What is the line between social systems and political systems?
Posted on May 19th, 2010 by admin
This question came to mind while reading this statement in another Q&A:
"Socialism is an economic system. Liberty has to do with the system of government, the political system, not the economic system."
How do political and economic systems interact? Can you really separate them?
In my opinion, they are one in the same.
Claiming that liberty only applies to political systems seems to be an intellectually lazy attempt to support "liberty" when it applies to lifestyle choices (gay marriage, abortion) and privacy (anti-Patriot Act etc), yet deny liberty when it applies to taxation, trade, business regulation, etc.
By attempting to separate the two, populists can restrict our basic freedom of protection of private property while still claiming to believe in and support liberty.
Milton Friedman addressed this topic in ‘Capitalism and Freedom’, and F.A. Hayek had interesting comments relevant to this topic in ‘The Road to Serfdom’ – both are must reads.
May 20th, 2010 at 4:47 am
Chicago crosses that line quite often. It’s called corruption.
References :
May 20th, 2010 at 5:25 am
In my opinion, they are one in the same.
Claiming that liberty only applies to political systems seems to be an intellectually lazy attempt to support "liberty" when it applies to lifestyle choices (gay marriage, abortion) and privacy (anti-Patriot Act etc), yet deny liberty when it applies to taxation, trade, business regulation, etc.
By attempting to separate the two, populists can restrict our basic freedom of protection of private property while still claiming to believe in and support liberty.
Milton Friedman addressed this topic in ‘Capitalism and Freedom’, and F.A. Hayek had interesting comments relevant to this topic in ‘The Road to Serfdom’ – both are must reads.
References :