Below is a fan letter I wrote to Lawrence Solomon, a free market journalist, who published in today’s paper a semi libertarian op ed “Sell Detroit,” for Canada’s National Post, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Wall Street Journal. I thought readers of this blog might be interested in the correspondence on this matter that arose between me and Larry (I first corresponded with him when I worked at the Fraser Institute in Canada, 1979-1991).

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 12:33 PM, Walter Block

Dear Lawrence:

Great article today, “Sell Detroit” (http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/06/27/lawrence-solomon-sell-detroit/) in the National Post. The only problem I have with it is that if Detroit is “sold,” then the city politicians, the very people responsible for that city’s plight in the first place, will get the money. Rather, I would have written “Privatize Detroit.” And this applies not only that museum you mention, but also its parks, libraries, courts, buildings that house the bureaucrats, the entire thing. Then, prosperity. Also Detroit’s roads, streets, sidewalks,(on the latter see this book of mine: Block, Walter E. 2009. The Privatization of Roads and Highways: Human and Economic Factors; Auburn, AL: The Mises Institute; http://www.amazon.com/Privatization-Roads-And-Highways-Factors/dp/1279887303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336605800&sr=1-1; available for free here: http://mises.org/books/roads_web.pdf; http://mises.org/daily/3416).

I just googled “Detroit libertarian” and got some interesting material, that might interest you:

https://www.google.ca/#sclient=psy-ab&site=&source=hp&q=Detroit+libertarian&oq=Detroit+libertarian&gs_l=hp.12..0j0i22i30j0i8i5.5472.9939.0.13707.25.18.3.3.3.0.170.1911.9j9.18.0…0.0…1c.1.18.psy-ab.X5hIn77d1JM&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.&bvm=bv.48572450,d.cGE&fp=480079b32ec3c3fb&biw=1280&bih=878

Best regards,

Walter

Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Joseph A. Butt, S.J. College of Business
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 5, Miller Hall 318
New Orleans, LA 70118
tel: (504) 864-7934
fax: (504) 864-7970
wblock@loyno.edu

From: larry.at.large@gmail.com on behalf of Larry Solomon
Sent: Fri 6/28/2013 1:49 PM
To: Walter Block
Cc: Lawrence Solomon
Subject: Re: fan letter

Well, I did say “privatize everything possible”.

Lawrence Solomon is a columnist with Financial Post and executive director of Energy Probe.

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From: Walter Block
Sent: Fri 6/28/2013 2:28 PM
To: Larry Solomon
Subject: RE: fan letter

Yes. And I did say it was a great article.

Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Joseph A. Butt, S.J. College of Business
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 5, Miller Hall 318
New Orleans, LA 70118
tel: (504) 864-7934
fax: (504) 864-7970
wblock@loyno.edu

On Fri, Jun 28, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Walter Block

Dear Larry:

Is it ok if I blog our correspondence? Can you possibly get me the url for your, and I repeat, “great” article?

Best regards,

Walter

Walter E. Block, Ph.D.
Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics
Joseph A. Butt, S.J. College of Business
Loyola University New Orleans
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 5, Miller Hall 318
New Orleans, LA 70118
tel: (504) 864-7934
fax: (504) 864-7970
wblock@loyno.edu

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/06/27/lawrence-solomon-sell-detroit/

Yes

Lawrence Solomon is a columnist with Financial Post and executive director of Energy Probe.
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I wish there were more, but as they say, that’s all they wrote, folks.