The president of his country, Javier Milei, is the last best hope for Argentina, and not only in terms of its economics, which promises to be profound.
Dear Carlos: Thanks for your thoughtful commentary. In my view, my old friend Hans Hoppe is suffering from Israeli Derangement Syndrome. In his hatred of this country he puts aside all he and we have learned from Murray Rothbard in terms of property rights belonging to those who have first homesteaded it. The Jews were in the contested lands long before the Arabs were, and thus are the rightful owners of the contested lands. Thanks again, Walter
Dear Chris: Well said. I stand second to no one in my praise of Saint Milei. He is not only making Argentina "great again," he is doing so for the entire world. I am honored that he regards me as one of his mentors. Best regards, Walter
Are you considering an interview with President Milei, Dr. Block? He has said very positive things about you. After Hoppe's comments, I think that would be a great thing. You are one of the most famous libertarians in the world, it would be a critical step in getting the libertarian public to support Milei. Have you ever tried that?
Leave the "perfect is the enemy of the good" arguing to the collectivists, who are forever leveraging that argument as a reason to tear down systems that work.
Professor Block, is always nice to read you this way. But, even when we both agree that Javier Milei phenomenum is something very especial for the libertarian movement (and if it goes well, maybe could be a greater good for mankind itself), Hans Hoppe (taking out his whole critics on economics which honestly were very poor) made a good point from an anarquist point of view about Milei’s foreign policy.
I don’t wanna discuse whos right or wrong, but if we take a look on Murray Rothbard essays, not just on the topic of war itself (In the book of egalitarianism has a beautiful article about it) but also in formation of states (Maybe his anatomy of state or the part of “nature of the state” in his Ethics of liberty), he quoted Randolph Bourne and his idea that war is in many cases, the health of the state.
What am i saying all this? Because supporting a war, is not just the fact of who you thing is right. Of course, i agree that there is a whole valid argument in favor of war (As you said, libertarians should be pro-defensive wars, and i suscribe that completely). But the part we might not see (because of course there is a moral duty on exterminating Hamas, but not with the self proclaimed Palestinians or people who lives in Gaza) is that these kind of wars, tends to inheritly increase the power of the state in order to protect his tax payers (and the free riders also; is a joke).
And based on Robert Higgs work (Leviathan and Crisis) the ratchet effect on the state is considerably the best argument to go against this view. Even if we don’t take care of the people who dies (which is not acceptable in my oppinion, because it breaks the whole vision of individuals, were your passport, religion or whatever it defines you, does not matter at all for your condition of subject of right, and in that order, you are able to claim to not be killed, robbed or turn into a slave of someone else. If theres an agression you should go against the agressor, not the people who were involved by the agressor with his act. In rothbardians terms, that turns you in a criminal in the same way the agressor is) the state will take more control all over the people who lives in Israel (and also generates a whole movement against jewish people for the acts of his government, which is pathetic but it happens sometimes) and in a long term view, will justify the interventions that Milei, Hoppe and yourself had been fighthing against your whole life.
That’s why i believe Hoppe is angry and unffair with Milei as it was with you. The whole libertarianism, even when we are good at economics, is not an ideology who go only against price control or tariffs (which is nice to fight against that) but if we beat in moral terms is because the private law society or anarchocapitalism is the only system that could take away the power of coertion and war from the rulers.
And Milei, even when he is a great economist (very brilliant actually) i stongly believe that he is making a mistake on his foreign policy. And is not just for Israel, he also wanted to join NATO (We probably agree that this is the main cause on Ukraine- Russia conflict) and it seemed he is going that way. As Rothbard said, i thing we should go in the way the old right was on this terms, neutrality and isolation from conflicts as is Switzerland (Also help to avoid the Boomerang effect of support someone and then he comes and beat you up, as it happened in Spain or France, because as long as the government exist, the only thing that the rulers must do is respect private property and don’t involve your citizens in international problems.
At the end, it was a very long post and was not planned to be this way. Also, my native lenguage is spanish and maybe i made somekind of mistake, so i’m sorry for that.
Thank you for your work, professor Block. We wouldn’t be libertarians if we don’t have desagreements. Salute!
Great post. Many people fall victim to the malady of perfectionism. It is all too easy to criticize a better yet imperfect approach to anything. Life in general comes down to tradeoffs because Utopia literally means no place or nowhere.
