Praxeology

What if I were to tell you that there is a science that allows society to function without the necessity of government? That science actually exists, its called praxeology. It is the science of human action. It is actually government intervention that interrupts the process of human action. Human action is the process of man choosing a means to justify and end. The end can be as simple as getting warm, or satisfying ones hunger. In our society man acts in a variety of complex ways, but it is always within the sphere of praxeology. You can read a number of Austrian scholars on the subject. I recently found a youtube channel that is extremely helpful, http://youtu.be/DwC_WQP_ZUw.

I don't want to get into the meat of the subject, and it is very meaty. I instead want to focus on the implications of this science. Like classical liberalism once was, and is today, the study of human action is widely ignored whether by choice or not. However, with the internet, it is possible for this knowledge to spread extremely quickly, and it is. We can see evidence of this in the 2012 Republican Primary. Ron Paul was only able to get a small amount of intense support four years ago. This year, he is one of the front runners. Ron Paul is a student of praxeology, and he shapes his political views around the science of human action. While it is still a long shot for Dr. Paul to win this presidential election his ideas are gaining support at a rate rarely seen in history.

Major economic uncertainty and a flawed foreign policy have been major reasons for this unique interest in freedom. Since the economic collapse in 2008 and the bailouts of 2009 people are starting to wake up. That, coupled with the failure of President Obama to bring troops home as promised is giving the libertarian message a lot of traction. What if, within the next few years there are more events that drive people to be interested in freedom? Is a liberty based intellectual revolution on the horizon? Undoubtedly there will be a major split in ideology with each coming crisis, but is that such a bad thing? With differing opinions comes a strong appreciation for the dangers of political power. We saw this under the Bush administration, as well as during the Obama presidency.

What will an intellectual revolution bring? As with most technology today, politics are becoming more and more specialized. The two-party system is dying. To answer the question, I think it will bring a significantly decentralized form of government. Each person being able to choose the political structure they prefer, without having to dramatically change their life. The internet is a blue-print for this structure. With the internet, people finally have a place to go to interact with like minded people. Right now, I am able to send my thoughts across the entire globe to anyone that wishes to read them. Crises inspired education will bring an increased evolution to this phenomenon. If there is a monetary collapse, and later, a collapse of the state itself, people will be forced to start over. Where will the leaders come from? Where will people go to spread their message? The internet. Social structures will materialize from digital to organic. The internet is human action on steroids.

An Open Letter

Do you remember the pride that swelled in your chest as you watched the "shock and awe" fall on Baghdad in 2003? Do you remember the dismissive statement you would always tell yourself when people brought up the fact that no WMD's were found? Do you remember putting the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on your car as if it represented your favorite football team? Do you remember staying up late at night watching the republican debates hoping that John McCain would just drop dead so Romney could win? I do.

I was, by all accounts, a nationalist. This was the way I was raised. I grew up saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" with pride, not knowing I was reciting the words of a self avowed socialist. Patriotism felt good. It felt like I was somehow a better person because America was great. Honestly, I think I was sick. In September 2008 all of that started to change.

With the financial collapse I started to have questions. Economics had always interested me, so I decided to pick up a book called, "The Housing Boom and Bust" By Thomas Sowell. I started to realize that government wasn't always so benevolent. I read biographies on the founding fathers which helped me to see things in a different perspective. Eventually, I experienced a paradigm shift. I think it happened when I searched "Austrian Economics" on Youtube. I found a video of a guy named Peter Schiff predicting the economic crisis years before it ever happened. I watched in amazement as respected economists laughed at him and told him he was crazy. Those 20 minutes on Youtube have changed my life.

Since that day I have read thousands of pages on Austrian Economics and libertarian logic. Before my thoughts were always based on other people's opinions and other people's fears or desires. Austrian Economics and praxeology has taught me to think for myself. I can see things more clearly now. This is why Schiff and every other Austrian Economist was able to predict the housing bubble. This is a key point. It is very rare, especially in politics, to hear any original thought or idea. It is almost always the talking point of some one with an agenda. Most people are sheep wandering from flock to flock, never having any inclination to not be a sheep. I took the "red pill." It is refreshing and extremely frustrating. I am amazed at how little people use the gift between there ears for anything of significance.