Liberty and Property

7/28/2019 Liberty and Property

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byLuwig vo Miss


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2009 by the Ludwig von Mises Institute

and published under the Creative Commons

Attribution License 3.0.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ludwig von Mises Institute

518 West Magnolia AvenueAuburn, Alabama 36832

www.mises.org

ISBN: 978-1-933550-54-1


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...the policies of individualism and

of capitalism, its application to economic

matters, do not need any apologists

or propagandists. The achievements

speak for themselves.

Ludwig von Mises


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C o n t e n t s

Part I 11

At the end o the eighteenth century there

prevailed two notions o liberty, each o themvery diferent rom what we have in mindtoday reerring to liberty and reedom.

Part II 15

The pre-capitalistic system o product was

restrictive. Its historical basis was militaryconquest.

Part III 23

What vitiates entirely the socialistseconomic critique o capitalism is their

ailure to grasp the sovereignty o theconsumers in the market economy.

Part IV 29

It was diferent in the esoteric discussionsamong the inner circles o the great

conspiracy. There the initiated did notdissemble their intentions concerningliberty.


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Part V 33

Romantic philosophy labored under theillusion that in the early ages o history theindividual was ree and that the course o

historical evolution deprived him o hisprimordial liberty.

Part VI 45

However, one does not exhaustively describe

the sweeping changes that capitalismbrought about in the conditions o thecommon man i one merely deals with thesupremacy he enjoys on the market as aconsumer.

Part VII 48

The distinctive principle o Western socialphilosophy is individualism. It aims at thecreation o a sphere in which the individualis ree to think, to choose, and to act without

being restrained by the intererence o thesocial apparatus o coercion and oppression,the State.


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Libry ad Prpry


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10 Libry ad Prpry


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Libry ad Prpry 11

I

At the end o ig c-

ury r prvail wo oios olibry, ac o m vry ir

rom wa w av i mi oay rrrigo libry a rom.

t rs o s cocpios was purlyacamic a wiou ay applicaio o couc o poliical aairs. I was aia riv rom books o aciauors, suy o wic was

tis aricl was origially livr as a lcur a PricoUivrsiy, Ocobr 1958, a 9 Mig o Mo Pl-ri Sociy.

11


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12 Libry ad Prpry

sum a subsac o igr ucaio. I ys o s Grk a Roma wrirs,rom was o somig a a o b

gra o all m. I was a privilg o mioriy, o b wil rom majoriy.Wa Grks call mocracy was, i lig o prs-ay rmiology, owa Licol call govrm by po-pl, bu oligarcy, sovrigy o ull-rig ciizs i a commuiy i wic masss wr mqus or slavs. ev israr limi rom ar our c-ury bor Cris was o al wi by pilosoprs, isorias, a oraors as a

pracical cosiuioal isiuio. As ysaw i, i was a aur o pas irrriv-ably los. ty bmoa passig ois gol ag, bu y i o kow aymo o rurig o i.

t sco oio o libry was o lssoligarcic, aloug i was o ispir byay lirary rmiisccs. I was ambi-io o la arisocracy, a som-ims also o urba paricias, o prsrv


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Libry ad Prpry 13

ir privilgs agais risig powr oroyal absoluism. I mos pars o coi-al europ, prics rmai vicori-

ous i s coics. Oly i egla ai nrlas i gry a urba paricias succ i aig yasis. Bu wa y wo was o r-om or all, bu oly rom or a li, ora mioriy o popl.

W mus o com as ypocris m wo i os ags prais libry, wily prsrv lgal isabiliis o may, v srom a slavry. ty wrac wi a problm wic y i o

kow ow o solv saisacorily. t ra-iioal sysm o proucio was oo ar-row or a coiually risig populaio. tumbr o popl or wom r was, ia ull ss o rm, o room l by pr-capialisic mos o agriculur aarisasip was icrasig. ts supru-mraris wr sarvig pauprs. ty wra mac o prsrvaio o xisigorr o sociy a, or a log im, oboy


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14 Libry ad Prpry

coul ik o aor orr, a sa o aairs,a woul all o s poor wrcs.tr coul o b ay qusio o graig

m ull civil rigs, sill lss o givig ma sar o couc o aairs o sa. toly xpi rulrs kw was o kpm qui by rsorig o orc.