Dear Carlos: Thanks for your thoughtful commentary. In my view, my old friend Hans Hoppe is suffering from Israeli Derangement Syndrome. In his hatred of this country he puts aside all he and we have learned from Murray Rothbard in terms of property rights belonging to those who have first homesteaded it. The Jews were in the contested lands long before the Arabs were, and thus are the rightful owners of the contested lands. Thanks again, Walter
Dear Alice: Thanks for your kind words. I'd be delighted to do an interview with you. Best regards, Walter wblock@loyno.edu
Dear Chris: Well said. I stand second to no one in my praise of Saint Milei. He is not only making Argentina "great again," he is doing so for the entire world. I am honored that he regards me as one of his mentors. Best regards, Walter
Daniel: I entirely agree with you. The perfect is the enemy of the good. Hoppe was way too harsh on Milei. Best regards, Walter
Dear Jacob: Thanks. Best regards, Walter
Dear Patrick: Thanks for your support on this. Best regards, Walter
Dear Alice: I'd be honored to interview with Javier, or have anything to do with him. He is one of my heroes. Best regards, Walter
Dear Richard: Thanks for your support on this. Best regards,
Walter
Dear Mnsewou: Thanks for your very thoughtful remarks on this complex issue. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Best regards, Walter
Are you considering an interview with President Milei, Dr. Block? He has said very positive things about you. After Hoppe's comments, I think that would be a great thing. You are one of the most famous libertarians in the world, it would be a critical step in getting the libertarian public to support Milei. Have you ever tried that?
Walter is right to restate basically that the "way better" is not the enemy of "the best."
Leave the "perfect is the enemy of the good" arguing to the collectivists, who are forever leveraging that argument as a reason to tear down systems that work.
I’m more inclined to ask what Hoppe gets right about Milei or anybody else at this point.
Hope he’s enjoying the beauty and peace Erdogan bestowed upon Syria. He’ll love the soon to be resurrected Ottoman Empire.
Hey, Walter, I was at the confernce last year in Vancouver talking about Javier Milei.
Milei is the last, best hope for the ENTIRE WORLD. Seriously, who else is there? Javier Milei is about the only reason for any optimism at all.
The USA is finished. Western Europe is gone. Every other English-speaking country is gone.
I think South America still had a good chance. We might have another Milei in Chile--that's Johannes Kaiser.
Professor Block, is always nice to read you this way. But, even when we both agree that Javier Milei phenomenum is something very especial for the libertarian movement (and if it goes well, maybe could be a greater good for mankind itself), Hans Hoppe (taking out his whole critics on economics which honestly were very poor) made a good point from an anarquist point of view about Milei’s foreign policy.
I don’t wanna discuse whos right or wrong, but if we take a look on Murray Rothbard essays, not just on the topic of war itself (In the book of egalitarianism has a beautiful article about it) but also in formation of states (Maybe his anatomy of state or the part of “nature of the state” in his Ethics of liberty), he quoted Randolph Bourne and his idea that war is in many cases, the health of the state.
What am i saying all this? Because supporting a war, is not just the fact of who you thing is right. Of course, i agree that there is a whole valid argument in favor of war (As you said, libertarians should be pro-defensive wars, and i suscribe that completely). But the part we might not see (because of course there is a moral duty on exterminating Hamas, but not with the self proclaimed Palestinians or people who lives in Gaza) is that these kind of wars, tends to inheritly increase the power of the state in order to protect his tax payers (and the free riders also; is a joke).
And based on Robert Higgs work (Leviathan and Crisis) the ratchet effect on the state is considerably the best argument to go against this view. Even if we don’t take care of the people who dies (which is not acceptable in my oppinion, because it breaks the whole vision of individuals, were your passport, religion or whatever it defines you, does not matter at all for your condition of subject of right, and in that order, you are able to claim to not be killed, robbed or turn into a slave of someone else. If theres an agression you should go against the agressor, not the people who were involved by the agressor with his act. In rothbardians terms, that turns you in a criminal in the same way the agressor is) the state will take more control all over the people who lives in Israel (and also generates a whole movement against jewish people for the acts of his government, which is pathetic but it happens sometimes) and in a long term view, will justify the interventions that Milei, Hoppe and yourself had been fighthing against your whole life.
That’s why i believe Hoppe is angry and unffair with Milei as it was with you. The whole libertarianism, even when we are good at economics, is not an ideology who go only against price control or tariffs (which is nice to fight against that) but if we beat in moral terms is because the private law society or anarchocapitalism is the only system that could take away the power of coertion and war from the rulers.
And Milei, even when he is a great economist (very brilliant actually) i stongly believe that he is making a mistake on his foreign policy. And is not just for Israel, he also wanted to join NATO (We probably agree that this is the main cause on Ukraine- Russia conflict) and it seemed he is going that way. As Rothbard said, i thing we should go in the way the old right was on this terms, neutrality and isolation from conflicts as is Switzerland (Also help to avoid the Boomerang effect of support someone and then he comes and beat you up, as it happened in Spain or France, because as long as the government exist, the only thing that the rulers must do is respect private property and don’t involve your citizens in international problems.
At the end, it was a very long post and was not planned to be this way. Also, my native lenguage is spanish and maybe i made somekind of mistake, so i’m sorry for that.
Thank you for your work, professor Block. We wouldn’t be libertarians if we don’t have desagreements. Salute!
Great post. Many people fall victim to the malady of perfectionism. It is all too easy to criticize a better yet imperfect approach to anything. Life in general comes down to tradeoffs because Utopia literally means no place or nowhere.
Javier Milei is so good and thank you for writing about him!