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On Demand

Remaking American Freedom

Friday, March 27, 2009

Law professor Jedediah Purdy surveys the ways in which the ideals of individual liberty, dignity and fulfillment have evolved in America in A Tolerable Anarchy.


Comments

  • [1] Daniel from Bushwick March 27, 2009 - 12:46PM

    Why did Burke continue this argument after the American revolution. I am thinking of his response to the French Revolution and Thomas Paine's "Rights Of Man".


  • [2] Troy from Peekskill, NY March 27, 2009 - 01:11PM

    Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations made one assumption that does not prove true in reality. When an individual makes more money than they can possibly spend, they do not then use that money to create companies and jobs for others nor do they give away the extra money to charities. If they did we would not now have so many billionaires and so many people living in poverty.

    There is some level of truth to the concept that large volumes of wealth contributes to new companies through venture capitalists, but this is only part of the real wealth in America.

    Chris Kristopherson's lyric "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose" is more than just a fleeting thought. With the theft of personal items, taxes, healthcare costs, home maintenance and preditory lending this quote is more true than ever! The point here is that living on a cash basis and not prizing things in your possession lets you be much more free than our credit society has left us.

    Take care,

    Troy


  • [3] mgduke from hell's kitchen March 27, 2009 - 07:11PM

    very interesting analysis.

    any upcoming readings by the author around town?


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