The Real Clarence September 1991 VolS, No 1 $4.00 Thomas ((We are fiere to ret in tlie {iglit ofLi6erty upon po{itica{superstition. 11 - 'Benjamin rrucKgr mility. Yet, it seems, Dr Friedman thinks that humility is an objective value and he is able to make the moral judgment that Letters Rand lacks it! [ ] Also, Karl Popper is by no means the simple empiricist and realist about facts ... A Good Man Is Hard to Find my could be open to manipulation" and Dr. Friedman seems to think he is. And JSR's "Actions vs Words" is probably his "rather benign view of the future of even when explicated more completely, worse than the feminists he is trying to capitalism." But much more significant there are serious doubts about the wis­ slander. were Keynes' contributions to economic dom of Popper's analysis of disagree­ Feminists are not really bad. All they theory: his concern with the role of ex­ ment-see, for example, David Stove's want is a good man who can do the pectations in the market process and his Popper and After: Four Modern Irrational­ dishes. explanations of secondary depressions. ists (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1982). Norman Gorback Heilbroner's appraisal of Keynes was an In most developed sciences it has be­ Plantation, Fla. appraisal of Keynes as politician and come evident that facts are not obvious prophet, not as economist. Serious dis­ or plain to apprehend. They are theory­ Self-Incrimination at Stanford cussion of Keynes' ideas will persist. But laden and often the issue is whether the I found Stuart Reges' article "1 Am a considering Heilbroner's judgment, I theory backing up the identification of Casualty of the War on Drugs" (July predict that one of the best things about the facts is a sound one, compared to oth­ 1991) most interesting. He stated that "economics after socialism" will be the er live options. This opens the door to "Stanford's previous policy on alcohol unplanned obsolescence of lightweights seeing moral facts as part of our uni­ and drug use was to respect the privacy such as Heilbroner. verse. And when it has become evident of students, faculty, and staff-as long as David Sheldon that some act or person is morally people behaved responsibly ..." (p 38) Gresham, Ore. wrong, it is not always sound policy to And Reges' account suggests that unoffi­ tolerate it. cially that remained Stanford's policy Mises-ing the Point Tibor Machan even after the official policy statement In your July 1991 issue two very Auburn, Ala. was changed in order to continue to re­ good men, Milton Friedman and Robert A Does Not Equal A-Priori ceive federal funds. Why didn't that sat­ Heilbroner, take some cheap shots at a I am surprised at Milton Friedman isfy Reges? Was it responsible behavior very great man, Ludwig von Mises. for repeating the old canard that Ayn on his part to by-pass the Stanford ad­ Friedman ("Just Say 'No' to Intoler­ Rand "derived everything from the basic ministration and bait government offi­ ance") tries to characterize the philoso­ proposition that A=A" ("Say 'No' to In­ cials directly with harassing letters? phy of Mises as a dogmatic religion. tolerance," July 1991). Those letters didn't make fools of the Friedman merely begs the question~is The law of identity, in her view, was government people; what they did was economics an aprioristic or empirical sci­ an axiom that sets the fundamental pur­ to make plain Stanford's duplicity in ac­ ence?-when he says that, because it pose of thinking (to identify the nature of cepting the funds without intent to en­ isn't empirical, Mises' economics isn't a what exists) as well as the fundamental force the policy. Refusal of the funds science but a religion. Logic and mathe­ constraint (to avoid contradiction). It is would have been the appropriate action matics aren't empirical either. Are they the methodological foundation of knowl­ to guarantee academic freedom. As it is, religions, too? edge. But the whole content of our knowl­ Stanford faculty know for sure what Reg­ Heilbroner ("Economics After Social­ edge comes from observing the world­ es should have been smart enough to fig­ ism") will give only the most grudging with induction, not deduction, as the pri­ ure out for himself-government money credit to Hayek and Mises. Yes, they mary engine of cognition. Ayn Rand was is more important to running Stanford were right all along, socialism can't an explicit foe of any rationalist effort to University than is free speech. work, but they were never really very deduce a philosophy from a self­ I hope you will keep us informed on clear about the reason for it-that you contained set of axioms. how Reges fares in a job search. can't run an economy without market She also held that certainty is possible Maribel Montgomery signals. Well, if Heilbroner didn't learn to man, a thesis