TokyoTom

TokyoTom

17p

6 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Who Owns the Amazon? -... · 1 reply · +2 points

Who owns the Amazon? The surprising answer by the author is that it is NOT the native indians (the "victim and its heirs"), apparently because they are "absent" -- but the settlers, who arrived and are still arriving with the aid of government, and who also played a part in the forcible removal of the natives. The author apparently does recognize the presence of indians, but only to complain about supposed government favoritism to indian groups - who are even now being forced from their lands by governments and elites eager for hydroelectric power, oil and gas, or other resources.

Does Belo Monte dam ring a bell? That's just scratching the surface of the continued litany pf property thefts from indians in Brasil and elsewhere:
http://mises.org/Community/blogs/tokyotom/search....

The rest of the post is riddled with contradictions and mistakes. In one breath, the author sweepingly declares that the Amazon was never owned and was never touched by the hand of man; but he earlier speaks of a large population and later talks about some apparently massive works now being discovered in some regions where forest cover is being reduced. Which will it be? Facts, or sweeping overstatements?
http://blogs.wsj.com/informedreader/2007/03/12/th...

Sorry, I lack sufficient time to give other parts the thorough shredding they deserve.

Sincerely,

TT

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Who Owns the Amazon? -... · 0 replies · +1 points

Right; us libertarians all know that the fact that one doesn't like the social system of pre-existing societies means that the forcible taking of their property is perfectly acceptable; indeed, even justifiable.

Good job, conquistadores! Those indians now all welcome their peonage, except for a few trouble-making Commies who pretend to demand "self-control".

TT

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Ludwig von Mises Insti... · 0 replies · -1 points

Good article, Paul.

"Today the US government has reversed its policy of selling assets"* Really? Coulda fooled me. You mean the US isn't as landlord addicted to massive sales/leases of timber, oil and gas, coal and mineral resources? Little things like BP's Gulf blowout and the illegal oil and gas leases so rudely interrupted two years ago by a young, man-hating enviro, come to mind.

TT

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Putting a Country Back... · 1 reply · +1 points

Just tweeted this, Bob.

"Given that the government is currently meddling with money and banking, returning to a gold standard is a very sensible move according to many Austrians."

Jeez, Bob, the Rothbardians here must be disappointed to find that you are a closet statist. I mean, don't you know that one can't argue for steps "in the right direction"; we gotta support an immediate end of the state!.

Get with the program, please.

Tom

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Grappling with the Ban... · 0 replies · +1 points

Dan, the free market "principals" would exercise their principles, and refuse to conduct absurd wars like this.

As long as people are undisturbed by governments, they will engage in commerce, in a manner that will gradually tied them together and reduce war.

Our great wars of the past century all had their roots in government interference with markets. See Rothbard's monetary history of the US.

TT

12 years ago @ Ludwig von Mises Insti... - Grappling with the Ban... · 2 replies · +1 points

Wendy, I think you're missing a very simple point -- this kind of cold murderous behavior, which we all rightly abhor, is far from an aberration but pretty common whenever human groups that have not developed any mutual social bonds interact.

This nature has been tamed somewhat by society - in particular by market morals that develop where sophisticated markets have arisen - but remains part of our genetic heritage.

Your reaction reminds me of Jane Goddall's horro when she discovered that her beloved peaceful chimpanzees murder and eat chimpanzees from rival groups.

Evil has a face, and it is us. It is also the face of Nature.

TT

PS: It wasn't THAT long ago that we were eating those we killed. Outgroups appeared have been the chief source of meat for Aztecs, for example.