Comments on: The Profit Motive Drives Government http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/ Colliding Softly with the World of Ideas Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:34:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Libertarian Girl » Blog Archive » The Poor Would Be Better Off in a Libertarian Society http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Libertarian Girl » Blog Archive » The Poor Would Be Better Off in a Libertarian Society Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:27:38 +0000 http://www.perbylund.com/blog/?p=47#comment-561 [...] lot less than $26 million a year. People who make $26 million a year get out of paying their taxes, then look to see what else they can take from the government. “One America that pays the taxes, another America that gets the tax breaks.” — [...] [...] lot less than $26 million a year. People who make $26 million a year get out of paying their taxes, then look to see what else they can take from the government. “One America that pays the taxes, another America that gets the tax breaks.” — [...]

]]> By: Per Bylund http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Per Bylund Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:10:50 +0000 http://www.perbylund.com/blog/?p=47#comment-540 Responding to Jesse: I have definitely considered doing podcasts. But I am much more of a writing kind of guy - reading my writings wouldn't be half as good as the writings themselves. But I have considered it, and I intend to try it sometime. When I do, the podcast (or link to it) will certainly be posted on this blog. Responding to Jesse:

I have definitely considered doing podcasts. But I am much more of a writing kind of guy – reading my writings wouldn’t be half as good as the writings themselves. But I have considered it, and I intend to try it sometime. When I do, the podcast (or link to it) will certainly be posted on this blog.

]]> By: Per Bylund http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Per Bylund Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:09:09 +0000 http://www.perbylund.com/blog/?p=47#comment-539 Responding to Francois: That would depend on your definition of capitalism (even though I am not sure I agree with you anyway). If you define it as Rothbard does in <a href="http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/ethics.asp" rel="nofollow">Ethics of Liberty</a> you might have a point. But with that definition I don't see how markets could ever function without capitalism, at least not if there is some kind of monetary unit used and accepted. Also, a free market would, I'm sure, have much, much less of wage labor and much, much more of self-employment. This would be an effect of the total absence of taxes and regulations, which empowers anyone to start a business when and how he/she wants. So the profit motive, a feature of capitalism in the laissez faire (rather than the vulgar) libertarian definition, would be applicable to a much larger part of the population than today. Responding to Francois:

That would depend on your definition of capitalism (even though I am not sure I agree with you anyway). If you define it as Rothbard does in Ethics of Liberty you might have a point. But with that definition I don’t see how markets could ever function without capitalism, at least not if there is some kind of monetary unit used and accepted.

Also, a free market would, I’m sure, have much, much less of wage labor and much, much more of self-employment. This would be an effect of the total absence of taxes and regulations, which empowers anyone to start a business when and how he/she wants. So the profit motive, a feature of capitalism in the laissez faire (rather than the vulgar) libertarian definition, would be applicable to a much larger part of the population than today.

]]> By: Jesse http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/comment-page-1/#comment-534 Jesse Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:54:06 +0000 http://www.perbylund.com/blog/?p=47#comment-534 Hey Per, have you thought about doing a podcast? Stefan Molyneux has an excellent podcast that has changed alot of people. I can't stop listening to it. Listening is easier than reading for most people. It'd be a good way to get your ideas out. Hey Per, have you thought about doing a podcast? Stefan Molyneux has an excellent podcast that has changed alot of people. I can’t stop listening to it. Listening is easier than reading for most people. It’d be a good way to get your ideas out.

]]> By: Francois Tremblay http://perbylund.com/blog/2008/02/the-profit-motive-drives-government/comment-page-1/#comment-492 Francois Tremblay Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:12:11 +0000 http://www.perbylund.com/blog/?p=47#comment-492 Actually, the profit motive is not a feature of markets but rather a feature of capitalism. The average worker does not seek profit for the business he works in, but rather higher wages and better conditions for himself. So it would be hard to argue that in an Anarchy the profit motive would exist in the same scope as it does today. Actually, the profit motive is not a feature of markets but rather a feature of capitalism. The average worker does not seek profit for the business he works in, but rather higher wages and better conditions for himself. So it would be hard to argue that in an Anarchy the profit motive would exist in the same scope as it does today.

]]>