We ordinary human beings need heroes. If we choose them wisely, we increase our chances of acting in principled and decent ways.
My heroes include F.A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, Adam Smith, Frederic Bastiat, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Leonard Read, the English Levellers, and H.L. Mencken — and Manuel Ayau.
Karol and I are fortunate to count Muso (as he is affectionately called) and his wonderful wife, Olga, among our friends. Muso combines rare entrepreneurial talent with a very deep knowledge of economics and a sincere love of liberty. He is Guatemala’s greatest asset.
I am happy to find in today’s Washington Times this tribute to Muso by Richard Rahn.
(And here’s an essay that I wrote last year on the occasion of Muso’s 80th birthday.)
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Right said Fred.
No country is immune from bad economic policies because economic ignorance exists in all countries
Indeed. Manuel Ayau is a true hero, a true scholar and a true gentleman.
Great post Dr. Boudreaux,
In addition to F.A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, Adam Smith, Frederic Bastiat, etc. I count Dr. W. Williams and Dr. Sowell among my heroes. Great men, great minds, and clear thinkers!
I think Drs. Williams and Sowell have a gift for explaining otherwise complicated concepts in a manner almost anyone can understand.
Chris
Don,
thanks for pointing us to some of your heroes. What do you think of Max Striner?
A new Muso will now be needed in Ecuador. What are they teaching in the Illinois economics program?
Thanks for posting this Don. When I met my wife she was an administrator at UFM. I knew it was a special place then, and over the years my admiration for it and its founder have grown.
Greetings;
I am the son of Dean Russell, a friend of the Ayau family. I met Muso and Olga many years ago and have lost touch with the family. Having just returned from Guatemala, I thought I would send an e-mail to find out how everyone is. Many thanks.
Glenn Russell
glennrussell100@hotmail.com