Is there a libertarian solution to healthcare? Be as radical as you want in whatever proposal you wish to put out there. However, my follow-up is why are more free-market individuals not pushing for this and ceded this space?
Thank you. This was a great reply. I guess my follow up question that I love to see what libertarians do with is this:
Currently, in our current market we have a problem with over billing and charging for needless expenses to pad doctors being paid. This has many causes, but is also just logical for bad/self interested doctors in a market. I’ll elaborate.
I’ve always found market mechanisms work best when the consumer is fully rational. If I go to a tailor and my suit doesn’t fit, I know very quickly and can act on this information. If I go to the doctor and I say I hurt my back, what’s to stop the doctor from doing several tests to run up my bill? I don’t have the ability to know what’s right/wrong. In Bryan’s world, how do we avoid this scam against the consumer?
Clarifying off of my own comment. In some type of government run system, while it may be costly, I’d like to think doctors can focus on providing care and not be worried about how treatment is coded. This may be overly simplistic but at least there’s an actor (the government) to stop abuse and would push for more holistic care....sigh...healthcare is complicated.
Other than referencing past abuses perpetrated by the “psychiatric establishment”, why does it seem that so many libertarians don’t accept the concept of mental illness as valid at all? I really don’t understand.
And happy birthday Bryan! Always a pleasure to read your work, especially when I disagree with it. Wishing you and yours the very best.
1. You have several quality old writings on the George Mason University website such as "Why We Should Separate Health and State." However, it seems some of them have glitched where punctuation has been replaced with question marks. https://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/healthstate.htm I have to use archive.org to see a more readable version. Also, they probably get much less readership there than they would here. Do you think you could repost them here?
2. What is your view of urbanism? Urbanists like the YouTuber Not Just Bikes make a compelling argument that urban design and transportation in countries like the Netherlands is far superior because they are more walkable, cyclable, and use quality public transit. I highly recommend watching a lot of his videos. However, while they are generally good on zoning, traditional urbanists' preferred approach is a largely government funded infrastructure. Market urbanists like Scott Beyer in his book "Market Urbanism" argue that a laissez faire approach is possible, but Beyer isn't an anarcho-capitalist and has a more moderate approach. Have you considered researching and maybe writing a book on an anarcho-capitalist approach to urban design?
3. You've talked about going on Joe Rogan's podcast. Have you ever considered appearing on Lex Friedman's podcast? Robin Hanson and Eliezer Yudkowsky both went on his podcast, so they might be able to get you in touch with him. He would give you a massive audience to share your ideas. He could also be a step up to getting on Joe Rogan's podcast.
What economic assumptions that you rely on for your support of anarcho-capitalism are you least certain about? The more, the merrier, even if only slight doubt.
In contrast to prior technological advancements, rapid and exponential advancements in artificial intelligence may render a large and growing percentage of humans “economically obsolete”. If that is our trajectory, then how might society best plan to adapt to that reality?
Does the apparent success of el salvadors athoritarian measures to control and punish criminal gangs make you rethink parts of libertarianism and anarchocapitalism? If not, why not?
Tentative RSVP. Do you see AI and non-fiat currencies (e.g. crypto) as a possible path to the elimination of survival labor? Whether or not, do you think we’ll ever reach a point where basic necessities are so cheap to produce that preventing access by non-paying individuals is more expensive than not? What would that look like economically? (There’s a finite amount of planet/shoreline/Brad Pitt, so scarcity would obviously still exist.)
Somewhat sillier one: do free-market fans (including yourself) exhibit a missing mood about communism not working? It would be nice if the most able/motivated in society reliably worked hard to produce as much as possible for all without a care for their own interests, but sadly that's not the case, so we're stuck with economic inequality that leaves some people materially destitute while others prosper. And stuck with lots of popular anger about economic inequality. Surely one should be a little wistful for the fantasy world where this isn't the case, even if it is an unachievable fantasy.
Is there a libertarian solution to healthcare? Be as radical as you want in whatever proposal you wish to put out there. However, my follow-up is why are more free-market individuals not pushing for this and ceded this space?
In case you haven't read it yet:
https://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/healthstate.htm
Thank you. This was a great reply. I guess my follow up question that I love to see what libertarians do with is this:
Currently, in our current market we have a problem with over billing and charging for needless expenses to pad doctors being paid. This has many causes, but is also just logical for bad/self interested doctors in a market. I’ll elaborate.
