Gary Johnson HOT: Gary Johnson Interview with Robert Wenzel - Just How Libertarian is Gary Johnson?

[Tenbobnote]

New Gary Johnson interview with Robert Wenzel from EconomicPolicyJournal.com

Highlights:

Robert Wezel: "What is your favorite Murray Rothbard book?"
Gary Johson: (after saying he had read Rothbard earlier in the inverview) "If I said I had read Murray Rothbard, I have NOT read Murray Rothbard."

Robert Wenzel: "What about Ludwig von Mises?"
Gary Johnson: "well uhh.. you know I have just read excerpts from Von Mises; look Bob if your out to catch me you've got me, you know you've got me, hook line sinker, you know I'm not sure.."

Robert Wenzel: "What about Henry Hazlit, do you have a favorite of one of his books?"
Gary Johnson: (Changes the subject, I guess he couldn't remember "Economics in One Lesson" at the time.)
(Then comes back with) "...Henry Hazlitt, no I have no read Henry Hazlitt."

Listen to the whole thing here:

 

[FSP-Rebel]

this will have a short life span

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Wrong forum.

 

[jj-]

Sounds like a lame gotcha interview. Does anyone have a transcript?

 

[kathy88]

In before the exile.

 

[GeorgiaAvenger]

You mean, how Austrian are you?

Gary is not perfect but I think this was planned hit. Gary is not an intellectual.

 

[jj-]

This is an idiotic lame interview. Your knowledge of libertarianism isn't measured by who you read. Libertarianism actually is quite simple and a smart person can figure out that the proper role of government is nothing but the protection of life, liberty, and property, without having to read 1000-page books from long dead economists.

 

[Tenbobnote]

This is an idiotic lame interview. Your knowledge of libertarianism isn't measured by who you read. Libertarianism actually is quite simple and a smart person can figure out that the proper role of government is nothing but the protection of life, liberty, and property, without having to read 1000-page books from long dead economists.

I strongly disagree and I would bet Ron Paul would disagree as well. If one is going to run the highest levels of government he better darn well understand exactly how the economy works or he will get run over by special interests and the keynsian arguments that will trample their way. If they do not understand the business cycle, how the heck are they going to know what to do to stop it!?, the same goes with any argument that big government ideology has brought upon this world. As Ron Paul constantly says "This is an ideological battle", this is a war of ideas, ideas are brought fruition in knowledge and that knowledge is contained in books.

Austrian economics MUST be understood if you are going to want to really know the way the economy works. Gary Johnson failed to prove he has that understanding.

 

[jj-]

I strongly disagree and I would bet Ron Paul would disagree as well. If one is going to run the highest levels of government he better darn well understand exactly how the economy works or he will get run over by special interests and the keynsian arguments that will trample their way. If they do not understand the business cycle, how the heck are they going to know what to do to stop it!?, the same goes with any argument that big government ideology has brought upon this world. As Ron Paul constantly says "This is an ideological battle", this is a war of ideas, ideas are brought fruition in knowledge and that knowledge is contained in books.

Austrian economics MUST be understood if you are going to want to really know the way the economy works. Gary Johnson failed to prove he has that understanding.

If you already know that the government should do nothing except protect private property, the physical integrity of individuals, and enforce contracts, how would your policy recommendations differ from one who knows the details of Mises' regression theorem?

 

[Tenbobnote]

If you already know that the government should do nothing except protect private property, the physical integrity of individuals, and enforce contracts, how would your policy recommendations differ from one who knows the details of Mises' regression theorem?

The main point is, why does private property and individual rights have to be protected. If the philosophy of men is to protect these that is good. But what is also important is to know why. If one does not understand why the foundation becomes unstable. There are exceptions for the common good here and there; if everyone benefits from a minimum wage why not have one? (If you did not know why minimum wage was bad how could you defend this?) I could go on and on with different examples, but i think you get my point.

 

[tttppp]

I strongly disagree and I would bet Ron Paul would disagree as well. If one is going to run the highest levels of government he better darn well understand exactly how the economy works or he will get run over by special interests and the keynsian arguments that will trample their way. If they do not understand the business cycle, how the heck are they going to know what to do to stop it!?, the same goes with any argument that big government ideology has brought upon this world. As Ron Paul constantly says "This is an ideological battle", this is a war of ideas, ideas are brought fruition in knowledge and that knowledge is contained in books.

Austrian economics MUST be understood if you are going to want to really know the way the economy works. Gary Johnson failed to prove he has that understanding.

I think the point of his post was that you don't need to read books to understand economics and libertarianism, not that economics and libertarianism isn't important.

 

[yankeedoodle]

The main point is, why does private property and individual rights have to be protected. If the philosophy of men is to protect these that is good. But what is also important is to know why. If one does not understand why the foundation becomes unstable. There are exceptions for the common good here and there; if everyone benefits from a minimum wage why not have one? (If you did not know why minimum wage was bad how could you defend this?) I could go on and on with different examples, but i think you get my point.

i'm glad at least someone gets it

 

[GeorgiaAvenger]

It was getting do condescending and rude I just had to turn it off.

 

[jj-]

The main point is, why does private property and individual rights have to be protected. If the philosophy of men is to protect these that is good. But what is also important is to know why. If one does not understand why the foundation becomes unstable. There are exceptions for the common good here and there; if everyone benefits from a minimum wage why not have one? (If you did not know why minimum wage was bad how could you defend this?) I could go on and on with different examples, but i think you get my point.

That there shouldn't be a minimum wage can simply be defended with freedom of contract. There is a long liberal tradition that goes back to Locke and was well formulated even before Menger wrote Principles of Economics. Moreover, the proper government can be defended if one simply understands that one shouldn't exert violence against innocent people, people who didn't hurt others, like one is doing when putting in jail some employer for hiring somebody and paying him below an arbitrary government-set amount.

 

[green73]

Wow PWNED! What libertarian worth his salt hasn't read Rothbard? He doesn't even understand the basics. He's not even read Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson, a book that should be compulsory not just for libertarians but everybody.

Love you Wenzel. Way to expose this poser.

 

[HigherVision]

He's featured among the quotes endorsing Peter Schiff on Peter Schiff's books though. So I'd guess that he's probably read them & Schiff is an Austrian. & also why not suggest Austrian economics books for him to read instead of being all "ah-ha!" about it?

 

[green73]

Karl Denninger:

I'm very happy that Robert did this interview and that he didn't back down. This is exactly the sort of hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled interview that we need in the public sphere, and you won't get it from MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, ABC or the other mainstream outlets.

If you're a Libertarian and can honestly vote for this man after hearing this -- if you can honestly say that this is a Libertarian economic platform in any way, shape or form not to mention believing that it can work then have at it.

I refuse to lie to either myself or to my readers.

...Thank you Robert Wenzel.

 

[Zach Vega]

Libertarianism is determined by how many Libertarian books you have read? Really?

 

[green73]

Libertarianism is determined by how many Libertarian books you have read? Really?

He clearly demonstrates his level of understanding in this interview. It is then hardly surprising that this supposed libertarian of 40 years has not bothered to read any books.

 

[tttppp]

He clearly demonstrates his level of understanding in this interview. It is then hardly surprising that this supposed libertarian of 40 years has not bothered to read any books.

I haven't read any of these books. Does that mean I'm not libertarian? Does that mean I'm not allowed to run for office? Does that mean I should take back my vote for Ron Paul because I'm not a real supporter?