The nonsense of ‘social justice’

On January 18, 2011, in Bad ideas!, Economics, Liberty, My publications, People, Philosophy, by

Social justice does not belong to the category of error but to that of nonsense. … [T]he prevailing belief in ‘social justice’ is at present probably the gravest threat to most … values of a free civilization.

 F.A.Hayek
 
Given that most educated people chant the mantra of social justice, it must have taken quite a bit of courage to argue – as Hayek did, years ago – that the idea of ‘social justice’ is nonsense. The ‘derivatives’ of social justice: things like ‘justice across generations’, ‘economic justice’ (economic redistribution), even affirmative action; must equally be placed in the category of nonsense.
 
It is impossible for anyone to provide a coherent definition of ‘social justice’ since it is impossible to arrive at a general rule or principle that clarifies what it stands for in every possible case. It should also be obvious, upon reflection, that the concept of justice and accountability is an attribute of individual human conduct. Entire groups can never be accountable for anything. Thus children, always born innocent, can never be implicated in the misdeeds of their forefathers. We must deliver justice to individual adults, not to entire societies. Only guilty individuals must be punished, not innocent parties.
 
There does exist, however, a general principle to reduce relative disadvantage across society, a principle that can be applied unequivocally in every case: the principle of reasonable equality of opportunity (not perfect equality of opportunity). This is ensured by providing (not by directly managing the delivery of) school education to the children of the poor. After that is done, individual initiative and luck should determine the achieved outcomes. 
 
- My editorial in Towards a Great India, 15 November 2009. 
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All that is good in India today comes from classical liberal ideas

On November 26, 2010, in India, Liberty, My publications, by

[The original state of men in nature] is a state of perfect freedom to choose their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit – within the bounds of the law of nature – without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man. – John Locke

This state of nature, as described by John Locke (above) may be attractive on the surface, but as Locke himself added, it is ‘a condition, which, however free, is full of fears and continual dangers’. These dangers, he pointed out, come from our chronic exposure ‘to the Invasion of others’ and from the corruption and ‘vitiousness of degenerate men’. The state of nature is thus prone to external threats and criminal tendencies within.
 
Thomas Hobbes, who had also observed these things, suggested that we need a strong state with a (usually implicit) social contract to preserve our life and liberty. This could take the form of a tribal chiefdom, monarchy, or a modern constitutional democratic republic. Anything but anarchy. Along with Lockean conceptions of democracy and the 1688 Glorious Revolution, these classical liberal ideas have brought unprecedented peace and harmony in the world relative to the mayhem of the past.
 
India became a liberal democracy in 1950 by adopting these classical liberal ideas in its Constitution. Had Nehruvian socialism not destroyed our liberties so badly, India could by now have been one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Fortunately, political liberalism is now making a strong comeback in India. The (classical) liberals are working to re-claim their legacy and offer their direct leadership to this great country.
 
Let's not forget that almost everything good about India today comes from its Constitutional liberal roots. Let us celebrate (classical) liberalism!
 
Sadly, there is no liberal political party in India today. But the Freedom Team has been hard at work, identifying high quality leaders with the aim of taking India to freedom. The first firm steps have been taken.
 
[This is my (slightly edited editorial) published in Towards a Great India, 15 July 2009]
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Poverty – the natural consequence of socialism

On October 22, 2010, in Bad ideas!, My publications, Philosophy, by

Had India adopted the policies of freedom that C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) advocated through his Swatantra Party in the 1960s, we would have been an extremely rich nation by now. Socialism claims to help the poor but ends up impoverishing them further. As Winston Churchill said: “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.” With access to so much knowledge and technology today, poverty can only exist in countries which insist on following bad policies. 

Good leaders are needed to explain the benefits of freedom to the poor of India who keep voting for socialists.

[From my editorial in TAGI, 15 Sept 2008]

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India sleeps as tyrants roam the streets

On October 13, 2010, in India, My publications, by

Continuing with my editorials from TAGI, this one is from June 2008:

So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men. – Voltaire

Demolition of Babri Masjid
Bomb blast in Jaipur (May 2008)
The citizenship of free India comes with its responsibilities. In a free society, it is a minimum requirement that everyone must respect the life and liberty of others. Freedom is not license to destroy or kill. Intolerance, hate-mongering, and lawlessness of any sort is totally unacceptable.
 
Unfortunately, criminals claiming to be religiously motivated, fanatic Maoists, and violent secessionist groups periodically terrorize fellow Indians. Public and private property is demolished and senseless violence meted out to completely innocent people. These criminals and groups are the enemies of India, wanting to tear apart the incipient edifice of freedom established in 1947. Sadly, India is a weak state with a particularly weak enforcement of the rule of law. Demagogues of all sorts flourish unchecked. Hateful ideologies are allowed to go unpunished.
 
India needs strong leaders today, leaders determined to ensure the life and liberty of each India citizen.
 
The Freedom Team calls upon all the good people of India who believe in freedom to awaken from their deep slumber of 60 years and guide the country. Else India’s days of relative freedom may well be numbered. 
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The need for powerful elected local governments

On September 23, 2010, in My publications, Public policy, by

Free societies do not have inefficient, tenured civil services. It is fortunate for Melbourne City that it does not have IAS officers (unlike, for instance, Delhi or Mumbai).

Instead, directly elected representatives (Councillors) in the Melbourne City local government area hire excellent managers on five year contracts and pay them very well to deliver results. If they don’t deliver, these managers are fired! The citizens also actively participate in Council meetings. If despite that the Councillors fail to deliver results then they are voted out in the next elections. 

In Indian governments no one is directly and solely accountable for anything. But freedom can’t exist without accountability. Therefore, India’s colonial governance frameworks and policies of socialism must go. Accountability must be established.

The city of Melbourne provides garbage bins (green bin to the left) and bicycle stands:

 
(This blog post is a slightly edited extract from my editorial in Towards a Great India, 15 June 2008). For more information on how local governments should be established and empowered in a free society, please read BFN (chapter 6) and my article in Freedom First, November 2008.
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Together, we can overcome

On September 10, 2010, in Freedom Team, My publications, by

All great feats have initially appeared to be utopian. Those trying to change things are often the butt of ridicule. Leading attracts criticism, and so most ofIndia’s highly educated and competent people prefer to follow India’s corrupt leaders like sheep following a pack of wolves. In doing so we escape criticism. We can say “It is ‘their’ fault, not ours”!

But whose fault is it really? Why is it that India grinds in poverty even as the West succeeds and grows richer each day? By following the corrupt like sheep, we all fail. The sheep must revolt.

(The above comment is from my editorial in Towards a Great India,15 May 2008. Please join or otherwise support the Freedom Team of India if you want real reform in India.)

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