Tag Archives: self-interest

The Irony of National Security

Posted on June 14, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, when the bureaucracy claims national security and then hides information, that data isn’t hidden from our adversaries… it’s hidden from us. Russia, China, Israel, the UK, etc. all have intelligence services that work night … Continue reading →

Posted in International Power | Tagged bureaucracy, corruption, crime, faction, government, irony, laws, national security, politics, power, regulations, revenue, secrets, self-interest | Leave a comment

The Extraction Machine

Posted on June 7, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, once a government has become extractive, political favor becomes more important than law. If that is true… this is a way we can judge if a government has become extractive. Simply look at the … Continue reading →

Posted in economy | Tagged Bastiat, court, courts, economy, extraction, extractive, human nature, political favor, rulings, self-interest, the law, wealth | Leave a comment

The Carrot Versus The Stick

Posted on April 19, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, legalists think in terms of punishments while moralists think in terms of incentives. The carrot and the stick principle applies to both, but which is predominant depends on ideology. Legalists believe all human behavior … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | Tagged capitalism, carrot, central planning, free market, incentive, lash, legalism, lot of mankind, moralism, punishment, self-interest, stick, success | Leave a comment

Pareto Is The Enemy Of Central Planning

Posted on January 25, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, once one accepts that Pareto was right, then the question shifts from how to get rid of poverty to what’s the best way to distribute wealth? If poverty can’t be eliminated, then we should … Continue reading →

Posted in economy | Tagged Capitalism vs Socialism, central planning, economic freedom, economic growth, economic history, economic incentives, Economic Philosophy, economic systems, economics, Free Market Theory, free markets, french revolution, government intervention, Income Inequality, individual liberty, Karl Marx, Market Economics, Pareto principle, political economy, populism vs elitism, poverty, prosperity, self-interest, socialism, soviet union, Venezuela, wealth creation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Inequality | Leave a comment

On Trusting The Untrustworthy

Posted on October 24, 2025 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, in personal as well as international relations, it’s best not to sign agreements you know the other side won’t live up to. If you’re selling someone a car on credit, and they clearly have … Continue reading →

Posted in business, economy, Group Politics, International Power, Judicial Sysytem, Law, media, Mercy, philosophy, polictics of class envy, Societal Myth | Tagged betrayal, bonhoeffer, broken promises, ccp, constitutional norms, diplomacy, elite power, foreign policy, geopolitics, historical patterns, incentive structures, international relations, media trust, narcissists, national interest, Operation Barbarossa, peace agreements, political analysis, rearmament, self-interest, soviet union, stupidity vs evil, trade deals, treaties, trump, trust, untrustworthy leaders, war | Leave a comment