Matthew78
aspiring biblical scholar
Quite recently, I made a decision to abandon libertarian socialism. I liked libertarian socialism and, of all of the models that I read about, the one I liked best was the model of "Participatory Economics". I was on ZNet quite recently and I read of an exchange between Michael Albert and David Horowitz. Horowitz stated in his reply that he would only have a serious exchange with a socialist if that socialist read the critiques of Von Mises and Hayek. Albert replied that if Horowitz was interested, he could consult the book that Albert coauthored with Robin Hahnel, A Quiet Revolution in Welfare Economics. In that book, Albert stated, Horowitz would find replies to Von Mises and Hayek. I found an online copy of the book and went through it, looking for a reply to Hayek. I didn't find one although Hayek was mentioned.
I also requested a hardcover copy of this book through interlibrary loan and when I got it, I went through the book's index and even scanned the chapters, hoping I would find this reply to Hayek. I'm not sure what the reply was supposed to be. After I was finished looking for the reply and I could not find it, I realized that in order to continue calling myself a libertarian socialist, it would be best for me to become an expert on economics in general, and socialism in particular. The best way for me to do that would be to become an economist.
This would take years of school and training to do. I would have to get a second bachelor's degree (my first was in history), then a master's degree in economics, followed by a Ph.D. degree. But I want to return to school and get a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate in some other subject when I get enough money to pursue it. Since I realize that I didn't have the expertise to judge which model of libertarian socialism was the best, I decided that it would best for me that I not continue to call myself one.
So, I consider myself neither a socialist or a capitalist. I'm an economic and political independent. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake. I wonder if I really need to become an expert in economics just to be a socialist. I"m convinced that I would. Maybe some day I will pursue advanced degrees in economics to expertly test whether or not socialism is viable, and if it is, which model is the best.
I also requested a hardcover copy of this book through interlibrary loan and when I got it, I went through the book's index and even scanned the chapters, hoping I would find this reply to Hayek. I'm not sure what the reply was supposed to be. After I was finished looking for the reply and I could not find it, I realized that in order to continue calling myself a libertarian socialist, it would be best for me to become an expert on economics in general, and socialism in particular. The best way for me to do that would be to become an economist.
This would take years of school and training to do. I would have to get a second bachelor's degree (my first was in history), then a master's degree in economics, followed by a Ph.D. degree. But I want to return to school and get a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a doctorate in some other subject when I get enough money to pursue it. Since I realize that I didn't have the expertise to judge which model of libertarian socialism was the best, I decided that it would best for me that I not continue to call myself one.
So, I consider myself neither a socialist or a capitalist. I'm an economic and political independent. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake. I wonder if I really need to become an expert in economics just to be a socialist. I"m convinced that I would. Maybe some day I will pursue advanced degrees in economics to expertly test whether or not socialism is viable, and if it is, which model is the best.