Comments on: ARC on the tea parties http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/arc-on-the-tea-parties/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:26:24 +0000 hourly 1 By: FGH http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/arc-on-the-tea-parties/comment-page-1/#comment-474 FGH Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:03:25 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=1687#comment-474 The common theme was protesting what many see as the government’s overreaching in terms of taxation and spending, but also, and perhaps even more important and too little stressed—the erosion of values that have been at the core of American life since they were fought for and won during the American Revolution. Instead of the free market commanding the economic heights with its emphasis on consumer choice, competitive prices and profit-seeking, they see a shift to government control and industrial policy dictating the nation’s commerce. Instead of self-reliance, a traditional work ethic and personal accountability, the tea party protesters see a shift to rent seeking (the extraction of uncompensated value from others without making any contribution) and moral hazard (the prospect that a party insulated from risk may behave differently from the way it would behave if it were fully exposed to the risk). Alexis de Toqueville, in his seminal “Democracy in America,” worried that democracy might lead to a tyranny of the majority—a tyranny of “all over all,” which might result when the people seek to use government to protect them in their mediocrity by restricting the freedom of any who might challenge or endanger them. This could lead to a kind of sterile suffocation of talents or ambitions, he feared, and the utter surrender of freedom in exchange for equality. “The nations of our day cannot prevent conditions of equality from spreading in their midst,” wrote de Toqueveille, “But it depends upon themselves whether equality is to lead to freedom or servitude, knowledge or barbarism, prosperity or wretchedness.” One senses de Toqueville would sympathize with the tea parties. The common theme was protesting what many see as the government’s overreaching in terms of taxation and spending, but also, and perhaps even more important and too little stressed—the erosion of values that have been at the core of American life since they were fought for and won during the American Revolution. Instead of the free market commanding the economic heights with its emphasis on consumer choice, competitive prices and profit-seeking, they see a shift to government control and industrial policy dictating the nation’s commerce. Instead of self-reliance, a traditional work ethic and personal accountability, the tea party protesters see a shift to rent seeking (the extraction of uncompensated value from others without making any contribution) and moral hazard (the prospect that a party insulated from risk may behave differently from the way it would behave if it were fully exposed to the risk).

Alexis de Toqueville, in his seminal “Democracy in America,” worried that democracy might lead to a tyranny of the majority—a tyranny of “all over all,” which might result when the people seek to use government to protect them in their mediocrity by restricting the freedom of any who might challenge or endanger them. This could lead to a kind of sterile suffocation of talents or ambitions, he feared, and the utter surrender of freedom in exchange for equality. “The nations of our day cannot prevent conditions of equality from spreading in their midst,” wrote de Toqueveille, “But it depends upon themselves whether equality is to lead to freedom or servitude, knowledge or barbarism, prosperity or wretchedness.”

One senses de Toqueville would sympathize with the tea parties.

]]> By: Roy Staggers http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/arc-on-the-tea-parties/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Roy Staggers Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:52:52 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=1687#comment-469 This issue should not be over intellectualized. I am not against the Idea of the so called "Tea Parties" but where were these guys during the bush administration. The Republican Party has lost all credibility by organizing these events. Dissent is a normal part of our civic duty; however,the real test will come on election day. This issue should not be over intellectualized. I am not against the Idea of the so called “Tea Parties” but where were these guys during the bush administration. The Republican Party has lost all credibility by organizing these events. Dissent is a normal part of our civic duty; however,the real test will come on election day.

]]> By: gary seinen http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/arc-on-the-tea-parties/comment-page-1/#comment-466 gary seinen Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:21:20 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=1687#comment-466 something I consider could be a rallying slogan "My life, my effort.. Its not yours to spend." Cheers something I consider could be a rallying slogan
“My life, my effort..
Its not yours to spend.”
Cheers

]]> By: Tea Party Protests — The New Clarion http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/arc-on-the-tea-parties/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Tea Party Protests — The New Clarion Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:56:02 +0000 http://blog.aynrandcenter.org/?p=1687#comment-442 [...] are some rational assessments of the Tea Party protests today. Jeff Scialabba of the Ayn Rand Institute [...] [...] are some rational assessments of the Tea Party protests today. Jeff Scialabba of the Ayn Rand Institute [...]

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