Libertarian Writers
by rrusczyk, May 23, 2009, 4:56 PM
Many of the libertarian writers I read seem to be forecasting that this country is about to go through a huge libertarian revolution. I also note that most of them a very optimistic people in general -- they tend to be the same crowd forecasting that my generation will be healthy and wealthy into our 150s or 200s, etc. While I hope they're right (especially on the latter point), I think they're getting carried away by that optimism on both counts. But that could be because I'm naturally such a pessimist.
These fundamental personality traits inform so many of our views, I think. It's very hard to overcome them. Rationally, by almost any measure, the world just keeps getting better. The long-term trend has been consistently good for centuries. And yet if I were a squirrel, my instinct would be to stockpile nuts like crazy now, despite knowing that everything is likely going to be better than I can imagine.
That said, actions speak louder than words. Thinking about what I *do* rather than what I speak or think, maybe I'm an optimist at heart, after all.
These fundamental personality traits inform so many of our views, I think. It's very hard to overcome them. Rationally, by almost any measure, the world just keeps getting better. The long-term trend has been consistently good for centuries. And yet if I were a squirrel, my instinct would be to stockpile nuts like crazy now, despite knowing that everything is likely going to be better than I can imagine.
That said, actions speak louder than words. Thinking about what I *do* rather than what I speak or think, maybe I'm an optimist at heart, after all.
February 2012
January 2012