Liberty Magazine January 1990

In Defense of Jim Bakker and Zsa Zsa January 1990 Vol 3, No3 $4.00 (see page 5) (ty:(6ove aCC tliin s: Libert ! J1 - Jolin SeCaen evaluating "how well we do something by comparing our performance to others." . e tters . As a cure for poor self-esteem, Nozick [ L ] looks to society to "have a diversity ofdif- ~===================================::_() ferent lists of [comparative] dimensions and weightings" upon which individuals All Wet wonder that New Yorkers frequent Eu should base their self-esteem. This leaves an individual's self-esteem at the mercy of As a New Yorker, I feel it is important rope more than others-at least they other people's value judgments. to address some ofthe points Mr. Brad know how to read the menus! This is a very unlibertarian view and ford made in his article"A Rustic in New No, Mr. Bradford, New Yorkers do also an inaccurate view self-esteem. Self York" (November 1989). Having been to not believe that everything worth seeing esteem is not mere performance compari the Olympic Peninsula several times, I is in New York. Most of us will grant you sons with others; it is the recognition of would attest to its beauty if you like the your majestic Cascades that seem to al self-worth based upon one's positive eval sea and rain, the mountains and rain, and most grow out ofthe surf, your verdant uation ofthat which makes skills, knowl isolation and rain. In short, it's a beautiful landscape, and clean air. What New York edge and values possible-one's own place for a retreat ifyou like rain. On the ers do believe is that there are a great many things worth seeing in New York. rational faculties and inner self. Authentic peninsula after a week of rain, people are self-esteem, Nathaniel Branden noted, is wont to tell you how nice the weather was And, moreover, a great many interesting people worth meeting. It seems you have experienced when one has proven oneself on a day in the previous month, or how competent to promote one's own beautiful it will be in July and August, or found that, too. For this we're glad. Just existence and worthy of achieving to remark about how green the grass is please don't tell too many people. Joseph R. Fragola happiness. (with all the rain, why not?). Unfortunately, there are many who Now it's true there are days in the New York, N.Y. Bradford replies: The ruse used in these feel that self-esteem is based on social summer in New York when the horizon is comparisons. When accepted, this view parts to keep down the tourist population obscured by "a yellow brown haze." But results in a loss of identity, a poor self is rain. Port Townsend has an average most ofthe year, the air is cleansed with im~ge, a reliance on pleasing others, and a rainfall of18.57 inches per year, versus the haze being blown out to sea. Los An propensity to see oneself and the world the Big Apple's average of44.28 inches. geles and Denver can make no such claim through the eyes of others. This is the pri even though Port Townsend might. When In Fine Tenure mary cause of neuro.sis, and I believe it is the rain stops. Given this, I must object to I wonder if Richard Kostelanetz the primary reason for the acceptance of the statement that we endure the worst realizes how deep the connection altruist/collectivist ideals. Almost government if only to point out, as did between his two concerns-avant-garde without exception, those who hold a seri Murray Rothbard ("Loathing the Fear in art and tenure (September and Novem ously inadequate concept of self and self New York," November 1989), that we will ber, 1989)-really is. It is amazing how far esteem advocate the subjugation of the in now be treated to one that will be worse society will go to grant an avant-garde dividual to the parasitic desires of the and just missed getting one worse still. ' artist tenure and psychic insulation. I am collective. As to your comments on cabs, bums, thinking of Ezra Pound whom Kostela Like it or not, rational self-interest is crime and the like being less than adver netz quotes approvingly. Pound was libertarianism's ethical foundation. This tised, while they are true, it would be ap granted "tenure" at St. Elizabeth's specifies that each individual should be preciated if you keep them to yourself. Hospital in Washington, DC, where he free to choose and pursue his or her own This ruse is one that we New Yorkers use wrote some of his greatest poems and values, while respecting others' individu to keep down the tourist population. In also taught many of his disciples. Pound