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Libry ad Prpry 15

II

the PRe-CAPItALIStIC sysmo prouc was rsriciv. Is isori-cal basis was miliary coqus. t

vicorious kigs a giv la o ir

palais. ts arisocras wr lors i liral maig o wor, as y io p o paroag o cosum-rs buyig or absaiig rom buyig o amark. O or a, y mslvs

wr mai cusomrs o procssigiusris wic, ur guil sysm,wr orgaiz o a corporaiv scm.tis scm was oppos o iovaio. Iorba viaio rom raiioal m-os o proucio. t umbr o popl

or wom r wr jobs v i agricul-ur or i ars a cras was limi.Ur s coiios, may a ma, o us

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16 Libry ad Prpry

wors o Malus, a o iscovr aa aurs migy as r is o vacacovr or im a a s lls im o b

go.1 Bu som o s oucass vr-lss maag o surviv, bgo cilr, ama umbr o siu grow op-lssly mor a mor.

Bu cam capialism. I is cusom-

ary o s radical iovaios a capi-alism broug abou i subsiuio o mcaical acory or mor primi-iv ad lss fci mods o arisassops. tis is a rar suprcial viw. t

caracrisic aur o capialism a dis-iguiss i rom pr-capialis mods oproducio was is w pricipl o mar-kig. Capialism is o simply mass pro-ducio, bu mass producio o saisy ds o masss. t ars ad cras o

good old days ad card almos xclu-sivly o was o wll-o-do. Bu

1 tomas R. Malus,An Essay on the Principle o Population,2 . (Loo, 1803), p. 531.


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Libry ad Prpry 1

acoris producd cap goods or may. All arly acoris urd ou wasdsigd o srv masss, sam sraa

a workd i acoris. ty srvdm ir by supplyig m dircly oridircly by xporig ad us provid-ig or m orig ood ad raw marials.tis pricipl o markig was siga-ur o arly capialism as i is o prs-daycapialism. t mploys mslvs ar cusomrs cosumig muc grarpar o all goods producd. ty ar sov-rig cusomrs wo ar always rig.tir buyig or absio rom buyigdrmis wa as o b producd, i waquaiy, ad o wa qualiy. I buyig wasuis m bs y mak som rprissproi ad xpad ad mak or r-priss los moy ad srik. trby yar coiually siig corol o acors

o producio io ads o os busi-ssm wo ar mos succssul i lligir was. Udr capialism priva prop-ry o acors o producio is a socialucio. t rprurs, capialiss, ad


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1 Libry ad Prpry

lad owrs ar madaaris, as i wr, o cosumrs, ad ir mada is rvo-cabl. I ordr o b ric, i is o sufci

o av oc savd ad accumulad capial.I is cssary o ivs i agai ad agai ios lis i wic i bs lls was o cosumrs. t mark procss is a dailyrpad plbisci, ad i jcs iviablyrom raks o proiabl popl oswo do o mploy ir propry accordigo ordrs giv by public. Bu busi-ss, arg o aaical ard o paro all comporary govrms ad sl-syld illcuals, acquirs ad prsrvsbigss oly bcaus i works or masss.t plas a car o luxuris o w vr aai big siz. t sorcomig oi-cury isorias ad poliiciaswas a y aild o raliz a workrswr mai cosumrs o producs o

idusry. I ir viw, wag arr was ama oilig or sol b o a parasiiclisur class. ty labord udr dlu-sio a acoris ad impaird loo maual workrs. I y ad paid ay


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Libry ad Prpry 1

aio o saisics y would asily avdiscovrd allaciousss o ir opi-io. Ia moraliy droppd, avrag

lg o li was prologd, populaiomuliplid, ad avrag commo majoyd amiis o wic v wll-o-do o arlir ags did o dram.

howvr is uprcdd ricm

o masss wr mrly a by-produc o Idusrial Rvoluio. Is mai aciv-m was rasr o coomic suprmacyrom owrs o lad o oaliy o populaio. t commo ma was o lo-gr a drudg wo ad o b saisd wi

crumbs a ll rom abls o ric.t r paria cass wic wr carac-risic o pr-capialisic ags slavs, srs, ad os popl wom parisic adscolasic auors as wll as Briis lgislaiorom six o i curisrrrd o as poordisappard. tirscios bcam, i is w sig o busi-ss, o oly r workrs, bu also cusom-rs. tis radical cag was rcd i


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20 Libry ad Prpry

mpasis laid by busiss o marks. Wabusiss ds rs o all is marks ad agaimarks. tis was wac-word o capial-

isic rpris. Marks, a mas paros,buyrs, cosumrs. tr is udr capialismo way o wal: o srv cosumrsbr ad capr a or popl do.

