.

Beautifully edited and pristinely argued, this is a work in applied Austro-libertarian theory, tracking issues and headlines as they occur and bringing the light of logic and evidence to bear on the question at hand. The articles collected can be read in a matter of five minutes each, and they are organized along topical lines.

He is especially good in dealing with issues of national crisis, such as weather disasters, terrorist attacks, and economic downturns. He shows that liberty is more important in these times than any other. And while others back away during these times, he has consistently been out front, calling for peace when the masses are screaming for war, calling for freedom when the politicians demand a crackdown, and urging a free market when everyone else seems to be clamoring for state solutions.

If you have read Lew Rockwell's articles and speeches over the years, and wished for a single collection, it has finally arrived in a beautifully bound hardback that is a real treasure to own and study. It makes a lasting impact.

Rockwell is the founder and president of the Mises Institute, and the editor of his own site LewRockwell.com. He has played an important role in the shaping of libertarian theory for a quarter of a century. This book shows how and why. Subtle, radical, and compelling, Rockwell's book is a great addition to the legendary literature of political dissidents.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 553 pages
• Publisher: Ludwig von Mises Institute (February 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933550201
• ISBN-13: 978-1933550206
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #501,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arm Yourself Against The Egregious Left and the Fascistic Right, February 20, 2009

By 

anarchteacher (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Left, The Right and The State (Hardcover)

This brilliant series of brief essays by Lew Rockwell, founder and chairman of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, documents the destructive legacy of both the egregious egalitarian left and the frenetic fascistic right upon modern day America.

The central topic Rockwell addresses running through each essay is the politicization of all moral questions, the attempt by both left and right to seize and drive all fundamental issues into the spurious sacerdotal relm of the state -- that nexus of aggression, calculated force, lies, evasions, duplicity and fraud.

Rockwell's clear and concise essays both entertain and enlighten.

The term radical means 'of or pertaining to the root, fundamental.' The great Henry David Thoreau said that 'there are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil for one who is striking at the root.'

No one goes to the 'root' of these crucial issues like Lew Rockwell.

He is truly a 21st Century original, an American radical in the grand and glorious anti-statist tradition of Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine, William Leggett, Thoreau, Lysander Spooner, Albert Jay Nock, Garet Garrett, Frank Chodorov, and Murray N. Rothbard.

This is a great book to enjoy and to return to often for a refresher course in logic and liberty.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its Ok, February 22, 2009

By 

Tipro - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Left, The Right and The State (Hardcover)

I give this book a 4 because I have studied Austrian economics and ideology, for the most part agree with it, and this book is an extension of many of those ideas. So in general I like the message, and Mr. Rockwell is a good writer.
However, if you are new to that philosophy and/or do not completely understand it, I think this book could turn you off to the ideas. It does not delve into the nitty gritty and spell things out for you, which could leave some wondering how the author could defend positions like decriminalizing drunk driving and being "anti-recycling."
But then again, if you subscribe to Austrian ideology this will give you more ammo to fire at the nonbelievers, from special interests control of minimum wage laws to concrete examples of how governmental controls stymie technological development (the example coming to mind is cell phones).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Convincing logic and sound ideology: Lew Rockwell makes the persuasive case for LIBERTY, May 8, 2010

By 

Austin Archibald (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Left, The Right and The State (Hardcover)

Grew up being taught conservative values. Chose to major in economics in college. Most teachers there taught the great distorting power government has on free markets. I learned the power of free markets and was exposed to the amazing idea that when people are left alone, order emerges and prosperity ensues. My study of economics led me to read books and blogs. I was introduced into the ideas of libertarianism through my study of Milton Friedman. I read his books and watched his videos on YouTube. I was amazed at his uncanny ability to make a succinct and convincing argument. I eventually started reading websites and blogs from Reason Magazine, The Cato Institute, Cafe Hayek, and John Stossel.

My last semester at college, the financial crisis began. I wanted to completely understand why it happened. In college, I quickly learned that government stimulus was a sham, but I was taught many ridiculous things about the Fed and interest rates. In my online study, I was led to Peter Schiff videos and then Thomas Woods' Meltdown. I don't know why I never questioned our monetary system. Interest rates are like any other price: if not set at market rates, economic imbalance will ensue. Woods' explanation of Austrian economics had me convinced. If not for the economic crisis, I never would have learned these economic truths. I then read Ron Paul's book, End The Fed. I learned of Mises.org, and my mind has expanded to the ideas and possibilities of liberty. I must also admit, because I was poor and unemployed, I pirated copies of these audiobooks. Don't worry, once I get money, I will buy a personal copy. I also had friends buy these books, at my suggestion. I concluded that Austrian economics was synonymous with free-market economics. I believe Milton Friedman was wrong about money: he adhered to free-market principles on most topics, but ignored them when it came to interest rates.

I will admit, Ron Paul bugged me in the 2008 primaries. I preferred Romney because I was attracted to his supposed trust in free markets. I thought Ron Paul was an anti-war, old kook. However, he led me to read of the founding fathers' principles of non-interventionism and peace through commerce. I later read his prediction of the financial crisis back in 2003. I was amazed. I am now a big supporter and learner of Ron Paul.

All of this led me to learn of Lew Rockwell. I was interested to learn more, so I started to read his blog and website. I learned that commercial liberties really were a component of civil liberties. I learned to distrust some of the conservatives who preached limited government in economics, but big government in national "defense." Big government in both areas are hostile to our freedom and prosperity.

I decided to read one of his books, and this one appealed to me. I downloaded the PDF from [...]. I had no idea that this was a collection of his articles he's written over time. I was skeptical at first, but I discovered fabulous articles that displayed powerful writing, convincing logic, and sound ideology. Many articles were so good that I would find them online and send them to friends. I can't say I agree with all of his ideas: like the decriminalization of drunk driving, but he makes a powerful case. I truly believe others' liberty is at stake when these idiots drive drunk, but he's right: that nanny-state sentiment is expanding to cell phones, text messaging, and so on. Any time you give government the power to manage one aspect of your life, it will only grab more. The dangers of statism are very real, and it's ruining our economy.

The book is organized into different sections. The Left embraces a planned, nanny-state economy, which destroys lives and increases poverty. The Right embraces a warfare and police state, which makes us less safe and less free. Each uses the state to further there dangerous agenda. However, the Market brings us freedom and prosperity. This book shatters conventional wisdom. His articles are well-written and entertaining. Your eyes will be opened to the transformative power of liberty.

I highly recommend this book. It doesn't matter if you're a raving liberal, warmonger, or a believer in freedom: you will benefit from this very convincing and meaningful book.