I’ve always found market mechanisms work best when the consumer is fully rational. If I go to a tailor and my suit doesn’t fit, I know very quickly and can act on this information. If I go to the doctor and I say I hurt my back, what’s to stop the doctor from doing several tests to run up my bill? I don’t have the ability to know what’s right/wrong. In Bryan’s world, how do we avoid this scam against the consumer?
Clarifying off of my own comment. In some type of government run system, while it may be costly, I’d like to think doctors can focus on providing care and not be worried about how treatment is coded. This may be overly simplistic but at least there’s an actor (the government) to stop abuse and would push for more holistic care....sigh...healthcare is complicated.
Social desirability bias dominates healthcare politics, it would be difficult for libertarians to get traction there.
Magically holding all else equal, would you want to live forever in good health?
Some pretty serious stuff here for your Birthday.
How about this question: What’s your favorite food?
You are what you eat….
Other than referencing past abuses perpetrated by the “psychiatric establishment”, why does it seem that so many libertarians don’t accept the concept of mental illness as valid at all? I really don’t understand.
And happy birthday Bryan! Always a pleasure to read your work, especially when I disagree with it. Wishing you and yours the very best.
Good question.
I'm also interested in why "libertarians" are worried about their taxes and not about, you know, actual liberty. https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights
What is the best argument against open borders in the US?
Against open borders between US states? Or against openborder for us in general
I’m for some sort of model of open borders in the US models. I still got to consider key hole solutions. But I’m definitely for way more immigration.
Happy birthday!
1. You have several quality old writings on the George Mason University website such as "Why We Should Separate Health and State." However, it seems some of them have glitched where punctuation has been replaced with question marks. https://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/healthstate.htm I have to use archive.org to see a more readable version. Also, they probably get much less readership there than they would here. Do you think you could repost them here?
2. What is your view of urbanism? Urbanists like the YouTuber Not Just Bikes make a compelling argument that urban design and transportation in countries like the Netherlands is far superior because they are more walkable, cyclable, and use quality public transit. I highly recommend watching a lot of his videos. However, while they are generally good on zoning, traditional urbanists' preferred approach is a largely government funded infrastructure. Market urbanists like Scott Beyer in his book "Market Urbanism" argue that a laissez faire approach is possible, but Beyer isn't an anarcho-capitalist and has a more moderate approach. Have you considered researching and maybe writing a book on an anarcho-capitalist approach to urban design?
3. You've talked about going on Joe Rogan's podcast. Have you ever considered appearing on Lex Friedman's podcast? Robin Hanson and Eliezer Yudkowsky both went on his podcast, so they might be able to get you in touch with him. He would give you a massive audience to share your ideas. He could also be a step up to getting on Joe Rogan's podcast.
Thank you!
What economic assumptions that you rely on for your support of anarcho-capitalism are you least certain about? The more, the merrier, even if only slight doubt.
What effect will declining or flat birthrates have on the US economy?
In contrast to prior technological advancements, rapid and exponential advancements in artificial intelligence may render a large and growing percentage of humans “economically obsolete”. If that is our trajectory, then how might society best plan to adapt to that reality?
Does the apparent success of el salvadors athoritarian measures to control and punish criminal gangs make you rethink parts of libertarianism and anarchocapitalism? If not, why not?
In
Tentative RSVP. Do you see AI and non-fiat currencies (e.g. crypto) as a possible path to the elimination of survival labor? Whether or not, do you think we’ll ever reach a point where basic necessities are so cheap to produce that preventing access by non-paying individuals is more expensive than not? What would that look like economically? (There’s a finite amount of planet/shoreline/Brad Pitt, so scarcity would obviously still exist.)
RSVP
Thanks for doing this. What percent of your net-worth do you have in gold?
What's your take on the Rupugnant Conclusion? It's the best counter I know of to your pro-immigration and pro-natalist stances.
I'll attend with probability 70%!
What have you changed your mind about w.r.t. artificial intelligence due to GPT-4 passing your exam?
Somewhat sillier one: do free-market fans (including yourself) exhibit a missing mood about communism not working? It would be nice if the most able/motivated in society reliably worked hard to produce as much as possible for all without a care for their own interests, but sadly that's not the case, so we're stuck with economic inequality that leaves some people materially destitute while others prosper. And stuck with lots of popular anger about economic inequality. Surely one should be a little wistful for the fantasy world where this isn't the case, even if it is an unachievable fantasy.