Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Can you say, "Introduction to Nationalism" folks?

Wherever is found what is called a paternal government, there is found state education. It has been discovered that the best way to insure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in the nursery.

— Benjamin Disraeli, Speech in the House of Commons [June 15, 1874

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Still just as true today.

War is at best barbarism…. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.

Herbert Spencer, Graduation Address at Michigan Military Academy [June 19, 1879]

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

No coercion required? What a radical idea.

Adam Smith's key insight was that both parties to an exchange can benefit and that, so long as cooperation is strictly voluntary, no exchange can take place unless both parties do benefit.

Milton Friedman