Don Boudreaux Archives - Granite Grok

Notable Quote – Fear Progressivism/Socialism FAR More than Populism

November 19, 2022 Skip

A two-fer: SHOT: Prof Thomas Sowell (Knowledge and Decisions) It is not the source or the ruthlessness of power alone which defines totalitarianism, but the unprecedented scope of the activities subjected to political control. E.g., name a part of your life in which Government HASN’T intruded and you’ll begin to understand “unprecedented scope”. I’ve challenged … Read more

“What Questions Should we Put to Politicians Itching to Intervene into the Economy?”

August 1, 2020 Skip

“I am a Libertarian because I learned economics.” I am a Conservatarian because of a line that Prof. Don Boudreaux mentions below that I first read, in a different form, in Robert Heinlein’s “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.”

Notable Quote – Don Boudreaux

June 9, 2018June 7, 2013 Skip

Uncivilized people, children, violent criminals – these are people whose first instinct is to demand the seemingly simple solution of brute force to all problems, real and unreal. But there’s surprisingly little difference between the base, instinctive attraction to force of such people and the base, instinctive attraction to force of academics, “activists,” pundits, and … Read more

Notable Quote – Don Boudreaux

September 26, 2018May 29, 2013 Skip

The fundamental question raised by the IRS scandal isn’t whether Obama ordered, or even knew of, the apparent misuse of the taxing power to punish political opponents. Rather, the fundamental question asks about the wisdom of creating in the first place government agencies that can so easily abuse their power in order to play political … Read more

Notable Quote – Don Boudreax

September 26, 2018December 16, 2012 Skip

On commenting upon De Tocqueville’s The Old Regime and the French Revolution (emphasis mine) By the time their ancient love of freedom reawakened in the hearts of the French, they had already been inoculated with a set of ideas as regards the way the country should be governed that were not merely hard to reconcile … Read more

Notable Quote – Don Boudreaux on H.L. Mencken

September 26, 2018May 19, 2012 Skip

Public policies are determined and laws are made by small minorities playing upon the fears and imbecilities of the mob – sometimes minorities of intelligent and honest men, but usually minorities of rogues. – H.L Mencken No better summary of modern government has ever been penned. – Prof. Don Boudreaux, economics (H/T: Cafe Hayek)