Globalism

Instapundit has a short discussion of Hayek, many of whose ideas are behind the Teaparty movement (i.e. economic libertarians, as opposed to the GlenBeck/Social conservatives...they are not the same).

In a nutshell, Hayek says letting the market rule the world is better than central planning, because you get feedback from the people (who if they don't like your product, they buy elsewhere or do without), whereas when governments take over, they use the idea of "emergency" to justify prosecuting the opposition to "save the people".

PBS series on this HERE.
also on google video and youtube.



and for the easy version, try the comic book.

If you are pro Teaparty, Hayek's book shows the danger of Big Brother. But if you are anti Teaparty, Hayek's ideas also warn what happens when the people will throw them out and get in a dictator who promises to fix things.

The difference, of course, is that the Teaparty movement isn't asking for a savior, but for government to let them alone so they can do things for themselves.



I'm not sure I agree with Hayek (I prefer Shumaker's "Small is Beautiful" ideas of local economics) but you know, after studying how civilization emerged, it's amazing how trade, with it's spreading of items, technology, and ideas, stimulated civilization. Alas, disease and dictatorships and organized war also came along, but violence and murder and disease existed in the stone age too...