Wii sop a acory owr

or i corporaios, rprsaiv o sarolrs, prsiis boss.Bu is masrsip is mrly appar acoiioal. I is subjc o suprmacy o cosumrs. t cosumr is kig, is ral boss, a mauacurr is o or i

os o ousrip is compiors i bssrvig cosumrs.

I was is gra coomic rasormaioa cagd ac o world. I vrysoo rasrrd poliical powr rom

ads o a privilgd mioriy io adso popl. Adul racis ollowd i wak o idusrial racism. t com-mo ma, o wom mark procss adgiv powr o coos rprur


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Libry ad Prpry 21

ad capialiss, acquird aalogous powri ld o govrm. h bcam a vor.

I as b obsrvd by mi coo-miss, I ik rs by la Frak A. Fr,a mark is a dmocracy i wic vrypy givs a rig o vo. I would b morcorrc o say a rprsaiv govrmby popl is a amp o arrag co-

siuioal aairs accordig o modl o mark, bu is dsig ca vr b ullyacivd. I poliical ild i is always will o majoriy a prvails, ad mioriis mus yild o i. I srvs alsomioriis, providd y ar o so isigi-

ca i umbr as o bcom gligibl. tgarm idusry producs clos o olyor ormal popl, bu also or sou, ad publisig rad publiss o oly ws-rs ad dciv soris or crowd, bualso books or discrimiaig radrs. tris a scod impora dirc. I poli-ical spr, r is o mas or a idivid-ual or a small group o idividuals o disoby will o majoriy. Bu i illcual


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22 Libry ad Prpry

ld priva propry maks rbllio pos-

sibl. t rbl as o pay a pric or is

idpdc; r ar i is uivrs o

prizs a ca b wo wiou sacriics.

Bu i a ma is willig o pay pric, is

r o dvia rom rulig orodoxy or

o-orodoxy. Wa would codiios av

b i socialis commowal or r-

ics lik Kirkgaard, Scopaur, Vbl,

or Frud? For Mo, Courb, Wal Wi-

ma, Rilk, or Kaka? I all ags, piors o

w ways o ikig ad acig could work

oly bcaus priva propry mad co-

mp o majoriys ways possibl. Oly a

w o s sparaiss wr mslvs co-

omically idpd oug o dy

govrm io opiios o major-

iy. Bu y oud i clima o r

coomy amog public popl prpardo aid ad suppor m. Wa would Marx

av do wiou is paro, mauac-

urr Fridric egls?


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Libry ad Prpry 23

III

WhAt VItIAteS irly social-iss coomic criiqu o capialismis ir ailur o grasp sovr-

igy o cosumrs i mark co-

omy. ty s oly irarcical orgaizaioo various rpriss ad plas, ad ara a loss o raliz a pro sysm orcsbusiss o srv cosumrs. I irdaligs wi ir mployrs, uios

procd as i oly malic ad grd wr oprv wa y call maagm rom pay-ig igr wag ras. tir sorsigd-ss dos o s ayig byod doorso acory. ty ad ir cm alkabou cocraio o coomic powr,

ad do o raliz a coomic powr isulimaly vsd i ads o buyigpublic o wic mploys mslvs

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24 Libry ad Prpry

orm imms majoriy. tir iabiliyo comprd igs as y ar is rcdi suc iappropria mapors as idus-

rial kigdom ad dukdoms. ty ar oodull o s dirc bw a sovrigkig or duk wo could b dispossssd olyby a mor powrul coquror ad a coco-la kig wo oris is kigdom as sooas cusomrs prr o paroiz aorsupplir. tis disorio is a boom o allsocialis plas. I ay o socialis cis adrid o ar is livig by sllig o dogs, would av lard somig abou sov-rigy o cusomrs. Bu y wr pro-

ssioal rvoluioaris ad ir oly jobwas o kidl civil war. Lis idal was obuild a aios producio or accordigo modl o pos ofc, a ou ados o dpd o cosumrs, bcausis dcis ar covrd by compulsory collc-

io o axs. t wol o sociy, said,was o bcom o ofc ad o acory.2

2 V.I. Li, State and Revolution (nw York: IraioalPublisrs, s..) p. 84.


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Libry ad Prpry 25

h did o s a vry caracr o oic ad acory is irly cagdw i is alo i world ad o logr

gras o popl opporuiy o coosamog producs ad srvics o variousrpriss. Bcaus is blidss mad iimpossibl or im o s rol markad cosumrs play udr capialism,

could o s dirc bw rdomad slavry. Bcaus i is ys workrswr oly workrs ad o also cusomrs, blivd y wr alrady slavs udr capi-alism, ad a o did o cag ir sa-us w aioalizig all plas ad sops.

