tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post5323727637438919220..comments2023-08-20T11:07:28.396+01:00Comments on Freeborn John: A non-economist's viewPeter Risdonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17792275403997179926noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-33831589733106632962009-01-16T18:15:00.000+00:002009-01-16T18:15:00.000+00:00Patent trolls - true. But they are preoccupied wit...Patent trolls - true. But they are preoccupied with stealing a market rather than trading within it. Corporations meant "The Mayor and Corporation" more than "business entity" to Smith, but he did realise that when one or more of their members meet, they conspire to defraud the public.Peter Risdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792275403997179926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-61972129538470503652009-01-16T15:59:00.000+00:002009-01-16T15:59:00.000+00:00Patent trolls being a good example.Heh, heh - did ...Patent trolls being a good example.<BR/><BR/>Heh, heh - did you watch "Hustle" last night?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-68475178268157676512009-01-16T15:55:00.000+00:002009-01-16T15:55:00.000+00:00There is another argument against DeLong. That is...There is another argument against DeLong. That is the rule of law. It's as simple as this: There are laws against murder.<BR/><BR/>Economists, from Adam Smith on, usually mention this only once if at all, because they don't care to wrap it into every statement. You pursue your interest within the rule of law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-62553662166871704792009-01-16T12:19:00.000+00:002009-01-16T12:19:00.000+00:00While people like Sweeney Todd are rare, it undoub...While people like Sweeney Todd are rare, it undoubtably is the case that there are plenty of unscrupulous businessmen woh are out to get as much for themselves as they can even if it harms others and society in general.<BR/><BR/>Patent trolls being a good example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-61779295704026046482009-01-16T08:17:00.000+00:002009-01-16T08:17:00.000+00:00Still, it serves to remind us that not only is mos...Still, it serves to remind us that not only is most Economics just footnotes to Smith, but also that Smith was untypical of Economists by being a decent fellow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-73728116579984878912009-01-15T23:57:00.000+00:002009-01-15T23:57:00.000+00:00I deleted several words before finally writing "si...I deleted several words before finally writing "silly".Peter Risdonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792275403997179926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12471112.post-92128907780001354012009-01-15T23:38:00.000+00:002009-01-15T23:38:00.000+00:00"Silly" is too kind; if a schoolboy advanced that ..."Silly" is too kind; if a schoolboy advanced that argument you'd conclude that he was both stupid and, perhaps, suffering from an unpleasant character defect that might bear investigation. When it is advanced by a roly-poly economist in middle age, you really scratch your head. Perhaps it's kinder to assume that the argument was not advanced in good faith. I dunno; it's all very odd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com