Monday, September 10, 2012

A Mighty Quote

The following quote is from Ludwig Von Mises:  

Any advocate of socialistic measures is looked upon as the friend of the Good, the Noble, and the Moral, as a disinterested pioneer of necessary reforms, in short, as a man who unselfishly serves his own people and all humanity, and above all as a zealous and courageous seeker after truth. But let anyone measure Socialism by the standards of scientific reasoning, and he at once becomes a champion of the evil principle, a mercenary serving the egotistical interests of a class, a menace to the welfare of the community, an ignoramus outside the pale. For the most curious thing about this way of thinking is that it regards the question of whether Socialism or Capitalism will better serve the public welfare, as settled in advance -- to the effect, naturally, that Socialism is considered good and Capitalism as evil -- whereas in fact of course only by a scientific inquiry could the matter be decided. The results of economic investigations are met, not with arguments, but with …"moral pathos" …and on which Socialists and (Statists) always fall back, because they find no answer to the criticism to which science subjects their doctrines.
 Agreed.  Von Mises is eloquently stating a sentiment we often hear.  If Socialism was based on its intentions alone, then it would seem very nice.  But its results are usually the opposite of its goals.  When they want to help the poor, they tax the rich and run out of money for the poor.  When they want to build a just society, they have to rely on highly unjust means of enforcing unjust rules.  And so on.

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