Socialism subsius sovrigy o a dic-aor, or commi o dicaors, or sovr-igy o cosumrs. Alog wi co-omic sovrigy o ciizs disapparsalso ir poliical sovrigy. to uiquproducio pla a auls ay plaig o par o cosumrs corrspods i cosiuioal spr o pary pricipla dprivs ciizs o ay opporuiyo pla cours o public aairs. Frdom


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26 Libry ad Prpry

is idivisibl. h wo as o aculy o

coos amog various brads o cad

ood or soap, is also dprivd o powr o

coos bw various poliical paris ad

programs ad o lc ofcoldrs. h

is o logr a ma; bcoms a paw i

ads o suprm social gir. ev

is rdom o rar progy will b ak

away by ugics. O cours, socialis

ladrs occasioally assur us a dicao-

rial yray is o las oly or priod o

rasiio rom capialism ad rprsa-

iv govrm o socialis millium

i wic vrybodys was ad wiss willb ully saisd.3 Oc socialis rgim

is sufcily scur o risk criicism, Miss

Joa Robiso, mi rprsaiv

o Briis o-Cambridg scool, is kid

oug o promis us, v idpdpilarmoic sociis will b allowd o

3 Karl Marx, Sur Kritik des Sozialdemoskratischen Programmsvon Gotha, . Kribic (Ricbrg, 1920), p. 23.


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Libry ad Prpry 2

xis.4 tus liquidaio o all dissrs is codiio a will brig us wa com-muiss call rdom. From is poi o viw

w may also udrsad wa aor dis-iguisd eglisma, Mr. J.G. Crowr,ad i mid w praisd iquisiio asbcial o scic w i procs a ris-ig class.5t maig o all is is clar.W all popl mkly bow o a dicaor,r will o logr b ay dissrs l orliquidaio. Caligula, torqumada, Robspi-rr would av agrd wi is soluio.

t socialiss av gird a sma-ic rvoluio i covrig maig o

rms io ir opposi. I vocabularyo ir nwspak, as Gorg Orwll calldi, r is a rm o-pary pricipl.now ymologically pary is drivd rom ou par. t brorlss par is o logr

4 Joa Robiso,Private Enterprise and Public Control(pub-lis or Associaio or eucaio i Cizsip by eglis Uivrsiis Prss, L., s..), pp. 1314.

5 J.G. Crowr, Social Relations o Science (Loo, 1941),p. 333.


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2 Libry ad Prpry

dir rom is aoym, wol; i isidical wi i. A brorlss pary is o apary, ad o pary pricipl is i ac a

o-pary pricipl. I is a supprssio o aykid o opposiio. Frdom implis rig o coos bw ass ad diss.Bu i nwspak i mas duy o assucodiioally ad sric irdicio o dis-

s. tis rvrsal o radiioal cooa-io o all words o poliical rmiology iso mrly a pculiariy o laguag o Russia Commuiss ad ir Fascis adnazi discipls. t social ordr a i abol-isig priva propry dprivs cosum-

rs o ir auoomy ad idpdc, adrby subjcs vry ma o arbirarydiscrio o cral plaig board, couldo wi suppor o masss i y wro o camoulag is mai caracr. tsocialiss would av vr dupd vors iy ad oply old m a ir ulimad is o cas m io bodag. For xoricus y wr orcd o pay lip-srvic o radiioal apprciaio o libry.


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Libry ad Prpry 2

IV

It WAS dIFFeRent i soric is-cussios amog ir circls o gra cospiracy. tr iiia i

o issmbl ir iios cocrig

libry. Libry was, i ir opiio, cr-aily a goo aur i pas i ramo bourgois sociy bcaus i provim wi opporuiy o mbark oir scms. Bu oc socialism as ri-ump, r is o logr ay or roug a auoomous acio o paro iiviuals. Ay urr cag ca olyb a viaio rom prc sa amaki as aai i racig bliss osocialism. Ur suc coiios, i woulb simply luacy o olra iss.

