An Anonymous Coward writes:
Economics affects us all, so why do so many remain ignorant of the fundamentals? Murray Rothbard said: "[I]t is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance."
Personally I'm tired of having to defend economics against both the mainstream advocates (with their broken models) and their critics (who tar economics with one brush). I take the time to educate myself and speak out, based on reason, not angry ignorance, and not on smugness, numerology, and appeals to the authority Lord Keynes.
There is a deep-seated tendency for people to misapply physical science techniques to the social sciences. This has resulted in mainstream economics degenerating into a modern day numerology. However there are intellectually sound schools of economics that do not attempt to treat human actions like Newtonian atoms.
This article from The Mises Institute discusses how and why mainstream economics has lost its way.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday December 20 2016, @03:32AM
Altruism, differentiated from simple compassionate acts by the huge helping of unearned guilt involved, is not remotely a good thing. Helping people because you feel it is a good way to spend your life is laudible, helping them because you feel guilty about having more/better is a form of mental illness.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.