Midnight in the Garden of Bob Higgs' Hate Email

Earlier this week I posted about economist Robert Higgs appearance on C-SPAN's "In Depth" program. And I mentioned the tone many (most?) callers took with him and his views.

That's why this bit from Higgs on the amount of hate email he's been receiving since his C-SPAN appearance catches my eye. It's sad that so many people apparently feel threatened by an individual who advocates MORE freedom -- not less.

Of course, the problem is that there's one freedom Higgs doesn't promote. Namely, the freedom to loot others to carry out your wants.

Now, at first blush, Higgs getting so much hate email isn't a big deal. Anyone with any website, such as bloggers, can tell you that people email and comment all sorts of trash. Everything from profanity to links to porn sites. The vast majority I classify as spammers (and report them as such to TypePad). But every so often you come across trashing you personally -- all while cowardly hiding behind an anonymous screen name.

Yet I have a hunch that the hate mail Higgs is receiving is more than that.

In any event, Higgs hits the nail on the head with this:

During the painful years of the Bush regime, we had to endure the slings and arrows of the brown shirts who compose the so-called Republican base. Now that Obama has ascended the throne, the brown shirts of the left are emerging as the more conspicuous barbarians.  Thank God it is not the case, as far too many people suppose, that we must be on one of these sides or the other. We can transcend this disgusting political spectrum, placing ourselves neither on the left nor on the right – nor even in the so-called "independent" zone somewhere between them – but rather rising above the entire line and insisting that red-state savagery and blue-state savagery are equally despicable and intolerable. I daresay that the future of our civilization hinges on whether a sufficient number of us will choose this transcendence.

Comments

[David]

You've done an excellent job of following up on this theme (giving voice to the freedom and free-market viewpoint in the media) and on this particular post topic, John.

Was just coming back here to comment on your original Higgs post, and thank you for mentioning that C-Span video. I just started watching it a few moments ago; looking forward to hearing his views and responses to viewer questions.

One thing that I can already say I agree with: Higgs' comments (excerpted in this post) on the extreme polarization in American political "thought" today.

Some time ago, I came to the realization that "liberal" vs. "conservative" was a false dichotomy and a prime example of the "divide and conquer" concept at work today. We (as a country) definitely need to transcend this mode of thought/being in order to preserve our dignity, civility, and our liberty.

[John]

Wow, thanks David. I treasure your comment.

BTW, whenever I talk about this stuff with a friend (and I usually stay away from these topics in work/social gatherings), I find it more effective to say something like, "Look, I am FOR MORE freedom in every aspect of life, as much as possible." Once we establish that, the idea that looting someone through the ballot box is no less immoral than looting them at the point of a gun or knife.

[Mike]

Ok Higgs received some email that was "less than complimentary" and one (?) that was truly hateful so he's getting an inordinate amount of hate mail? If you say anything publicly it's almost unfortunately guaranteed to attract some nutjob (see Kathy Sierra).

As for transcending red-blue and becoming independent get over it. If not red-blue then something else like Austrian-Keynesian because if you have beliefs then you have divisions and extremists.

The ability to really listen and understand someone that has a diametrically opposed view to youself is what is needed.

[John]

Mike: If your point is that people should be able to disagree without being disagreeable, I'm certainly with you.