Ludwig Von Mises & New Labour

[ItWillNeverWork]

Mises, Hayek and the Austrian school are deeply wrong and ugly to me. Dangerous scum, I hope their ideologies gain no weight during the turmoil to come, and everything they stand for is discarded.

I can understand why you would believe that, especially if you are to take the view that Mises was some sort of Fascist apollogist.

To a degree he was an apologist, but only within the context that he was terrified of Marxism far more than the Fascism of his native Austria. Also, as a Jewish man in that country at that time, he may have seen the Austrofascist regime as the best safeguard against a rise in popularity of the anti-semitic Fascism that had become the mainstream in neigbouring Germany.

In any event, Mises was never a Fascist himself but thought that the regime of the time was the safest option given the alternative. He was mistaken 100% of course and it is a blemish on his name.

That is why I think you should not be so quick to dismiss all of his theories; for example, the Austrian theory of the business cylce is something that I believe to be of such great importance in understanding our current crisis that to ignore it would be suicidal for our economy.

Criticise the man by all means, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

Getting back on topic, who were the economists who influenced the development of New Labour/Gidden, who he in denial about supporting Claasical/Neo Classical economists, or people like Mises his inspiration?"

In response to the orginal subject; I always saw New Labour as opportunists taking advantage of middle Englands' general acceptance of Thatchers faux free-market approach to economics. I don't know that NL have any real philosophical roots but I could be mistaken.

 

[Nigel]

Schumpeter

This guy was influenced by the Vienna Economic School, and very critical of classical economists, and Keynes.

Might have had some influence on New Labour?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schumpeter

 

[Idris2002]

I can understand why you would believe that, especially if you are to take the view that Mises was some sort of Fascist apollogist.

To a degree he was an apologist, but only within the context that he was terrified of Marxism far more than the Fascism of his native Austria. Also, as a Jewish man in that country at that time, he may have seen the Austrofascist regime as the best safeguard against a rise in popularity of the anti-semitic Fascism that had become the mainstream in neigbouring Germany.

In any event, Mises was never a Fascist himself but thought that the regime of the time was the safest option given the alternative. He was mistaken 100% of course and it is a blemish on his name.

That is why I think you should not be so quick to dismiss all of his theories; for example, the Austrian theory of the business cylce is something that I believe to be of such great importance in understanding our current crisis that to ignore it would be suicidal for our economy.

Criticise the man by all means, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water.

I saw loads of Socialist Party posters in the Jewish museum in Vienna. Said museum didn't mention Von Mises as far as I could see. . .

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

I saw loads of Socialist Party posters in the Jewish museum in Vienna. Said museum didn't mention Von Mises as far as I could see. . .

Sorry, I don't understand your point.

 

[butchersapron]

You wouldn't.

 

[adc069975]

you know as well as i do that this is bollox\Try reading Engels again
the more .."conscious elements of the working class"

ill leave that task up to you!

 

[ItWillNeverWork]

You wouldn't.

Well since you understand yourself you can explain to me can't you?