Comments on: Pirate Economist Gets His Treasured Booty

By: KWA

KWA — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:00:28 +0000

Paul,
How is a private association of individuals insuring against future loss socialism? No that I know a whole lot about the actual history of pirates, weren’t they more free than their conscripted navy counterparts? There were no press gangs for pirate ships. Also, European societies were much more strictly hierarchical than pirate life (and harder to escape as well).

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:24:30 +0000

it was my understanding that Pirates were the original socialists – they divided up their booty according to a strict hierarchy and had a kind of rudimentary healthcare system whereby there were set compensations for specific injuries – so much for losing an eye, so much for a hand etc.

By: Ombibulous

Ombibulous — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:25:39 +0000

I roomed with Leeson in college and while I wouldn’t look to him for advice on cleaning dishes or proper shaving technique, I am eagerly anticipating The Invisible Hook. Leeson knew more about Von Mises and the free market when he graduated high school than most graduate econ students ever know. Also he has a kick ass tatoo.

By: Pete

Pete — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:59:12 +0000

The Invisible Hook is available here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0691137471/theagitator-20/

By: Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:43:10 +0000

#5 & 6

I was coming here JUST to say great headline. I read the article, then re-read the headline. Brilliant subtlety.

By: Mattocracy

Mattocracy — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:40:22 +0000

I thought that was a great headline.

By: Nick T

Nick T — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:51:56 +0000

Not your best headline work, Radley.

Where can I buy the book?

By: Euler

Euler — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:54:28 +0000

Leeson is the man. I took a class with him when I was a senior in college. He is a brilliant thinker and a class act all around.

By: JS

JS — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:44:54 +0000

Arrrrrgh!

By: Boyd Durkin

Boyd Durkin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:32:13 +0000

Surfing his pirate posts (Hobbs, Locke, and Blackbeard on social contracts) I found something that got me pretty excited:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/googles-search-goes-out-to-sea/

Avoid taxes by floating your company at sea! It wouldn’t work, just ask AIG (and the Beatles) about how government can make up rules to tax whatever they want. But, floating servers powered by waves and the sun! All kinds of awesome.

By: billy-jay

billy-jay — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:22:33 +0000

That’s the coolest thing I’ve heard so far this year.