al rights. Like other statists, Robert No spite ofthe best efforts of Hollywood, the was "far out," sO much so that society zick finally concluded that this is a bad news media, and our own inhabitants to had to put him away. thing and that his list of "dimensions and maintain our rotten reputation, the city All ofwhich leads me to say I am still weightings" should be imposed on every streets still bustle with camera-happy visi not sure if tenure is a good or a bad thing one using the government's power of tors from all nations. for college teachers. Maybe it's good if the brute force. Concerning the cultural advantages teacher is a libertarian and maybe it's bad Alexander N. Knight ofthe City, I believe that these lie primari if the teacher is a socialist. Or is it the oth Irondequoit, N.Y. ly in the people and their diversity. Where er way around? else other than Epcot can you go from Living in the Present With David Herman China, to Italy, to Korea within a few Nathaniel Branden Los Angeles, Cal. blocks? In New York, you can experience I find it extremely unfortunate that the little Odessa ofBrighton Beach, Scan No Comparisons your magazine has apparently taken a dinavia in the little Norway ofBrooklyn It comes as no surprise to me that hard-line editorial stance against the Heights, Germany in Yorktown, to say Robert Nozick has joined the statist camp works and accomplishments of Dr. Na nothing ofthe better known Black, His (per Loren Lomasky, "Beyond Philoso thaniel Branden. Dr. Branden is a man of panic, Korean, Chinese, Italian, and Jew phy," November 1989). This could have many worthy achievements, and has ish experiences, all for a $1 subway ride. been predicted as far back as 1974, when helped me immensely in my own pursuit In New York it is no oddity to be in a res in Anarchy, State and Utopia, Nozick iden of personal growth and well-being. taurant and hear French, Italian, German, tified his concept of self-esteem. To the My own experience speaks to me and Japanese spoken all about you. It's no "old" Nozick, self-esteem is based upon continued on page 4 2 Liberty ·d L·b rt January 1990 InSl e 1 e y Volume 3,Number3 2 Letters Taxes, Nozick, Branden, Moses ... 5 Reflections The editors defend Jim Bakker and Zsa Zsa, dismiss anarchists (if not anarchism), expose corruption, reveal the full extent of the war on drugs, and conclude that it is not enough to speak truth to power ... 13 Now the Real Struggle Begins R.W. Bradford chal lenges libertarians to look beyond the collapse of an enemy ideology. 15 uDoors" a poem by Stephen Cox lATh~t ;t rr\tl~n~ The Death of Socialism 16 Dreams: Socialist and Libertarian by Sheldon Richman Y Y .1lU" .I\. .1.1.lCU.1l~ 18 RI P: The New Soviet Man by William Moulton 19 No Time for Pessimism by Murray Rothbard 20 Once for All? Stephen Cox examines Fukuyama's "The End of History" to see ifthere is something more than wishful thinking in this trendy contribution to secular eschatology. 24 The Cheesing of America Lawrence Ludlow uses hindsight as foresight to reveal the great health menace of our time: killer cheese. 27 The Greenhouse Effect: Beyond the Popular Vision Environmental scientist Patrick Michaels looks for evidence of the "greenhouse effect" and discovers that the world is a lot more complicated than doomsayers are wont to admit. 34 The Case for Paleolibertarianlsm According to Llewelyn Rockwell, the only hope for libertarianism is to shuck off the dregs of the movement, and approach mainstream America as responsible right-wingers. 39 Kingdom Come Murray Rothbard explains the political ramifications ofthe Christian idea ofthe Millennium. 43 Choosing Freedom Charles Rowley and Richard Wagner provide a personal Public Choice perspective on the nature of freedom and the reason they like it. 46 In Defense of Elitism Karl Hess believes that elitism is one of the best things about America, and explains why. 49 Barbara Branden Speaks Out Liberty talks with Ayn Rand's biographer about Rand, the Objectivist experience, and her ex-husband's memoir. 58 The New Benefactors Richard Kostelanetz tells how taxpayers were first made to support the arts in America. 61 Ersatz Entrepreneurship Roger Koopman unmasks the guruship of America's most odious "entrepreneur." 63 Regulating Children's TV David Bernstein wonders: why throw out the Bill of Rights? 65 The Midwest Work Ethic Stephen Barone warns that the virtues of the decent folk of America's heartland might actually hamper the cause of freedom.

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