Eventually you will need to move actual operations to Brussels as well. Being there in name only will not be enough.

Proximity is necessary, even today, and I suspect even tomorrow.

You will need to start recruiting fellow free-marketeers and philosophical siblings in the Brussels vicinity, and from Europe in general, immediately.

If you want to be taken seriously and have an impact, that is.

I don't think Samizdata can be compared to Reason as a genuine source of Libertarian thought.

I was introduced to Reason by a friend who used to be an economics journalist. As someone who considers themself broadly left-wing I have consistently found that Reason provides well-reasoned arguments in favour of Libertarianism and general small government. I consider myself to be much more of this political outlook than I used to be.

Samizdata, on the other hand, seems to be written by unhinged, pissed of Tory Thatcherites who just about manage to hide their disdain for normal people whilst presenting an apperance much like an upper class twat who has just drunkenly vomited in his mouth at some social function for the underpriviledged, and is trying half-heartedly not to spew it up into some unfortunate's face.

Ie, you're not really libertarian, you just hate the lower classes for being lower class.

Tom: you're right.

I wasn't clear in my post - I'm personally relocating to Brussels.

Ie, you're not really libertarian, you just hate the lower classes for being lower class.

Whatever 'lower class' means. If you mean the Big Bruvvah obsessed welfare gobbling tele-lumpen, well yeah, guilt as charged, I am boundless in my contempt.

That is certainly what I mean by 'lower' class. If you actually mean working class, then no, I really have no problem with real members of the self-described working class at all. However usually when someone comes here to defend the 'lower class', they are usually neo-fascists rather than socialists stranegly enough.

But actually I could not care less if we are libertarian or not, just are we correct. I am happy to leave the barking moonbat stuff to folks like you.

We are perfectly capable of spewing up in some unfortunates face Jeff. Especially if they come up with the kind of drivel you just have.
I usually have my man Mellors do it for me though.
Ting Ting.
Oh Mellors... some poor unfortunate at the door.
Six pints of lager and a packet of crisps should do it.
Ahoooowey!!!
Will that be all sir?
Yes thank you Mellors. Dont forget, up early in the morning to continue grinding the faces of the poor!
It is my eagerest anticipation sir!

As much as I like what the Cato Institute does, I think that they have not really had much impact in Washington. They've done well to last 30 years and should keep going. But lets face facts- today's republicans are more in favor of big-government than when Nixon was president. Cato would probably be better off focusing more on educating the public, as influencing the bums in Washington DC is pretty hopeless.

I have often wondered about thinktanks and lobby groups. I should probably find out more.

Are they filled with economists, political graduates and interns? How would one get a job in there from a non-economics and non-political (as in formal study, not informal reading books and watching way) background? Does it pay way? *Who* pays the bills, and what do they expect in return?

I guess what I think it is and the reality is different.

pay *well*. Or pay *its own way*. Who knows which I meant?

Yeah, Samizdata's more of a support group for sociopaths than a source of intelligent libertarian discourse. But at least it's lively, which is where the Globalisation Institute seems to be falling down at the moment: it's just a bit too dull. Or is that deliberate in order to fit in better in Brussels?

Martin you say: "As much as I like what the Cato Institute does, I think that they have not really had much impact in Washington." Things would be a lot worse without them!

Ie, you're not really libertarian, you just hate the lower classes for being lower class.

Drivel. I don't know how long you have been reading this blog, Jeff, but you should probably realise that quite a few of us don't give a toss about class per se unless it is used as a pretext for some intrusive, silly legislation or tax policy.

Samizdata, on the other hand, seems to be written by unhinged, pissed of Tory Thatcherites (snip!)

Yeah, Samizdata's more of a support group for sociopaths than a source of intelligent libertarian discourse.

Regarding the ASI's relocation - happy hunting and all the best.

'Things would be a lot worse without them!'

Most of the people on this board (being rabid interventionists) would be crying their eyes out if Congress actually did what CATO advocated with regards to foreign policy. You know- like pull out of NATO, withdraw from Iraq, avoid war with Iran, withdraw from South Korea, stoop giving aid to Israel, put an end to the drug war, shut down Guantanamo etc etc.

The posts on Samizdata tend to be broadly libertarian, some of the commentators are far from libertarian.

As for the GI's move - all the best. I think its one of the best think tanks around - soundly free market, taking a lot from Cobden (one of my heroes).

As an aside - any think tanks want to give a free market capitalist US econ grad a job? ;)

You know- like pull out of NATO

Could not care less as Russia (GDP slightly smaller than Italy) is a trivial military threat and Europe has more than ample resources to contain the delusional Putin.

withdraw from Iraq

Too late now.

avoid war with Iran

Probably a good idea. Backing an anti-theocratic insurgency on the other hand...

withdraw from South Korea

Fine. they really have more than enough resources to contain the lunatics up north.

stoop giving aid to Israel,

Fine, they really do not need it.

put an end to the drug war

For sure, a monstrous abomination, the state at its very worst.

shut down Guantanamo etc etc.

Indeed. 'Illegal combatants' should be shot when captured as has been customary since time immemorial.

