patrick.net

Peter P says

Who was behind the French Revolution?

The Poor and Middle Classes, who were being taxed to death to give Nobles and the Bourgeoisie salaried positions for doing nothing. The rich also voted (yes, France had Estates, but only for the Rich and High Clergy) themselves immunity from lawsuits (oh, we're being sued too much - sound familiar?), the right to imprison anybody indefinitely without charge or trial (Cachets d'Iforget), and no taxes. Almost all taxes were paid by the peasants (who paid 4/5th of their crop in rent and taxes, often to the same person) and the middle class.

There were also a few relatively poor noblemen who seethed over not getting any positions in the Army or Bureaucracy, because they weren't rich enough to buy themselves a salaried office.

Also, which group ended up benefiting from the French Revolution permanently?

http://mises.org/daily/1504

Bankers loved that.

We need a small but flat or regressive income tax plus a flat land value tax.

Peter P says

Also, which group ended up benefiting from the French Revolution permanently?

http://mises.org/daily/1504

Bankers loved that.

I had to stop reading after "centralized, totalitarian, managerial, pseudo-democratic despotisms that now reign over the West."

I wish I was allowed to live in a different reality when I chose to.

Peter P says

But it is a mistake to apply value judgement to any kind of economic activity.

Only if you're a psychopath.

I could become very wealthy by murdering people and taking their money. I could become very wealthy by deceiving people into signing unfair contracts. I could become very wealthy by planting rumors of a major corporate acquisition and buying stock appropriately.

The idea that economics exists independent of ethics is a ridiculous fantasy ideal of libertarian fundamentalists who never have been nor ever will be in a position to actually have to make major financial decisions for anybody.