Mondays with Murray: Rothbard on the Prospects for Liberty

This week we turn to Murray Rothbard to see what how he felt about the prospects for the future of Austrian economics.  After you take in the awesome '80's mullets and staches in the audience, Rothbard's thoughts should excite everyone with an interest in Austrian economics, and by logical extension the liberty movement as a whole.Rothbard was always a long term optimist and advocated that libertarians should be optimistic in the long run, and present themselves as such. While Rothbard's long term optimism is nothing new here, what I found interesting is the example he cites. According to Rothbard, within economists in Eastern Europe Austrian economics like Ludwig Von Mises and F.A. Hayek are revered figures. This is in stark contrast to the U.S., where Keynesians such as Paul Krugman are looked at as all-knowing economic wizards.Rothbard goes on to say that "nobody reveres Keynes and Galbraith over there. They've had it with socialism and statism". This points to the unique position of post-Soviet Union attitudes in Eastern Europe. They have seen first-hand the disastrous effects of central planning.  There is no question to people who have lived through bread lines that central planning cannot provide food. These people have seen the effects of Keynesian economics, and they have rejected it.I believe this hits at the core reason for Murray Rothbard's general long term optimism for liberty.Keep in mind, this is long before Ron Paul's 2008 and 2012 Presidential campaigns, which truly vaulted the ideas of liberty into the public conversation like never before.  But Rothbard knew that inevitably Keynesian economics and central planning will always fail, and that it's only a matter of time before the effects of these policies are so disastrous that it will be obvious to nearly everyone that they are faulty. And they will seek another way.This is where the Austrian economists and the libertarians, long term optimism in hand, come into play.Let me rephrase that: This is where you come into play.Study Austrian Economics and the ideas of liberty.When times get tough, when crisis hits, it's you who needs to be there with the answers.It is you who must show up with a big smile and optimistic outlook and say "There is another way. It's called liberty. Let me tell you about it."Yes, the prospects for liberty are bright, and each of us can make them even brighter the more we make our voices heard.Receive access to ALL of our EXCLUSIVE bonus audio content – including “Conspiracy Corner”, “Degenerate Gamblers” and the “League of Liberty Podcast” by joining the Lions of Liberty Pride and supporting us on Patreon!Check out our past installments of Mondays with Murray:- 3/11/13 - Rothbard on Lysander Spooner- 3/4/13 – Rothbard on Statism- 2/25/13 – Rothbard on John Bolton and Ann Coulter- 2/18/13 – Rothbard vs. Krugman on $9 Minimum Wage-  2/11/13 – Time To Hoard Nickels- 2/4/13  - The Death of Keynesian Economics- 1/28/13 – Competition and Monopoly- 1/21/13 – Rothbard Down The Memory Hole?- 1/14/13 – We Are Not The Government- 1//7/13 – Why Does Someone Become A Statist?- 12/10/12 – Rothbard on Conspiracy Theory- 12/3/12 – Rothbard on Secession- 11/26/12 – Rothbard on the Drug War- 11/19/12 – Rothbard on the Euro Crisis- 11/12/12 – Rothbard on the Lions of Liberty- 11/5/12 – Rothbard on Voting and Gas Lines- 10/29/12 – Mythbusting the “Free Market Cartel”- 10/22/12 – Rothbard on the Two Party Charade- 10/15/12 – Rothbard on Private Roads- 10/8/12 – Rothbard on Private Law- 10/1/12 – Rothbard on Ron Paul- 9/24/12 – Rothbard on QE