Comments on: “Libertarian paternalism” is idiotic

By: Blagnet.net » Freedom-hating “nudger” appointed to regulatory post

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:01:13 +0000

[...] There isn’t much I could add to Oliva’s post. Except to link to my own post about the idiocy and non-libertarianism of “libertarian paternalism”, which was a lot of fun to write and fun for many people to read, I [...]

By: John

John — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:30:13 +0000

@ Francois: You know, this was supposed to be a quick rant about the misguided concept in general, not a lengthy rant and a critique of every point he made in the column. I didn’t try to make it into anything special; it just grew that way on its own, I guess. I’m glad you and David and Mike seemed to like it.

By: Francois Tremblay

Francois Tremblay — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:24:29 +0000

Apart from the fact that your analysis sounds somewhat vulgar libertarian-ish, I really enjoyed this entry.

By: Anittah Patrick

Anittah Patrick — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:47:10 +0000

Feel free to secede to some anarcho-capitalist utopia as you wish, but for the Libertarian pragmatists that are out there, choice architecture is a step in the right direction.

Next up: transparent, accountable government workings, where accountability is paramount, taxes are viewed as membership dues, and elected officials are graded just as workers are in the private sector and subject to being nudged right out of office.

No, Libertarian maternalism is not Libertarianism proper, but then again, the latter is deeply unrealistic over the next five years.

I’m for getting things done. I’m for pragmatism. I’m for marketing smarter decision-making to my fellow humans, because I don’t want my tax dollars to subsidize the generally bozo mistakes they make. I am tired of shouldering the financial burden of those who are less able to make rational decisions and would rather help them by framing choice in a matter that makes them behave rationally than help them by opening up my wallet and having them reach their fatty-food eating mitts into it.

By: David Z

David Z — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:52:01 +0000

Thanks… I’m so freaking tired of hearing about “Nudge” that my head is about to asplode.

By: Mike Gogulski

Mike Gogulski — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:11:50 +0000

Bah, if only the FT would publish a reader response like this, we could all blog ourselves to nirvana about things we actually like rather than things which deeply trouble and scare the piss out of us. Nice piece.