with which Friedman is Albany, Ore. this from Hayek and Mises, who did he certainly free to take issue. But I cannot The Last Leftist learn it from? And why doesn't he ever help wondering if he really means what mention the real hero, why just Hayek I suspect that Robert Heilbroner is he says. He argues that the basic premise and Mises ifthey had nothing to do with unaware of just how well his talk with of libertarianism is based on the absence his belated enlightenment? Mark Skousen ("Economics After Social­ of certainty. "1 have no right to coerce D. G. Lesvic ism," July 1991) demonstrates the pover­ someone else, because I cannot be sure ty of the Left. His hatred of the ATT Pacoima, Calif. that I am right and he is wrong." But is break-up is nothing more than knee-jerk Another Paradox of Tolerance Friedman unsure even of this argument, anti-capitalism, and his praise for Keynes Apparently Dr Friedman does not and of its conclusion? What if someone reveals an economist concerned not with recognize the paradoxical character of argued that because certainty is impossi­ his science, but with his leftist ideology. his critique of Ayn Rand ("Just Say 'No' ble, persuasion is pointless and coercion What, after all, were Keynes' "signifi­ to Intolerance"): Rand is wrong to think is the only means of dealing with peo­ cant contributions"? Heilbroner cites that she can have objective moral know­ ple? And what can we say to someone Keynes' belief that "the national econo- ledge because it shows that she lacks hu- continued on page 4 2 Liberty ed Leb September 1991 lnSI e 1 erty Volume 5, Number 1 2 Letters on whether or not to tolerate intolerance, plundering economists, latter-day leftists, and dogs of war. 7 Reflections Liberty's editors on snatching bodies, hatching owls, botching health care, watching Jeopardy, hugging George Bush and other matters ethereal and mundane. Features 18 The Real Clarence Thomas He's a natural rights advocate who quotes Karl Hess and Malcolm X and admires Ayn Rand. R. W. Bradford and James Taggart explain why George Bush may be getting a lot more than he bargained for. 23 Monumental Destruction Frank Fox finds that, while abstract reasoning may be a necessary weapon against ideology, some reformations are best accomplished with a sledge hammer. 26 Experimenting with Marijuana It's illegal. They say it leads to Reefer Madness. But it also relieves nausea and restores appetite. Robert Q'Boyle looks at the medicinal value of marijuana, and gives the straight dope on its utility in the fight against cancer and AIDS. 28 Gross National Product: A Bogus Idea? R. W. Bradford explores the history and rationale of the ubiquitous economic measurement. He is not impressed. 31 Buying Gasoline in Ethiopia Robert Miller braves custom officials, croc­ odiles, and elephantiasis on his trip through Eastern Africa-armed with a jerry can and a sense of humor. He brings home some very interesting souvenirs. 37 When Bombs are Smarter than People Bart Kosko examines the implications of introducing fuzzy logic and"spread spectrum" communications into modern warfare. War Games was just the beginning. 39 The Unraveling of Canada North America: Home to the United States, Canada ... and the sovereign state of Quebec? Scott Reid explains why Canada will soon break into two or more nations, and why no one cares. 43 The Suicide of Canadian Culture Why is the Great White North an artistic vacuum? Barry Chamish was there when Pierre Trudeau wrote the death sentence for Canadian culture. 45 50 Really Stupid Ways to Save the Earth Put away your biodegradable notepaper and pick up a shovel. Karl Hess knows precisely what to do with nut environmentalism. 47 Persuasion versus Force Mark Skousen believes that civilization is best measured by how little coercion is required to keep it intact. 51 The Phylogeny and Ontogeny of Rights James McClarin examines the rights of super-apes, sasquatches and parameciums. Reviews 53 The Gospel of DUty, According to Buckley William Moulton is grateful that Bill Buckley'S new National Service manifesto, Gratitude, at least provides a valuable (if unintended) service for opponents of "national service." 56 Respecting the Unrespectable John Hospers defends compassion and questions Paul Taylor'S rationale for respecting nature. 62 The War of the Words Sheldon Richman defends the "Bolshevik" Webster's Third against charges of permissiveness and sabotage. 67 Art and Literature: Retail and Wholesale Richard Kostelanetz explores the economics of art and criticism. 69 Notes on Contributors 70 Terra Incognita Volume 5, Number 1 Letters (continued from page 2) who actually enjoys using force? What sort of defense do we have for freedom or tolerance if we can't say for sure that coercion is wrong? Milton Friedman is a great and tire­ Stimulate less champion of liberty.