Speaking of "I pencil", my favorite show on basic cable is "How it's Made They show the manufacturing process of fire hydrants, saddles, car seats, butter, etc. Every episode is amazing, not just because there's so much involved in making, say, a hockey stick, but because of everything involved in making the machines that make the hockey stick.

It's almost a "it's turtles all the way down" kind of thing.

… the principled libertarian has some strange world where swords magically turn to plowshares when America finally disbands their entire military.

We could disband most of the empire, and the idled resources would reorganize spontaneously into profitable organizations if we let them. What else would they do? Making plowshares doesn't require any more magic than making swords. Only a misplaced reverence for swordsmiths feeding at the public trough leads to this conclusion.

The Left has Utopia, the principled libertarian has some strange world where swords magically turn to plowshares when America finally disbands their entire military.

Isn't capitalism great? You type on your keyboard and we all magically read that garbage. I would guess that it takes a lot less magic to turn swords into plows. No need to disband the military or for that matter "practical libertarians" to plan it for any of us.

Russ, there is no we.

People that describe themselves as principled or purists usually tend to be disconnected from reality. The Left has Utopia, the principled libertarian has some strange world where swords magically turn to plowshares when America finally disbands their entire military.

Anyway, I'm very happy for Russ. It's not Oprah, but that should bring in some much deserved sales, and the website might get some new visitors as well, though that might be a mixed bag.

I was responding to your suggestion that a practical libertarian is somehow more credible than a principled one.

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/economists_warn_anti_bush

I think everyone will get a kick out of it here as it deals with markets and what happens when markets are in a sudden state of near-collapse.

http://www.amazon.com/Road-More-Traveled-Congestion-Matters/dp/0742551121

The author, Ted Balaker, was a college buddy of mine. He worked with Dan Klein (now at GMU). Was a producer for John Stossel. And lately has produced reason.tv segments for Drew Carey. I think you'll find that he and co-author Sam Staley take a very practical approach to transportation.

Bringing this back to Russ' book. I think the real genius of the story is that Ruth is confident enough in her ideas to let things play out and pick her teaching moments. Intentional or not, it's a lesson for libertarians trying to influence the wider society and culture.

"The practical libertarian of today"

That is a nice euphemism for a beltway lobbyist/corporatist/fascist **wink**wink**
give me a bail out type closet Keynesian.

That's a nice review for the book btw. I'll have to pick up a copy.

Found a used copy on ebay. hmmmm…. wonder if the economics of buying used products addressed in the book?

That's my response too. Though I figure it would be mostly bicycles, golf carts, and ATVs. Many highways would still exist, but they would all be toll roads, jointly owned and operated by shipping companies.

As for Russ's book… I loved it. I really didn't expect to. I bought it to support the cause. I thought that Arnold Kling and others were kinda chiming in to support the cause. But I was wrong. It is a great story. It is the kind of story we need to eventually combat the horrendous economic stupidity that follows disasters. That his story is lovable could be what might give it wider appeal than the libertarian echo chamber that wants to support the cause, so to speak.

Usual Fan of Government: blah, blah, blah, you're libertarian, but you still drive on public roads.

My new libertarian response: Well, if the government hadn't built those highways, we'd probably be all be getting around in a nice, efficient electric rail system.

Hell, I guess I should start reading some of these guy's books too. Gotta support the people who are making sense… and I do spend a lot of time on airplanes with nothing better to do…

Congrats.