I especially applaud your efforts to embody “peaceful exchange and tolerance” at all levels of interaction – the embodiment of principles is usually much more persuasive than the arguments alone. Congratulations on a wonderful article.

Another poster here says that there are more freedoms now than before, but I either don’t see that (hate crime legislation, the ever-growing strength of the taxation regime, the industrial regulatory complex, prosecutorial misconduct, etc.) or I am instead fascinated by and fearful of what’s COMING, a la Hayek’s exquisite examinations of liberal deterioration over multiple generations.

I hear what Steve is saying and am embarrassed that I allow myself to get into flame wars with complete strangers on the internet. When I have productive conversations with same, it’s like a stimulating conversation rather than a dogmatic contest of wills. I will strive to do better, but I’m not throwing away my t-shirt that says “Stop taking my wages to pay for your ideals.”

Definitely looking forward to your words of wisdom!
Lynn Atherton-Bloxham

I sometimes find myself trying to explain that some aspects of my work were so interesting that they have become a hobby.

I actually agree with you. I think the world is, overall, a better place than it was a generation ago. Certainly our standard of living is better. And in a number of ways we are freer, certainly than decades ago. But both the intellectual and policy reaction to the recession is what concerns me. Ideas I thought were dead and buried have arisen zombie-like, and policymakers are falling all over themselves to pass policies that have long been discredited.

I think the forces of creativity and progress will win out, but we’ve lost ground and the result is that our children and grandchildren will not be AS better off than us as they could have been.

Perhaps my reading of this quote is uncharitable, but I am not so pessimistic. I think the world in large part has been going from less free to more free. For me, little more evidence is needed for this then the rising living standards. Statist economies just don’t prosper. Granted, the U.S., parts of Europe and some other places are bucking this trend, but the world as a whole is improving.

Perhaps you are refering to the financial crisis in particular. The U.S. fiat dollar seems to be losing its position. To be replaced by what? Hard to say, but I consider the fall of yet another statist structure an opportunity for improvement.

Having said all that I couldn’t agree more with the ultimate conclusion. “…we need the freedom philosophy more than ever.”

As far as arguing with statists, I would suggest it is not as bad as it seems. Granted people rarely admit they are wrong. What they do when convinced is simply change their position in later arguments and pretend that is what they always thought. This is trivially wasy for the average person, maybe not so much for a public figure with a verifiable record.