From: Burk, Mark
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2020 7:27 AM
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: A question re. govt. retirement programs (e.g. Social Security)

Mr. Block-

What would be the Libertarian’s response to the claim that without forced retirement programs- either as a govt. administered program or by way of a (govt.) law requiring people to contribute to a retirement savings account- too many people, or at least enough so that they would end up being wards of the state anyway, would not contribute?

Thank you very much.

Mark Burk

Dear Mark:

First, the libertarian qua libertarian has no response to this question, CANNOT have any response to it. Why not? Libertarianism is a normative discipline, your question lies in the positive realm.

This argument is problematic as a matter of logic. If people are too stupid to save for a rainy day, for their retirements, why oh why are they allowed to vote. Nor will they be smart enough in the ballot box to choose leaders who will help them. On the other hand, if they have the vote, we assume they are sensible. But not sensible enough to save for a rainy day, for their retirements.

A horrid argument.

Best regards,

Walter

Dear :

Best regards,

Walter

The Best of Walter E. Block