Comments on: The Politics of Human Capital http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/ The Sweet Release of Reason Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Club Troppo » Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Small Government http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14723 Club Troppo » Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Small Government Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:03:48 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14723 [...] as children they miss out on the care and education that they need in order to fully develop their human capital. A 2007 UNICEF report on child well being showed that the United States ranked poorly against other [...] [...] as children they miss out on the care and education that they need in order to fully develop their human capital. A 2007 UNICEF report on child well being showed that the United States ranked poorly against other [...]

]]> By: Club Troppo » Young, unpredictable and right-wing http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14722 Club Troppo » Young, unpredictable and right-wing Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:59:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14722 [...] list, Will Wilkinson is my pick. It’s not because I always agree with him (or because he links to my posts), but because he takes political philosophy and social theory seriously. When Will wants to know [...] [...] list, Will Wilkinson is my pick. It’s not because I always agree with him (or because he links to my posts), but because he takes political philosophy and social theory seriously. When Will wants to know [...]

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14721 bjk Wed, 21 May 2008 01:09:51 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14721 Poverty is remarkably stubborn, and one reason is that the poor are very stubborn. That's why all of the schemes have failed so far. The poor have gotten in the way. Wilkinson favors the sociological theories of poverty, but what if the biggest factor turned out to be genetic? Would genetic solutions be appropriate? Once poverty turns into a problem--and this is a relatively recent phenomena--it's arbitrary to put a limit on the solutions. I'd suggest rethinking the idea that it's a problem. This also suggests the problem with liberaltarianism. Libertarianism is a genuine political doctrine, and freedom is a political concept. Liberaltarianism, I submit, is an engineer's conception of politics, with no guiding political concept. Is poverty a problem? The liberaltarian will engineer a solution, so much the worse for freedom or justice or whatever political concept happens to get in the way. Poverty is remarkably stubborn, and one reason is that the poor are very stubborn. That’s why all of the schemes have failed so far. The poor have gotten in the way. Wilkinson favors the sociological theories of poverty, but what if the biggest factor turned out to be genetic? Would genetic solutions be appropriate? Once poverty turns into a problem–and this is a relatively recent phenomena–it’s arbitrary to put a limit on the solutions. I’d suggest rethinking the idea that it’s a problem.

This also suggests the problem with liberaltarianism. Libertarianism is a genuine political doctrine, and freedom is a political concept. Liberaltarianism, I submit, is an engineer’s conception of politics, with no guiding political concept. Is poverty a problem? The liberaltarian will engineer a solution, so much the worse for freedom or justice or whatever political concept happens to get in the way.

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14731 bjk Wed, 21 May 2008 01:09:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14731 Poverty is remarkably stubborn, and one reason is that the poor are very stubborn. That's why all of the schemes have failed so far. The poor have gotten in the way. Wilkinson favors the sociological theories of poverty, but what if the biggest factor turned out to be genetic? Would genetic solutions be appropriate? Once poverty turns into a problem--and this is a relatively recent phenomena--it's arbitrary to put a limit on the solutions. I'd suggest rethinking the idea that it's a problem. This also suggests the problem with liberaltarianism. Libertarianism is a genuine political doctrine, and freedom is a political concept. Liberaltarianism, I submit, is an engineer's conception of politics, with no guiding political concept. Is poverty a problem? The liberaltarian will engineer a solution, so much the worse for freedom or justice or whatever political concept happens to get in the way. Poverty is remarkably stubborn, and one reason is that the poor are very stubborn. That’s why all of the schemes have failed so far. The poor have gotten in the way. Wilkinson favors the sociological theories of poverty, but what if the biggest factor turned out to be genetic? Would genetic solutions be appropriate? Once poverty turns into a problem–and this is a relatively recent phenomena–it’s arbitrary to put a limit on the solutions. I’d suggest rethinking the idea that it’s a problem.

This also suggests the problem with liberaltarianism. Libertarianism is a genuine political doctrine, and freedom is a political concept. Liberaltarianism, I submit, is an engineer’s conception of politics, with no guiding political concept. Is poverty a problem? The liberaltarian will engineer a solution, so much the worse for freedom or justice or whatever political concept happens to get in the way.

]]> By: Dain http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14720 Dain Tue, 20 May 2008 20:49:52 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14720 bjk, do you personally prefer a reduction in relative or absolute poverty? bjk,

do you personally prefer a reduction in relative or absolute poverty?

