It is no secret that I am not a fan of libertarianism. While I do hold similar opinions in regards to non-interference in the personal affairs of individuals (gay marriage, abortion), I find the libertarian view of the free market a bit extreme and unrealistic. I cannot, however, dismiss the fact that libertarians apply their beliefs more consistently than those of other schools of economic thought. They are also much more willing to defend their position (rightly or wrongly) at length. As such, it is a hobby of mine to read libertarian blogs as a way to further educate myself on their position. One particular piece, entitled "Does Capitalism Make Us More Materialistic", struck me, as the topic presented is consistent with many of the topics that we hope to discuss here.
Given the bitter taste that libertarianism leaves in my mouth, it's probably easy to guess that I do not agree with the general points of the article, and I find it difficult to accept the neutrality of a piece whose first paragraph reads:
There was a time when the advocates of socialism argued that it would lead man to material abundance, whereas free-market capitalism would lead only to increasing misery and would ultimately collapse under its own internal stresses. You don't hear that too much these days, and for good reason. A century of empirical evidence has shown the contrary — that the free market leads to increasing wealth and material freedom, while socialism leads us only to poverty, state supremacy, and ultimately, mass murder.