Libry, says Bolsvis, is a bour-gois prjuic. t commo ma os

2


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30 Libry ad Prpry

o av ay ias o is ow, os owri books, os o ac rsis, aos o iv w mos o prouc-

io. h jus was o joy li. h as ous or class irss o illcualswo mak a livig as prossioal issrsa iovaors.

tis is craily mos arroga is-

ai o plai ciiz vr vis. tris o o argu is poi. For qus-io is o wr or o commoma ca imsl ak avaag o lib-ry o ik, o spak, a o wri books.t qusio is wr or o sluggis

rouiis pros rom rom grao os wo clips im i illigca will powr. t commo ma maylook wi iirc a v compupo aligs o br popl. Bu is lig o joy all bs wic avors o iovaors pu a isisposal. h as o comprsio o wai is ys is mrly ia air-spliig. Buas soo as s ougs a oris ar


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Libry ad Prpry 31

uiliz by rprisig busissm or sa-isyig som o is la wiss, urriso acquir w proucs. t commo

ma is wiou oub mai bciaryo all accomplisms o mor sci-c a cology.

I is ru, a ma o avrag illcualabiliis as o cac o ris o rak

o a capai o iusry. Bu sovrigya mark assigs o im i coomicaairs simulas cologiss a promo-rs o covr o is us all acivmso sciiic rsarc. Oly popl wosillcual orizo os o x byo

iral orgaizaio o acory awo o o raliz wa maks busiss-m ru, ail o oic is ac.

t amirrs o Sovi sysm llus agai a agai a rom is o

suprm goo. I is o wor avig, ii implis povry. to sacric i i orr oaai wal or masss, is i ir ysully jusii. Bu or a w uruly ii-viualiss wo cao ajus mslvs


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32 Libry ad Prpry

o ways o rgular llows, all popl iRussia ar prcly appy. W may lav iuci wr is appiss was also

sar by millios o Ukraiia pasaswo i rom sarvaio, by imas o orc labor camps, a by Marx-ia lars wo wr purg. Bu w caopass ovr ac a saar o livigwas icomparably igr i r cou-

ris o Ws a i commuis eas.I givig away libry as pric o b paior acquisiio o prospriy, Rus-sias ma a poor bargai. ty ow avir o or or.


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V

ROMAntIC pilosopy labor

ur illusio a i arlyags o isory idividual was r

a a cours o isorical volu-

io priv im o is primorial libry.As Ja Jacqus Roussau saw i, auraccor m rom a sociy slavim. I ac, primval ma was a mrcyo vry llow wo was srogr a r-

or coul sac away rom im scarcmas o subsisc. tr is i auroig o wic am o libry coulb giv. t cocp o rom alwaysrrs o social rlaios bw m. tru,sociy cao raliz illusory cocp

o iiviuals absolu ipc.Wii sociy vryo ps o waor popl ar prpar o coribu o

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34 Libry ad Prpry

is wll-big i rur or is ow cori-buio o ir wll-big. Sociy is ss-ially muual xcag o srvics. As

ar as iiviuals av opporuiy ocoos, y ar r; i y ar orc byviolc or ra o violc o surrro rms o a xcag, o mar owy l abou i, y lack rom. tisslav is ur prcisly bcaus masrassigs im is asks a rmis wa as o rciv i ullls i.

As rgars social apparaus o rprs-sio a corcio, govrm, rcao b ay qusio o rom. Govr-

m is ssially gaio o libry. Iis rcours o violc or ra o vio-lc i orr o mak all popl oby orrs o govrm, wr y liki or o. As ar as govrms juris-icio xs, r is corcio, o r-om. Govrm is a cssary isiu-io, mas o mak social sysm ocoopraio work smooly wiou bigisurb by viol acs o par o


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Libry ad Prpry 35

gagsrs wr o omsic or o origorigi. Govrm is o, as som popllik o say, a cssary vil; i is o a vil,

bu a mas, oly mas availabl omak pacul uma coxisc possibl.Bu i is opposi o libry. I is baig,imprisoig, agig. Wavr a govr-m os i is ulimaly suppor by acios o arm cosabls. I govr-m opras a scool or a ospial, us rquir ar collc by axs, i.., bypayms xac rom ciizs.

