thanks for this. Though I doubt any of the die hards will be swayed (Hayek also thought the UN was an good idea!) it is always a good thing to have a quote from one of their pantheon.
s
On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 03:00, Michael Pollak <mpollak at panix.com> wrote:
>
> http://generalissimo.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/you-know-that-the-word-has-become-meaningless-when/
>
> <begin David Ogles blog excerpt>
>
> One of the major influences [Ron Paul] cited as the basis for his
> libertarian philosophy was Austrian economist Friedrich Hayek's book
> _The Road To Serfdom_, which essentially is to socialism what Noam
> Chomsky's work is to capitalism.
>
> Which is why I found it quite surprising when I stumbled upon this
> passage in the book (emphasis mine):
>
> Nor is there any reason why the state should not assist the
> individuals in providing for those common hazards of life against
> which, because of their uncertainty, few individuals can make
> adequate provision. Where, as in the case of sickness and accident,
> neither the desire to avoid such calamities nor the efforts to
> overcome their consequences are as a rule weakened by the provision
> of assistance - where, in short, we deal with genuinely insurable
> risks - *the case for the state's helping to organize a comprehensive
> system of social insurance is very strong*...
>
> ...Wherever communal action can mitigate disasters against which the
> individual can neither attempt to guard himself nor make the
> provision for the consequences, *such communal action should
> undoubtedly be taken.*
>
> Friedrich Hayek, The Road To Serfdom (Chapter 9)
>
> <end blogcerpt>
>
> Michael
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>