]]> By: Dain http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14733 Dain Tue, 20 May 2008 20:49:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14733 bjk, do you personally prefer a reduction in relative or absolute poverty? bjk,

do you personally prefer a reduction in relative or absolute poverty?

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14719 bjk Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:42 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14719 What's wrong with poverty again? Why do we have to work so hard to get rid of it? Not saving money is one way that people prefer to avoid thinking about the future, and death. That's real diversity. And if you really want to reduce poverty, stop importing more poor people. That's guaranteed to work, instead of jerry-rigged fantasy schemes. What’s wrong with poverty again? Why do we have to work so hard to get rid of it? Not saving money is one way that people prefer to avoid thinking about the future, and death. That’s real diversity. And if you really want to reduce poverty, stop importing more poor people. That’s guaranteed to work, instead of jerry-rigged fantasy schemes.

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14732 bjk Tue, 20 May 2008 13:00:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14732 What's wrong with poverty again? Why do we have to work so hard to get rid of it? Not saving money is one way that people prefer to avoid thinking about the future, and death. That's real diversity. And if you really want to reduce poverty, stop importing more poor people. That's guaranteed to work, instead of jerry-rigged fantasy schemes. What’s wrong with poverty again? Why do we have to work so hard to get rid of it? Not saving money is one way that people prefer to avoid thinking about the future, and death. That’s real diversity. And if you really want to reduce poverty, stop importing more poor people. That’s guaranteed to work, instead of jerry-rigged fantasy schemes.

]]> By: Dain http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14718 Dain Mon, 19 May 2008 21:52:39 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14718 There would seem to be some tension between early childhood intervention and libertarian (and radical leftist) fear of life planning and regimentation for the most vulnerable. Setting benchmarks for the level of, say, reading comprehension and math proficiency for all of the nation's children seems rather No Child Left Behind-ish to me, and totally at odds with a citizenry in control of its own life. Brink Lindsey has discussed the way that upper middle class childrens' lives are meticulously planned for them from their earliest years on through to young adulthood. For poor parents, it's more "do your own thing". I fear that liberaltarianism might be another Jane Addams like scheme to reign in the relatively freewheeling lower classes and set them on the track to respectability. There would seem to be some tension between early childhood intervention and libertarian (and radical leftist) fear of life planning and regimentation for the most vulnerable.

Setting benchmarks for the level of, say, reading comprehension and math proficiency for all of the nation’s children seems rather No Child Left Behind-ish to me, and totally at odds with a citizenry in control of its own life.

Brink Lindsey has discussed the way that upper middle class childrens’ lives are meticulously planned for them from their earliest years on through to young adulthood. For poor parents, it’s more “do your own thing”. I fear that liberaltarianism might be another Jane Addams like scheme to reign in the relatively freewheeling lower classes and set them on the track to respectability.

]]> By: Dain http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14730 Dain Mon, 19 May 2008 21:52:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/05/18/the-politics-of-human-capital/#comment-14730 There would seem to be some tension between early childhood intervention and libertarian (and radical leftist) fear of life planning and regimentation for the most vulnerable. Setting benchmarks for the level of, say, reading comprehension and math proficiency for all of the nation's children seems rather No Child Left Behind-ish to me, and totally at odds with a citizenry in control of its own life. Brink Lindsey has discussed the way that upper middle class childrens' lives are meticulously planned for them from their earliest years on through to young adulthood. For poor parents, it's more "do your own thing". I fear that liberaltarianism might be another Jane Addams like scheme to reign in the relatively freewheeling lower classes and set them on the track to respectability. There would seem to be some tension between early childhood intervention and libertarian (and radical leftist) fear of life planning and regimentation for the most vulnerable.

Setting benchmarks for the level of, say, reading comprehension and math proficiency for all of the nation’s children seems rather No Child Left Behind-ish to me, and totally at odds with a citizenry in control of its own life.

Brink Lindsey has discussed the way that upper middle class childrens’ lives are meticulously planned for them from their earliest years on through to young adulthood. For poor parents, it’s more “do your own thing”. I fear that liberaltarianism might be another Jane Addams like scheme to reign in the relatively freewheeling lower classes and set them on the track to respectability.

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