I w ak io accou ac a, asuma aur is, r ca ir b civili-

zaio or pac wiou ucioig o govrm apparaus o viol acio,w may call govrm mos bi-cial uma isiuio. Bu ac rmaisa govrm is rprssio o rom.From is o b ou oly i spr iwic govrm os o irr. Lib-ry is always rom rom govrm.I is rsricio o govrms ir-rc. I prvails oly i ls i wic


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36 Libry ad Prpry

ciizs av opporuiy o coos way i wic y wa o proc. Civilrigs ar saus a prcisly circum-

scrib spr i wic m co-ucig aairs o sa ar prmi orsric iiviuals rom o ac.

t ulima a m aim a bysablisig govrm is o mak possibl

opraio o a i sysm o socialcoopraio ur pricipl o ivi-sio o labor. I social sysm wic po-pl wa o av is socialism (commuism,plaig) r is o spr o rom l.All ciizs ar i vry rgar subjc o

orrs o govrm. t sa is a oalsa; rgim is oaliaria. t gov-rm alo plas a orcs vryboyo bav accorig wi is uiqu pla.I mark coomy iiviuals arr o coos way i wic y wa oigra mslvs io ram o socialcoopraio. As ar as spr o mar-k xcag xs, r is spoaousacio o par o iiviuals. Ur is


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Libry ad Prpry 3

sysm a is call laissz-air, a wic

Fria Lassall ubb as ig-

wacma sa, r is rom bcaus

r is a l i wic iiviuals ar r

o pla or mslvs.

t socialiss mus admi r cao

b ay rdom udr a socialis sysm. Bu

y ry o oblira dirc bw srvil sa ad coomic rdom by

dyig a r is ay rdom i

muual xcag o commodiis ad sr-

vics o mark. evry mark xcag

is, i words o a scool o pro-social-

is lawyrs, a corcio ovr or popls

libry. tr is, i ir ys, o dirc

wor mioig bw a mas pay-

ig a ax or a imposd by a magisra,

or is buyig a wspapr or admissio o

a movi. I ac o s cass ma issubjc o govrig powr. hs o r,

or, as prossor hal says, a mas rdom

mas absc o ay obsacl o is


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3 Libry ad Prpry

us o marial goods.tis mas: I amo r, bcaus a woma wo as kida swar, praps as a birday prs or

r usbad, pus a obsacl o my usigi. I mysl am rsricig all or poplsrdom bcaus I objc o ir usig myoobrus. I doig is I am, accordig ois docri, xrcisig priva govrigpowr, wic is aalogous o public govr-m powr, powrs a govrmxrciss i imprisoig a ma i Sig Sig.

tose expoudig is amazig doc-rie cosisely coclude a libery isowere o be oud. tey asser a wa

ey call ecoomic pressures do o esse-ially dier rom e pressures e mas-ers pracice wi regard o eir slaves.tey rejec wa ey call privae gover-meal power, bu ey do objec o eresricio o libery by public goverme

power. tey wa o cocerae all wa

Robr L. hal,Freedom Through Law, Public Control o Pri-vate Governing Power(nw York: Columbia Uivrsiy, 1952),pp. 4 .


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Libry ad Prpry 3

ey call resricios o libery i e adso e goverme. tey aack e isiu-io o privae propery ad e laws a, as

ey say, sad ready o eorce properyrigsa is, o dey libery o ayoe oac i a way wic violaes em.

A graio ago all ouswivs prparsoup by procig i accorac wi

rcips a y a go rom ir mo-rs or rom a cookbook. toay may ous-wivs prr o buy a ca soup, o warmi a o srv i o ir amily. Bu, say ourlar ocors, caig corporaio isi a posiio o rsric ouswis r-

om bcaus, i askig a pric or ica, i pus a obsacl o r us o i. Po-pl wo i o joy privilg o biguor by s mi acrs, woulsay a ca prouc was ur ou

by cary, a a corporaio iproucig i rmov gras obsaclo a cosumrs gig a usig a ca,

Ibi., p. 5.


