Comments on: Schumpeter on Politicians

By: David Tufte

David Tufte — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:46:05 +0000

I do wish you'd go ahead with this project - I'd love to read it.

I'm doing the same thing right now with "The Other Path" - I just put up "quote 27".

It gives me a place to put the stuff I like, and it helps expose the work to more people.

By: David Peterson

David Peterson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:33:16 +0000

I'm reading Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy now and I was amazed in the first part how the book was simultaneously be the best defense and take down of Marxism I have yet to read.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:28:36 +0000

Graf,

If you want an "alterative to politicians" you could look at Peter Leeson's 2007 article in Public Choice.

But most on this forum are not advocating an alternative to politicians, just recognition of the constraints of the political process. It is not a case between politicians and no politicians, but between powerful politicians and week politicians. Most of this forum’s readers, and certainly its authors believe that society operates best when compulsory actions through the political process are kept to a minimum.

Hope this helps,
Josh

By: Gil

Gil — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:19:11 +0000

I'm sure vidyohs can answer that one.

By: David P. Graf

David P. Graf — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:20:48 +0000

I have noticed on this forum a strong dislike of government including politicians. Well – what's the alternative?

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:18:10 +0000

By chance would that have been the chapter where Schumpeter introduced the term "creative destruction"?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:21:17 +0000

Biomed Time, it implies that you should read it too! That chapter on Capitalism is regarded by many to be the finest exposition on what the capitalist economic process is truly like in the real world.

I read the McCraw biography and was really impressed with Schumpeter the man, rather than the ideas of Schumpeter (though the ideas are what make him relevant). You really get a sense of what he was really like. It was touching to read the unbearable turmoil that had to have effected him from the time his mother and young wife died and then until his death in 1950. No man should have to experience that. I'm glad you're enjoying it as much as I did Dr. Boudreaux.

By: Biomed Tim

Biomed Tim — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:55:00 +0000

"I first read this book as an undergraduate, a happy fact that forever immunized me against taking textbook theories of competition too seriously"

For those of us who haven't read the book, can someone explain what this implies?