(2004-09-21) Compassional Libertarianism

Roderick T Long on on how the non-LibertarIan Market Distortion-s of Big Government create Poverty. Minimum Wage laws increase the cost to businesses of hiring unskilled workers, and so decrease the supply of such jobs, causing UnEmployment. Rent Control laws increase the cost to landlords of providing housing, and so decrease the supply of such housing (Real Estate), causing Homeless-ness. Licensure laws (Trade Guild), Zoning restrictions, and other regulations (Red Tape) make it nearly impossible for the poor to start their own businesses (SmallCo). Two examples: urban black teenagers have been prosecuted for braiding hair without benefit of expensive beauticians' degrees (Urban Development); and in many cities, a Taxi license costs as much as $100,000. Such low-capital enterprises as hair-braiding and taxi service are a natural avenue for people of little means to start earning money and achieving independence; but the Coercive power of the state prevents it... All these laws conspire, whether intentionally or otherwise, to entrench the better-off in their current positions by holding the poor down in their poverty and preventing them from being able to compete. (Similar principles apply higher up the economic ladder, as Tax Law-s and economic regulations entrench the power of big corporations (BigCo) by insulating them from competition by smaller businesses - incidentally helping to ossify these corporations into sluggish, hierarchical, inefficient monoliths.)