Comments on: Small and/or Limited Government: Some Distinctions http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/ The Sweet Release of Reason Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: Some Thoughts on Minarchism (HT: Will Wilkinson) — adamwhys http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21799 Some Thoughts on Minarchism (HT: Will Wilkinson) — adamwhys Mon, 31 May 2010 02:03:25 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21799 [...] Wilkinson is blogging thought-provokingly, as usual. I recommend reading his “Small and/or Limited Government: Some Distinctions” post in its entirety. Aspects of his post speak directly to issues I am addressing as I work up my [...] [...] Wilkinson is blogging thought-provokingly, as usual. I recommend reading his “Small and/or Limited Government: Some Distinctions” post in its entirety. Aspects of his post speak directly to issues I am addressing as I work up my [...]

]]> By: Bruuuce! Bruuuce! « Around The Sphere http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21798 Bruuuce! Bruuuce! « Around The Sphere Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:41:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21798 [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this [...] [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this [...]

]]> By: The Conscience of A Modern Conservative http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21797 The Conscience of A Modern Conservative Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:04:55 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21797 [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this question. I’d be interested [...] [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this question. I’d be interested [...]

]]> By: The conscience of a modern conservative « Consider the Evidence http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21796 The conscience of a modern conservative « Consider the Evidence Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:24:03 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21796 [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this question. I’d be [...] [...] should they aim for in economic and social policy? David Brooks, Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam, Will Wilkinson, Ron Haskins and Isabell Sawhill, and others have weighed in on this question. I’d be [...]

]]> By: davidinman(.net) » Linkage http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21795 davidinman(.net) » Linkage Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:31:58 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21795 [...] Wilkinson on ‘liberaltarianism’. [...] [...] Wilkinson on ‘liberaltarianism’. [...]

]]> By: Conservatives, Red Tories, and Freedom « Upturned Earth http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21794 Conservatives, Red Tories, and Freedom « Upturned Earth Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:12:24 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21794 [...] how about that? What we have here is a case for why limited (though not necessarily: small) government is so important that does not trade on the individualistic, telos-free conception of [...] [...] how about that? What we have here is a case for why limited (though not necessarily: small) government is so important that does not trade on the individualistic, telos-free conception of [...]

]]> By: The Big Government Debate Versus Limited Government - Liberal Values - Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21793 The Big Government Debate Versus Limited Government - Liberal Values - Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:44:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21793 [...] Will Willinson also discussed the difference between small government and limited government recently: The fact that a government is small doesn’t rule out the possibility of egregious restrictions on non-economic liberties or of incredibly burdensome economic regulation. Suppose it takes two years to fill out all the paperwork, get all the licenses, etc. to start a small business, but once you do that, your profits aren’t taxed all. Suppose many forms of exchange are simply prohibited. You might have small government, low taxes, and very little economic freedom. Of course, a small government can ban abortion, prostitution, drugs, a free press, etc. just as well as a big one. Such a government may need to spend a lot of its modest budget on police and prisons instead of on genuine public goods. The size of the budget as as percentage of output doesn’t tell you anything about the composition of spending. This is a really important point. The United States spends a lot on prisons, the military, drug law enforcement, border patrol, etc. A lot of this is the opposite of rights-respecting, and a lot of it is downright wasteful. The composition of spending is important both as a matter or morality and a matter of economic growth (which I happen to think is also a matter of morality.)  Which is all to say, the fact that a government is small logically implies almost nothing about either liberty, justice or efficiency… [...] [...] Will Willinson also discussed the difference between small government and limited government recently: The fact that a government is small doesn’t rule out the possibility of egregious restrictions on non-economic liberties or of incredibly burdensome economic regulation. Suppose it takes two years to fill out all the paperwork, get all the licenses, etc. to start a small business, but once you do that, your profits aren’t taxed all. Suppose many forms of exchange are simply prohibited. You might have small government, low taxes, and very little economic freedom. Of course, a small government can ban abortion, prostitution, drugs, a free press, etc. just as well as a big one. Such a government may need to spend a lot of its modest budget on police and prisons instead of on genuine public goods. The size of the budget as as percentage of output doesn’t tell you anything about the composition of spending. This is a really important point. The United States spends a lot on prisons, the military, drug law enforcement, border patrol, etc. A lot of this is the opposite of rights-respecting, and a lot of it is downright wasteful. The composition of spending is important both as a matter or morality and a matter of economic growth (which I happen to think is also a matter of morality.)  Which is all to say, the fact that a government is small logically implies almost nothing about either liberty, justice or efficiency… [...]

]]> By: Ak Mike http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21800 Ak Mike Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:05:12 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21800 Jim M - is it possible that fairly free liberal democracies are more common among prosperous states that can afford a lot of government? And that poorer societies tend to have less freedom, but also can afford less government? Jim M – is it possible that fairly free liberal democracies are more common among prosperous states that can afford a lot of government? And that poorer societies tend to have less freedom, but also can afford less government?

]]> By: Sreedhar http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21801 Sreedhar Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:34:36 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21801 <Quote><br>Anarchists often argue that if the public goods argument for state protection of rights (and the system of public finance it implies) is sound, then there is no principled basis for stopping at “minimal” government."<br></Quote><br><br>Tthis does not make sense. If you like coffee with a spoon of sugar, does it mean you will like it with ten? <br><br>In a Democracy, then, shouldn't it be the people that decide whether their government is to be small/limited/whatever? Isn't that what we have elections for?<br><br>Sure, this is subjective and dynamic. And that's the point: there is no objective measure of the size of a government.<br><br>- Sreedhar <Quote>
Anarchists often argue that if the public goods argument for state protection of rights (and the system of public finance it implies) is sound, then there is no principled basis for stopping at “minimal” government.”
</Quote>

Tthis does not make sense. If you like coffee with a spoon of sugar, does it mean you will like it with ten?

In a Democracy, then, shouldn't it be the people that decide whether their government is to be small/limited/whatever? Isn't that what we have elections for?

Sure, this is subjective and dynamic. And that's the point: there is no objective measure of the size of a government.

- Sreedhar

]]> By: Ak Mike http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2009/02/22/small-andor-limited-government-some-distinctions/#comment-21792 Ak Mike Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:05:12 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/?p=2923#comment-21792 Jim M - is it possible that fairly free liberal democracies are more common among prosperous states that can afford a lot of government? And that poorer societies tend to have less freedom, but also can afford less government? Jim M – is it possible that fairly free liberal democracies are more common among prosperous states that can afford a lot of government? And that poorer societies tend to have less freedom, but also can afford less government?

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