Hi everyone,
I am one of those rare creatures who discovered and embraced Liberty through my studies in Austrian Economics. I'm an anarcho-capitalist as defined by Murray Rothbard; though as I've seen many of you Free Staters are taking back the simple title of (just plain ole) Anarchist. Thumbs up! I'd also like to take back the label "liberal" without having to qualify it with "classical" before it; but all in due time, I suppose.
How I found Free Keene?
Well that's something of a roundabout story. I found out about Ron Paul while at the Mises Institute in the summer of 2007. As a new anarchist, I didn't at first think I'd ever be active in politics again, but the 5th of November Money Bomb and the Ron Paul Revolution that ensued changed my mind about that. During the 2008 campaign, I actively participated in getting Dr. Paul on the ballot, donated to his campaign, etc. I also spent a lot of time trying to explain many of his free-market positions to many of his supporters that have a pretty limited understanding of the economics behind Dr. Paul's position. When Dr. Paul lost the primary, I tuned out of politics again and went back to my Econ.
I stayed politically asleep until I found out that his son won a seat in congress and that reawakened my interest in "the revolution." Since then I've been trying to get "back in tune" with what's going on in the movement and that's how I found out about the Free Staters and thus Free Keene.
At first, I have to admit that I thought you guys were not particularly helping "the cause" as I conceive it, but I think you've pretty well convinced me otherwise. I think you've done great work in drawing attention to the issue of oppressive government and I'd like to find a way to help that may involve moving to New Hampshire or not - I haven't decided yet. I'd also not likely engage in the sort of activism that would get me arrested, since I'm a parent (and just don't think my family can afford that burden), but I admire you guys for having the guts to stand up to "the man." Nice work.
My major concern right now, sadly, is for the financial welfare of my family. I finished classes at college in 2008 and my graduation is pending only the completion of my honors thesis in economics (on the mythical Social Security Trust Fund) which I've had no particular motivation to complete do to the complete lack of any decent job opportunities in my field. I've been working odd jobs here in Pennsylvania, barely paying the bills. Unfortunately, the good jobs in my field are mainly working for government and/or big business to defraud people out of their hard-earned money and I just can't bring myself to do that. LOL. I am however very dedicated to the cause of freedom and would love to join you all some day in New Hampshire - currently I worry mainly that I'd be financially jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
So if anyone knows of some decent work available to a free market economist out there, I'd greatly appreciate the info.
Why I'm here? I came across a post asking for an economics explanation of why global free trade is good for "us." That's my field! LOL. Hopefully I'll get to answer that post soon.
Thanks! Keep up the good work!
Welcome - hope you can escape to NH someday!
What do you mean that the Social Security Trust Fund is mythical? I heard it was in a "lockbox."
[quote author=mackler link=topic=4834.msg50296#msg50296 date=1298510920]
What do you mean that the Social Security Trust Fund is mythical? I heard it was in a "lockbox."
[/quote]
LOL. I'm sure you're just being sarcastic, but I'll elaborate anyway.
Surplus funds are taken in to the Treasury from payroll taxes. The Treasury issues bonds (IOU's) to SSA and uses the funds for other government expenses. Thus the "trust fund" is full of IOUs from other parts of government to SSA. When those bonds come due, the Treasury will have to pay it by further taxing the public, cutting spending, borrowing more and/or reducing pay-outs. If you think about it, there aren't a whole lot of things the government could do with those surplus funds that would be profitable or that we the people would be thrilled about (such as hand it over to select wall street tycoons to invest in the private market). The only "profitable" thing they could potentially do with those surplus funds is pay down the federal debt - of course, we know they have NOT done so.
So, we were taxed once through payroll taxes and will be taxed again by the same amount of those surpluses PLUS interest when the bonds come due. Charles Ponzi would be proud!!! He has taught Washington well.