Irrationally Predictably Irrational – Part 4

March 31, 2009

The power of self-selection

The reason people enjoy moneyless events like Burning Man is likely because those who attend are those most likely to find meaning in its message. Obviously, people are attracted to things they like and pursue positive re-enforcement of ideas they already hold. It’s called the confirmation bias, and its the same reason actors uproot their lives for a chance at glory in Los Angeles, or high-tech entrepreneurs network in San Jose, or retirees gather in Florida. People with means are willing to re-locate (temporarily or permanently) to areas more suitable to the lifestyles they wish to live and values they hold dear. It’s usually counter-productive trying to convert an actor into an engineer, or convince a committed socialist to accept libertarian principles, or force a square peg through a round hole, let people discover and explore, let them be.

The field of economics can be a science with laws, the existence of which do not govern our values. Milton Friedman once said he could teach anybody to create inflation, but that doesn’t mean they should adopt those policies. Economics can be used to build or destroy and the results largely depend on our willingness to accept and have confidence in policies and institutions. It’s time we realize the spectrum of options and opinions is too wide to bridge, and will forever be so.

I reject socialism, but I acknowledge many people are perfectly willing to work and exist in a socialist society despite those barriers and risks. If that makes them happy, who am I to interfere with their choices? Similarly, they should respect my desire for freedom and stop trying to impose their choices on me.

If I had the option to selectively choose which taxes I no longer wish to pay and be banned from participating in those programs, I would do it. Or better yet, why not localize these services and let people choose where they wish to live. If people are happy in a high-tax socialist system move to state A, if they are happy in a low-tax libertarian system move to state B, if they are happy in a moneyless Venus Project system move to state C. Leave only the issues of national importance (like foreign policy, national defence, inter-state relations, etc) at the Federal level and let the people be.

I wish someone could explain the reason socialists are not satisfied with state solutions, why must every program be federal? Will they eventually go global? The issue is not whether I’m right or wrong, but whether I can disagree with you without being imprisoned or shot. Power must be de-centralized for the benefit of everyone.