Economics of Freedom
Introduction
My name is Cyrus Epler. One of my main interests has been economics. It has been through my study of economics that I became a firm believer in human freedom. I greatly admire the men who founded America and the ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. I strongly believe that freedom is a fundamental necessity for human progress. For us all to fulfill our potential, we must be free to pursue our dreams. I am not a trained economist. My studies have been on my own through books.
I have read many books on economics. My intention with this website is to distill different topics into short and easily understood articles to help laymen get a firm understanding of economics. I have gotten into many discussions with people, often well meaning people, who just do not understand why their ideas, usually some version of socialism, just won't work. Not only will they not work, but they will lead to results they do not want. Good intentions can not and will not trump science. The world works in predictable ways and those ways can be discovered through empirical testing. That is the definition of science. Economics is a science and through its principles we can make a more prosperous and free society with happier and more fulfilled people.At the very least, we can set up a governing system that will give us the best chance of having a free people with free minds and free markets. Actually, the Founding Fathers set up one, we just have to follow it!
There is a lot of misinformation out there. There are competing schools of thought that all call themselves Economics. But many of those schools of thought have been discredited and belong in the dustbin of history, right in the trash along with Communism and Kenesian economics. The economists that have helped me the most to get a firm understanding are F. A. Hayek and Ludwig von Mises. Murray Rothbard is a firebrand of liberty and a good economist. Milton Friedman was a fine economist and a leader of the Chicago school of economics. Another excellent writer is Thomas Sowell who has written a fine basic book on economics and several shorter works that address specific contemporary issues. Click on the different schools of economic thought (Austrian School, Chicago School) to see the books that have influenced my study of economics. Or click on Book Reviews to jump straight to my reviews of influential books on economics.
If these are to dry for you, or you want some inspiration from a surprising source, try this book by Ted Nugent. That's right, the rocker Ted Nugent, the Nuge, the gonzo wildman, has a lot to say on being an American. I don't agree with everything he says, but Ted, White, and Blue, the Nugent Manifesto is a darn good read. Check out my review of his book on my Ted Nugent page.
Who Am I?
Why Am I Writing This?
I am writing this because I am worried about the future of America. The future of freedom. To many people just do not understand how economics works and they believe that government can supplant the market and somehow provide a fair distribution of the goods and services provided by the economy. While they may have the best of intentions, they are seriously mistaken. If they are successful in attempting to implement their ideas, we will all pay. We will pay with less freedom, less prosperity, less happiness and less fulfilled lives. Our children will fair even worse.
I am writing this because when I talk to people about what the government is doing, I get very frustrated. People don't understand economics and a lot of the people I try to talk to are intelligent, thoughtful people and I know they vote. But they don't understand basic economic principles and when I try to explain it to them, I can just see their eyes glaze over. Economics isn't really hard, although most people think it is complicated. In truth, there are a few simple rules that allow for very complex systemic interactions. It is the duty of a free people to govern ourselves based on the best information available and that includes the science of economics. How else can they make informed choices while voting?
