Reflections on Lou Carabini’s
Inclined to Liberty
by Andrada Busuioc
I
wrote the first introduction to this review after reading only a few chapters
of Lou Carabini’s Inclined to Liberty. Those chapters led me to think the book was a
plea for a new way of organizing the community. I thought its purpose was to
convert people to ideas of liberty as part of a broader goal – that of setting
up a free society. That is why I was a bit surprised when I came across this
passage: “If one converts a socialist to a libertarian or an atheist to a
Christian, or vice versa, what is gained? Maybe the gain is simply the comfort
we experience when someone else reconfirms that our beliefs are ‘correct’ after
all”. From my point of view, a more pragmatic one, the gain is one vote for one
side or the other, meaning one step closer or farther from the world I (and any
person “inclined to liberty,” I’d argue) would like to live in.
wrote the first introduction to this review after reading only a few chapters
of Lou Carabini’s Inclined to Liberty. Those chapters led me to think the book was a
plea for a new way of organizing the community. I thought its purpose was to
convert people to ideas of liberty as part of a broader goal – that of setting
up a free society. That is why I was a bit surprised when I came across this
passage: “If one converts a socialist to a libertarian or an atheist to a
Christian, or vice versa, what is gained? Maybe the gain is simply the comfort
we experience when someone else reconfirms that our beliefs are ‘correct’ after
all”. From my point of view, a more pragmatic one, the gain is one vote for one
side or the other, meaning one step closer or farther from the world I (and any
person “inclined to liberty,” I’d argue) would like to live in.
I
was wrong. The book is a plea for liberty and a wonderful argument on why
people should love liberty. Lou Carabini appeals to two types of arguments –
the common sense and the economic reason.
was wrong. The book is a plea for liberty and a wonderful argument on why
people should love liberty. Lou Carabini appeals to two types of arguments –
the common sense and the economic reason.
The
common sense arguments are
illustrated through simple examples scattered all along our reading. If you want to help a neighbor in need, you might
ask the others to help them; under no circumstances you would force others to
help your neighbor, as that would be offensive to the idea of charity. They why
do state policies apply the reverse principle? If I buy from the grocer across
the street, we don’t think I have deficit and he has surplus, but if the
Canadian border separates us, then we would use these concepts. Why do we tend
to believe that the seller has more to gain then the buyer? When you buy a car,
you are far more excited with the new thing you achieved then unhappy with the
money you have given up for it.
common sense arguments are
illustrated through simple examples scattered all along our reading. If you want to help a neighbor in need, you might
ask the others to help them; under no circumstances you would force others to
help your neighbor, as that would be offensive to the idea of charity. They why
do state policies apply the reverse principle? If I buy from the grocer across
the street, we don’t think I have deficit and he has surplus, but if the
Canadian border separates us, then we would use these concepts. Why do we tend
to believe that the seller has more to gain then the buyer? When you buy a car,
you are far more excited with the new thing you achieved then unhappy with the
money you have given up for it.
The
economic arguments prove a deep
understanding of the mechanisms of the economy – inflation is discussed in
terms of “value of money”, regulations are linked to their crowding-out effect,
the importance of big profits in lowering prices is plainly explained. Sometimes,
these arguments turn into basic lessons of economics – Louis Carabini uses the
simplest and most useful explanations for the theory of comparative advantage
and explains in plain language or through examples the functioning of tax
system, the problem of value, the money issue, Marx’s theory, and concepts like
spontaneous order.
economic arguments prove a deep
understanding of the mechanisms of the economy – inflation is discussed in
terms of “value of money”, regulations are linked to their crowding-out effect,
the importance of big profits in lowering prices is plainly explained. Sometimes,
these arguments turn into basic lessons of economics – Louis Carabini uses the
simplest and most useful explanations for the theory of comparative advantage
and explains in plain language or through examples the functioning of tax
system, the problem of value, the money issue, Marx’s theory, and concepts like
spontaneous order.
However,
the beauty of this book consists in its boldness of stating uncomfortable truths:
the beauty of this book consists in its boldness of stating uncomfortable truths:
- There is
no “we” – using “we” instead of “I” when expressing a personal opinion
won’t fool anyone; it only provides a weak justification for imposing
personal standards on everybody else (Chapter 2) - Many
people are just puppets – they don’t take the time (or effort) to
think for themselves, but internalize the opinions of their group so effectively,
that they themselves are convinced of them. Moreover, they repeat and
defend these opinions as being their own (Chapter 4)
- “us vs.
them” is just a perverse strategy for using you – blaming the “others”
for all the ill in your life ensures the success of policy proposals that
otherwise would sound ridiculous. It reminded me of the parents of a
friend, Italian immigrants who settled in New York in the sixties, who are
now strong opponents of the current immigration wave – showing how once
you stop being among “the others” you can start fighting against them.
Sadly, few realize that every vote against “the others” is a vote against
themselves, because each of us is both “us” and “them”. Supporting a
policy against one group only continues the vicious circle of harming each
other. (Chapter 5)
- No one
owes us anything – “the only reliable, effective source of achievement
in the world is self-reliance”, therefore instead of wasting time and
effort by blaming the others for your problems, you should start looking for
solutions. Moreover, as comfortable as finding scapegoats might be, we
should pay attention as to not develop a conspiracy complex (Chapter 5)
- The State
cannot offer anything – as it does not create, it can only
redistribute what it collects and uses the perverse tools of inflation and
deficit
Lou Carabini dismantles through strong arguments some of the greatest myths of our time:
that the poor are getting poorer and rich are getting richer, that policies
aiming at reducing income inequality work, that wealthy people don’t give back
to the society, that reducing working hours create jobs and prosperity, and
that social engineering (war on drugs, public health care, education) solves social
problems.
that the poor are getting poorer and rich are getting richer, that policies
aiming at reducing income inequality work, that wealthy people don’t give back
to the society, that reducing working hours create jobs and prosperity, and
that social engineering (war on drugs, public health care, education) solves social
problems.
Due
to its logic and sound arguments, Inclined to Liberty has the power to
change minds, which can eventually change society. Yet after reading it I
realized Louie Carabini doesn’t see liberty as being (or depending on) an
exogenous factor, but as something that lies within us. For me, the purpose of
the book is achieved if the readers understand one of its simplest, yet most
powerful lines: “paying tribute to Caesar may make sense, but believing that
tribute is Caesar’s due, does not!”
to its logic and sound arguments, Inclined to Liberty has the power to
change minds, which can eventually change society. Yet after reading it I
realized Louie Carabini doesn’t see liberty as being (or depending on) an
exogenous factor, but as something that lies within us. For me, the purpose of
the book is achieved if the readers understand one of its simplest, yet most
powerful lines: “paying tribute to Caesar may make sense, but believing that
tribute is Caesar’s due, does not!”