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40 Libry ad Prpry

viz., is oxisc. t mr ssc o aprouc cao graiy ayboy wiou isxisc. Bu y ar wrog, say oc-

ors. t corporaio omias ous-wi, i sroys by is xcssiv cocrapowr ovr r iiviual rom, a i is uy o govrm o prv suca gross os. Corporaios, say, ur auspics o For Fouaio, aoro is group, Prossor Brl, mus b sub-jc o corol o govrm.8

Wy os our ouswi buy caprouc rar a clig o mos or mor a gramor? no oub

bcaus s iks is way o acig is moravaagous or r a raiioalcusom. noboy orc r. tr wrpoply ar call jobbrs, promors,capialiss, spculaors, sock xcag gam-blrswo a ia o saisyig a la

wis o millios o ouswivs by ivsig

8 A.A. Brl, Jr.,Economic Power and the Free Society, a Pre-liminary Discussion o the Corporation (nw York: t Fuor Rpublic, 1954).


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Libry ad Prpry 41

i cary iusry. A r ar orqually sls capialiss wo, i may u-rs o or corporaios, provi co-

sumrs wi may urs o or igs.t br a corporaio srvs pub-lic, mor cusomrs i gs, biggri grows. Go io om o avragAmrica amily a you will s or wom

wls o macis ar urig.I a r coury oboy is prv

rom acquirig rics by srvig co-sumrs br a y ar srv alray.Wa s is oly brais a ar work.

Mor civilizaio, arly all civilizaio,sai ewi Caa, las i a log lio mi Briis coomiss, is bas o pricipl o makig igs plasa oros wo plas mark, a uplas-a or os wo ail o o so.9 All is alk

abou cocraio o coomic powris vai. t biggr a corporaio is, mor

9 ewi Caa,An Economists Protest(Loo, 1928), pp.VI .


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42 Libry ad Prpry

popl i srvs, mor os i po plasig cosumrs, may, masss. ecoomic powr, i mark

coomy, is i as o cosumrs.

Capialisic busiess is o perseveracei e oce aaied sae o producio. I israer ceaseless iovaio, daily repeaedaemps o improve e provisio o e

cosumers by ew, beer ad ceaperproducs. Ay acual sae o producioaciviies is merely rasiory. tere pre-vails icessaly e edecy o supplawa is already acieved by someig aserves e cosumers beer. tere is co-

sequely uder capialism a coiuouscirculaio o elies. Wa caracerizes eme wom oe calls e capais o idus-ry is e abiliy o coribue ew ideas ado pu em o work. however big a cor-poraio mus be, i is doomed as soo asi does o succeed i adjusig isel dailyaew o e bes possible meods o serv-ig e cosumers. Bu e poliicias adoer would-be reormers see oly e


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Libry ad Prpry 43

srucure o idusry as is exiss oday.tey ik a ey are cleaver eoug osac rom busiess corol o e plas

as ey are oday, ad o maage em bysickig o already esablised rouies.Wile e ambiious ewcomer, wo will bee ycoo o omorrow, is already prepar-ig plas or igs ueard o beore, alley ave i mid is o coduc aairs alogracks already beae. tere is o record oa idusrial iovaio corived ad puio pracice by bureaucras. I oe does owa o pluge io sagaio, a ree admus be le o ose oday ukow me

wo ave e igeuiy o lead makidorward o e way o more ad more sa-isacory codiios. tis is e mai prob-lem o a aios ecoomic orgaizaio.

Priva propry o marial acors oproucio is o a rsricio o romo all or popl o coos wa suis mbs. I is, o corary, mas aassigs o commo ma, i is capac-iy as a buyr, suprmacy i all coomic


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44 Libry ad Prpry

aairs. I is mas o simula a aiosmos rprisig m o xr mslvso bs o ir abiliis i srvic o

all o popl.


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Libry ad Prpry 45

VI

HOWeVeR, o os o xausivlyscrib swpig cags acapialism broug abou i co-

diios o e commo ma i oe merely

deals wi e supremacy e ejoys o emarke as a cosumer ad i e aairs osae as a voer ad wi e uprecedeedimproveme o is sadard o livig. noless impora is e ac a capialism as

made i possible or im o save, o accumu-lae capial ad o ives i. te gul a ie pre-capialisic saus ad case socieyseparaed e owers o propery rom epeiless poor as bee arrowed dow. Iolder ages e joureyma ad suc a low

pay a e could ardly lay by someigad, i e evereless did so, e could olykeep is savigs by oardig ad idig a

