So, studies (seem) to show that working the night shift increases the changes that a person might get cancer. We know that smoking does so. Jim Fedako wants to know if the do-gooders who want to keep smokers from killing themselves with tobacco also want to prevent people from doing so by working at night. On an (somewhat) unrelated note, I’m always amazed to see that a piece I wrote over a year ago that’s critical of the anti-smoking brigade is consistently one of the most-viewed posts every month. Odd.
Daily Archive for December 2nd, 2007
In a previous post, I began to hypothesize about government being an economic entity. After continuing to consider this over the weekend, I’m all the more convinced that it ultimately is economic in origin, and that any understanding that subverts that is dangerous, especially to liberty.
In other words, the question of whether government exists independent of the economy (or is even the source of the economy and/or is in ultimate control of it) or if government exists within the constraints of the economy is of vital importance.
Since the economy is, at its most basic, a product of trading items of value, it seems illogical to conceive of the economy existing as a result of government. Trading among people is natural; when one person has something that another desires, the only ways in which the one desiring the item can obtain it are a) if it is given to him or her, b) a trade of some sort takes place, or c) he or she takes it from the other person against their will. No government of any variety is necessary for any of these to take place, especially the trade option. So, the economy at least can and does exist independent of the government.
But can government exist independently of the economy? I think not.
Hypothetically, a person can enter a situation where there is a power vacuum and take power by force. However, ultimately his taking power is an economic decision. The people who become subject to this hypothetical dictator have simply made the decision (one that is quite understandable, if the dictator has superior firepower) that their lives are more important than rocking the boat, opposing the dictator, and possible potentially losing their lives in pursuit of the goal of not living under the power of the dictator. Since each individual person makes this choice by comparing the subjective value of each possible option, they have made an economic decision.
If this is true, then it seems that for government to attempt to control the economy would involve subverting the natural order of things, which most likely will result in disaster sooner or later.
More on that later …
I had an unexpected surprise arrive in the mail on Saturday. Specifically, a letter from EPB (the power company, for those of you not in town).
On behalf of EPB, I’d like to apologize for the intermittent power interruptions that happened at your home and in your neighborhood on Sunday, November 25. Although an interruption of electricity is never convenient, we are especially regretful that you experienced a power outage during a holiday weekend.
The letter goes on to explain the cause of the outage (somebody hit a utility pole and drove off and didn’t report it), and that they weren’t happy with the time it took them to locate and repair the issue, and they want to do better in the future.
Can’t say that I’ve ever gotten a letter from a power company apologizing for an outage before. Even though it’s only a token gesture, I’m quite impressed.
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