In short, you are talking out of an alternative aperture.

Don't the (continental) Europeans have any Libertarian think tank ? Is that an exclusively Anglo-Saxon feature that needs to be imported to Brussels from England ?

Yeah, Samizdata's more of a support group for sociopaths

yeah, anyone who doesn't want their lives run by state regulations is clearly a sociopath. Wanker.

Yeah, Samizdata's more of a support group for sociopaths than a source of intelligent libertarian discourse.

We love you too, Jim.

I'm surprised.

Is there a steady readership of people who despise Samizdata's (divers) views make the effort to read them but don't feel they can comment? It is an extrordinary sort of masochism, if so. And, if so why, start now in such a splenetic fashion?

Or did they come through the rift in the fabric of the universe created by Alex's move to Brussels?

Wow. A group squarely in the anti-war in Iraq crowd with the rest of the sister loving 'shine runners given good press here? Amazing.

As far "proper" libertarian weakness on samizdata, yes it tends toward some core conservative paradigms that I've left behind, but I can relate having been there myself. But it still, by and large, hits most nails on the head and no libertarian system of thought, Objectivism or Praxeology or the less defined brand of libertarianism here, hit the ball out of the park all the time. But at least all see advanced Statism as a cultural sickness, which makes all the more disappointing when ad hominems are aimed at others from here, or vice versa. Sometimes I wonder if the Homoousians at the throats of the Homoiousians is precisely what allows the vocal minority to rule us all. We allow small issues in the grand scheme to tear apart rather then letting the common ground to bring together. If we can take a lesson from the Communists of the USA, it was just such petty factioning that prevented them from being a greater force - thankfully.

Now, how about a group hug?

Jeff

What about me.

Born in a government hospital, educated in a government school (well perhaps "educated" would be a better way of putting it as it was an old lady by the name of Mrs Williams who actually taught me to read).

And I live in council house and for many years (before licensing came in) I worked as a security guard.

Do I seem "upper class" to you?

As for "Thatcherite" - I do not think that Mrs T. went far enough (and I can name many mistakes), but yes I was a supporter.

Many of Mrs T.s supporters were not "upper class" dear.

As for the post itself:

The Cato Insitute provides a few jobs for good people. That is what free market "think tanks" do.

I do not oppose that. I think it is a good thing that some libertarians have policy jobs (rather than working in "mid western gas stations" as the colllectivist academic Brian Barry sneared was the only sort of work a libertarian would get).

On policy - I doubt whether free market institutes have much influence these days (although they may have done at one time).

The point that I'm trying to make is that the tone of your website is off, whereas Reason comes across as intelligent, and much less likely to insult people who make points, whether they are considered valid or not.

No Jeff, your tone is the one that was off.
Your first post insulted the entire Samizdata commentariat.
We will, and as you have seen, be very quick to kick an arse that is bent over and begging for it.
Now if you want to play with the grown ups....

Samizdata, on the other hand, seems to be written by unhinged, pissed of Tory Thatcherites who just about manage to hide their disdain for normal people whilst presenting an apperance much like an upper class twat who has just drunkenly vomited in his mouth at some social function for the underpriviledged, and is trying half-heartedly not to spew it up into some unfortunate's face.

I don't think the terms "Tory" and "Thatcherite" can really be used to describe the same thing anymore. I mean, I'm kind of observing from a few thousand miles away in the country where "conservative" and "Republican" don't mean the same thing anymore, but that's the impression that I get.

By the way, I pushed a shovel to pay for school, and ended up in a civil service job that pays somewhere in the lower half of middle class. I'm not sure how that makes me an upper-class female genitalia.

On a far more important point:

Mr. Singleton is undertaking a dangerous mission. I fear that being surrounded by Eurocrats will drive him to drink. He will be in Belgium, often referred to as the beer-lover's Disneyland. Therefore, we must draw up plans in case his liver needs to be rescued.

The point that I'm trying to make is that the tone of your website is off, whereas Reason comes across as intelligent, and much less likely to insult people who make points, whether they are considered valid or not.

Jeff, I read the Reason Hit & Run site quite regularly and the people there are as capable of being bitchy as around here. Also, I often find the tone of Reason magazine at times to be a bit puerile and they write less about economics than they used to.

Your original remarks were pretty unpleasant and unfounded on any real knowledge of the people who contribute to this blog. If you are civil to us, we are civil back. Deal?

The point that I'm trying to make is that the tone of your website is off,

But sometimes "will you kindly please just FUCK OFF" is actually the only rational response to some people.

Any chance mr Singleton can make it to the Uk
Sunfish?
Presuming he can find the coast after sampling the beer!

Jesus! What a stupid post!!!
Sorry folks, had one too many tonight.
In all the ... well whatever
I plumb forgot what the thread was all about.
Apologies. For a minute there I thought Sunfish was coming to visit us all.
Yes a lie down is best. Thanks.

Apologies. For a minute there I thought Sunfish was coming to visit us all. Yes a lie down is best. Thanks.

Unfortunately, trans-oceanic travel is not in my immediate future. Otherwise, I would.