45


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46 Libry ad Prpry

ew cois. Uder capialism is compe-ece makes savig possible, ad ere areisiuios a eable im o ives is

uds i busiess. A o icosiderableamou o e capial employed i Ameri-ca idusries is e couerpar o e sav-igs o employees. I acquirig savigsdeposis, isurace policies, bods ad alsocommo sock, wage earers ad salariedpeople are emselves earig ieres addivideds ad ereby, i e ermiologyo Marxism, are exploiers. te commoma is direcly ieresed i e fowerigo busiess o oly as a cosumer ad asa employee, bu also as a ivesor. tereprevails a edecy o eace o some exee oce sarp dierece bewee osewo ow acors o producio ad osewo do o. Bu, o course, is red caoly develop were e marke ecoomy is

o saboaged by allegedly social policies.te welare sae wi is meods o easymoey, credi expasio ad udisguisedilaio coiually akes bies ou o allclaims payable i uis o e aios legal


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Libry ad Prpry 4

eder. te sel-syled campios o ecommo ma are sill guided by e obso-lee idea a a policy a avors e debors

a e expese o e crediors is very be-ecial o e majoriy o e people. teiriabiliy o compreed e esseial car-acerisics o e marke ecoomy maiessisel also i eir ailure o see e obviousac a ose wom ey eig o aid are

crediors i eir capaciy as savers, policyolders, ad owers o bods.


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4 Libry ad Prpry

VII

the dIStInCtIVe pricipl oWsr social pilosopy is iiviu-alism. I aims a craio o a spr

i wic iiviual is r o ik, ocoos, a o ac wiou big rsraiby irrc o social apparaus ocorcio a opprssio, Sa. All spiriual a marial acivms o Ws-r civilizaio wr rsul o opra-

io o is ia o libry.tis ocri a policis o iivi-

ualism a o capialism, is applicaio ocoomic mars, o o ay apolo-giss or propagaiss. t acivmsspak or mslvs.

t cas or capialism a priva prop-ry rss, apar rom or cosiraios,

4


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Libry ad Prpry 4

also upo icomparabl icicy ois prouciv or. I is is fcicy amaks i possibl or capialisic busiss

o suppor a rapily icrasig populaioa a coiually improvig saar o liv-ig. t rsulig progrssiv prospriy o masss cras a social virom iwic xcpioally gi iiviualsar r o giv o ir llow-ciizs all yar abl o giv. t social sysm o privapropry a limi govrm is olysysm a s o barbariz all oswo av ia capaciy o acquir pr-soal culur.

I is a grauious pasim o blil marial acivms o capialism byobsrvig a r ar igs a ar morssial or makid a biggr ad spd-ir moorcars, ad oms quippd wicral aig, air codiioig, rrigra-ors, wasig macis, ad lvisio ss.tr craily ar suc igr ad oblrpursuis. Bu y ar igr ad oblrprcisly bcaus y cao b aspird


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o by ay xral or, bu rquir idividuals prsoal drmiaio adxrio. tos lvllig is rproac

agais capialism display a rar crud admarialisic viw i assumig a moralad spiriual culur could b buil irby govrm or by orgaizaio oproducio aciviis. All a s xralacors ca aciv i is rgard is o brigabou a virom ad a compcwic ors idividuals opporu-iy o work a ir ow prsoal prcioad dicaio. I is o aul o capial-ism a masss prr a boxig mac o

a prormac o SopoclsAntigone, jazzmusic o Bov sympois, ad comicso pory. Bu i is crai a wil pr-capi-alisic codiios as y sill prvail i muc grar par o world maks sgood igs accssibl oly o a small mior-

iy o popl, capialism givs o may aavorabl cac o srivig ar m.

From wavr agl o may look a capi-alism r is o raso o lam passig


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Libry ad Prpry 51

o allgdly good old days. Sill lss is ijusiid o log or oaliaria uopias,wr o nazi or o Sovi yp.

We are iauguraig oig e imeeig o e Mo Peleri Sociey. I isiig o remember o is occasio ameeigs o is kid i wic opiiosopposed o ose o e majoriy o our co-

emporaries ad o ose o eir gover-mes are advaced ad are possible olyi e climae o libery ad reedom a ise mos precious mark o Weser civiliza-io. Le us ope a is rig o dissewill ever disappear.


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52 Libry ad Prpry


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Liberty and Property

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