Customer Reviews

The Left, The Right and The State

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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).

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.

A compilation of the works of Lew Rockwell. His ability to explain and argue his beliefs logically and convincingly make this book very important to the libertarian community. I have recommended this book to all my friends and family members who consider themselves conservative and many of them have become "converts" from the Neocon crowd after reading this book and others like it.

Great insight put into written essays for those ready to explore anarcho-capitalism and other libertarians. I only give it a 4 and not a 5, because it probably will not convert most statists and may even offend some.

I have hundreds of books on libertarian philosophy, economics and history. This book is one of the best, and at the top of any list that I would lend to a "fence-sitter" if I were seeking to persuade them of the utility and morality of liberty. In fact, this book is usually always to be found in my living room on the coffee table, or side table, because it's always ripe for perusing at any given moment.
First, it has an index in back, which makes it a breeze to consult his writing on just about any topic relevant to liberty, whether that be constitutionalism, federalism, property rights, totalitarianism, central planning, American Revolution, Bastiat, Marx, FDR, ...well, you get the picture.
Second, each eassy stands by its own, and can be read out of order, and catch as catch can. That's great for someone like me, who is so busy with 3 small children and a busy job, that I have to pick-up whatever I can in just few-page clusters here and there.
Third, his style and logic make for very persuasive arguments (OK, he's preaching to the choir---I've been a full-fledged libertarian for 20 yrs); the writing is not cumbersome, long-winded, or pedantic like some authors.

This book is an ode to libertarian ideas, written by the founder of the Ludwig von Mises institute.

It illustrate, among other things, the absurdities, failures, lies, manipulations, horrors, errors of the monstrosity that the State is, and show how little fundamental differences there are between left and right.

Don't be scared by the bulky aspect of the book: it is made of hundreds of relatively short articles written by the author during the past 20 years, so you can read through it in no particular order.

Funny, provocative, counter-intuitive, this is a very, very good book that will open your eyes on many issues.