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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
It's a very dry, but very good book detailing everything that happens. But it's not a read to breeze through and takes a lot of time to just sit down and comprehend what is being said.
This book captures the frustration of classical liberals (as opposed to modern liberals) when they see collectivist policies enacted despite the overwhelming evidence that socialism brings about disastrous results.
Having grown up and lived in Austria during World War I and later moving to Great Britain, Hayek was particularly frustrated when he saw Britain and the United States making the same mistakes of the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Hayek argues that collectivism eventually leads to tyranny. Central economic planning gives too much power to the government, which essentially puts that power in the hands of a small group rather than in each individual.
My favorite quote: “Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
Hayek’s thesis is very pertinent today in that when the federal government does meddle too much with the free market it causes problems and then those problems ironically are seen as the failing of the free market and not the ineptitude of government.
Having grown up and lived in Austria during World War I and later moving to Great Britain, Hayek was particularly frustrated when he saw Britain and the United States making the same mistakes of the Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Hayek argues that collectivism eventually leads to tyranny. Central economic planning gives too much power to the government, which essentially puts that power in the hands of a small group rather than in each individual.
My favorite quote: “Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
Hayek’s thesis is very pertinent today in that when the federal government does meddle too much with the free market it causes problems and then those problems ironically are seen as the failing of the free market and not the ineptitude of government.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
There’s nothing in this book that leads me to believe that Hayek would be opposed to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Obamacare, SNAP, FEMA, OSHA, the EPA, or stimulus spending. He goes so far as to speak approvingly of a guaranteed income.
The whole book is an argument against socialism, defined as “the abolition of private enterprise, of private ownership of the means of production, and the creation of a system of “planned economy” in which the entrepreneur working for profit is replaced by a central planning body.” That’s conventional wisdom today.
I don't see why he is a hero of conservatives.
The whole book is an argument against socialism, defined as “the abolition of private enterprise, of private ownership of the means of production, and the creation of a system of “planned economy” in which the entrepreneur working for profit is replaced by a central planning body.” That’s conventional wisdom today.
I don't see why he is a hero of conservatives.
Very good. I enjoyed Hayeks views. I recommend Bastats The Law to anyone who enjoyed this book.
Це ахуєнно.
І я все ще не розумію, як з ідей Хайека і Мільтона (я знаю, що ідеологами є не тільки вони, але все ж) могли з'явитись сучасні лібертаріанці (і це не комплімент). Хайек - по сьогоднішнім міркам, мабуть, помірно-правий, без радикальності і "перегинів", без фраз типу "держава це просто найсильніша банда" (да-да, анкапи, це про вас) і навіть чогось на зразок "taxation is theft".
І просто цитата з висновку, яка найточніше (імхо) відображає дух книги:
"Единственная прогрессивная политика — это по–прежнему политика, направленная на достижение свободы личности."
І я все ще не розумію, як з ідей Хайека і Мільтона (я знаю, що ідеологами є не тільки вони, але все ж) могли з'явитись сучасні лібертаріанці (і це не комплімент). Хайек - по сьогоднішнім міркам, мабуть, помірно-правий, без радикальності і "перегинів", без фраз типу "держава це просто найсильніша банда" (да-да, анкапи, це про вас) і навіть чогось на зразок "taxation is theft".
І просто цитата з висновку, яка найточніше (імхо) відображає дух книги:
"Единственная прогрессивная политика — это по–прежнему политика, направленная на достижение свободы личности."
Perhaps one of the most important defences of British liberal tradition of the post-war era. Highly recommended, but a bit densely written.
Despite the constant comparisons to Nazi Germany, t’s easy to forget that Hayek wrote over 70 years ago. He is incredibly prescient about issues and debates that have raged in the decades since - and most incredibly - often rightly predicts the outcomes of these debates.
About early 20th century socialism - “Attempts will no doubt be made to rescue the names for movements which are less dogmatic, less doctrinaire and less systematic.” At the time socialism meeting unambiguously the nationalisation of the means of production and the central economic planning which made this possible and necessary.
And this one rings incredibly true in the US today “‘Freedom’ and ‘liberty’ are now words so worn with use and abuse that one must hesitate to employ them to express the ideals for which they stood.”
Despite his thesis against socialism, a strong early advocate of centralised spending for the common good plus environmental and social accounting in the 40’s! “Thus neither the provision of signposts on the roads nor, in most circumstances, that of the road themselves can be paid for by every individual user. Nor can certain harmful effects of deforestation, of some methods of farming, or of the smoke and noise of factories be confined to the owner of the property in question or to those who are willing to submit to the damage for an agreed compensation."
Again, a great point against the modern surveillance state “We shall never prevent the abuse of power if we are not prepared to limit power in a way which occasionally may also prevent its use for desirable purposes.”
Hayek just gets it.
About early 20th century socialism - “Attempts will no doubt be made to rescue the names for movements which are less dogmatic, less doctrinaire and less systematic.” At the time socialism meeting unambiguously the nationalisation of the means of production and the central economic planning which made this possible and necessary.
And this one rings incredibly true in the US today “‘Freedom’ and ‘liberty’ are now words so worn with use and abuse that one must hesitate to employ them to express the ideals for which they stood.”
Despite his thesis against socialism, a strong early advocate of centralised spending for the common good plus environmental and social accounting in the 40’s! “Thus neither the provision of signposts on the roads nor, in most circumstances, that of the road themselves can be paid for by every individual user. Nor can certain harmful effects of deforestation, of some methods of farming, or of the smoke and noise of factories be confined to the owner of the property in question or to those who are willing to submit to the damage for an agreed compensation."
Again, a great point against the modern surveillance state “We shall never prevent the abuse of power if we are not prepared to limit power in a way which occasionally may also prevent its use for desirable purposes.”
Hayek just gets it.
There is something a little awe-inspiring about reading a book and realizing how much of your personal philosophy and intellectual heritage you owe to it. I got the same feeling the first time I read [b:Two Treatises of Government|137437|Two Treatises of Government (Library of Primary Sources)|John Locke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|3078362]. When I consider the impact this book has had on my life and work, it amazes me it took me this long to read it.
This should be required reading alongside [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532714506s/40961427.jpg|153313]. It conveys the problems of socialism and yet eerily resembles a conversation we could be having today.
Thought-provoking and inspiring, I highly recommend this one.
This should be required reading alongside [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1532714506s/40961427.jpg|153313]. It conveys the problems of socialism and yet eerily resembles a conversation we could be having today.
Thought-provoking and inspiring, I highly recommend this one.
informative
reflective
medium-paced