Libertarianism, Cultural Conservatism and Covid

Dear Jan:

Here is my latest on the covid issue:

Block, Walter E. 2020. “A libertarian analysis of the Covid-19 pandemic.” Journal of Libertarian Studies, Vol. 24, No. 1; https://jls.scholasticahq.com/article/17836-a-libertarian-analysis-of-the-covid-19-pandemic?auth_token=1jZ-UoctwxQnkYZLFJZR

Best regards,

Walter

From: Jan K

Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 7:34 AM

To: Walter Block <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: response

Hi Walter,

Hope you’re doing well in those crazy times.

Saw your debate with Bagus about restrictions in time of pandemic, but also this article about Sweden (https://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2020/06/23/at_a_time_of_copycatting_sweden_thankfully_goes_another_way_497032.html ).

Also remembered this quote from one of your articles on immigration : “[carriers of communicable diseases] are in effect, if not by intention, an ‘invading army’ in that if they are allowed in the recipient country, they will spread their germs to innocent people.” Walter Block, “A Libertarian Case For Free Immigration”, Journal of Libertarian Studies 13:2 (Summer 1998), p. 176.

What are your thoughts on the topic since then? Personally I find it a bit sad that so many libertarians are presenting social-democratic Sweden as some sort of libertarian utopia just for having “not that much more” (or even slightly less) covid-deaths relatively than US or France (coming from American or French libertarians, respectively) instead of talking about countries who have 100 times less dead (Singapore, Japan, South Korea…) and complaining about relatively minor rights-infringements (such as closed nightclubs or mandatory masks) instead of focusing on the much bigger issue (government-induced inefficiencies in health care and in general that got us in this situation in the first place).

Kind regards,

On Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 3:12 AM Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Jan:

Yes.

Best regards,

Walter

Block, Walter E. 2017. “C’mon Down To New Orleans; The Water’s Fine. Enroll at Loyola University.” June 27;

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/cmon-new-orleans-waters-fine-enroll-loyola-university/

Loyola Economics Students Published Widely in Refereed Journals; http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2017/7/17/3962

Block, Walter. 2017. “The Best Place to Study Undergraduate Economics.” June 30; http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/06/the-best-place-to-study-undergraduate.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

Wenzel, Robert. 2017.  Interview with Walter E. Block. “The Inside Scoop on Studying Economics at Loyola University-New Orleans” September 3;

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

From: Jan K

Sent: Monday, January 29, 2018 11:57 PM

To: Walter Block <[email protected]>

Subject: Re: response

Dear Walter,

Thanks very much for your reply! I think we agree 100% on the correct definition and domain of libertarianism. Regarding my second question: do you still agree with those views, not qua libertarian but qua “cultural conservative”? If I understand you correctly, you regret having published them in a libertarian publication, however you are still entitled to your opinion in other capacities as libertarian (as long as you clearly separate the two, which I think you do, and as far as I can tell, always did), and I think it’s also an interesting field that deserves more careful development (from us qua intellectuals/philosophers).

All best,

Jan

On Tue, Jan 30, 2018 at 12:12 AM, Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/thin-libertarianism-once-again/

Walter E. Block, Ph.D.

Block, Walter E. 2017. “C’mon Down To New Orleans; The Water’s Fine. Enroll at Loyola University.” June 27;

https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/cmon-new-orleans-waters-fine-enroll-loyola-university/

Loyola Economics Students Published Widely in Refereed Journals; http://www.loyno.edu/news/story/2017/7/17/3962

Block, Walter. 2017. “The Best Place to Study Undergraduate Economics.” June 30; http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/06/the-best-place-to-study-undergraduate.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

Wenzel, Robert. 2017.  Interview with Walter E. Block. “The Inside Scoop on Studying Economics at Loyola University-New Orleans” September 3;

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2017/09/the-inside-scoop-on-studying-economics.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economicpolicyjournal%2FKpwH+%28EconomicPolicyJournal.com%29

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3:42 am on March 26, 2021