Reading Hayek

During my considerable leave of absence, I was fortunate enough to come upon the idea of buying, with my dirty corporation-stained blood money, Constitution of Liberty by F.A. Hayek. Instead, because the bookstore did not have that particular book in stock, I picked up The Road to Serfdom by the same author. And, if you have not already noticed, which you probably have not; I can classify myself as Libertarian more so today than three months ago. However, I am not completely so, and therefore the title of my blog itself shall not change.

More to the point; Hayek is something that, admittedly this is going to sound cliche, has truly affected me. Now, it has not changed much; merely, it has reinforced those beliefs which I had previously held as infirm and slightly baseless. And yet, this book provided more proof of the left's aptitude towards totalitarianism and the reasonability of "liberalism" as Hayek would call it- America terms it as Classical Liberalism or Libertarianism. So, I proudly admit; my social beliefs have stayed relatively the same, but economically, I have found that the individual is truly the only way (and this is said carefully and with discretion) to some form of utopianism. Not in the sense of perfection, but in the sense that people will become, fill their own destiny out of their own free will, and no coercion should take place to undermine that.

Now, before I enter the usually leftist (I have to get in a hit somewhere right?) paradise of kooksville, in your opinion anyway; I must admit that this book does not change much, it only serves as evidence and reason and intellectual stimuli for something that already exists. No leftist will be able to take this book up and readily admit it's wisdom, that certainly is out of the realm of plausibility, which in fact this book seeks to sustain.

The Road to Serfdom is not a "fun" book to read. In fact, some areas were stale, coming off as an overly long essay, which in fact it is. It is, however, informative and in some ways frightening, especially with the emerging leftist factions and the leanings of certain Democrats to ultimately fulfill the totalitarianism promised in the book. This was written over fifty years ago, and interestingly enough, some of what Hayek warned about is now true in our American society and political structure. It was both saddening and amazing when I looked up from that book and realized how much we are being regulated and "planned" today. It is a realization that Socialism is not as far away from our economic system as I once thought it was.

I am positive that I have left something out, but if I remember I will post an update. Please put your comments and opinions, I love to hear them.

Goggalor
The Young Conservatives