The Privatization of Roads and Highways - Ludwig von Mises Institute

398 The Privatization of Roads and Highways
CASTING THE FIRST STONE
Poole might object to the criticisms made above on the
ground that they come with particular ill grace from me, personally,
in that I have been employed over the years by several public
universities. What is the big difference, he might say, between
working for the government and giving it free advice? If anything,
the former might even be considered worse than the latter,
insofar as the connection is deeper and more enduring.
This argument must be rejected, and on several grounds.
First, it is an argumentum ad hominem. Even if it is otherwise correct,
it in no way exonerates his behavior. All it does is indict my
own. But he would still be guilty, as charged. Just because I misbehaved,
does not mean he has not.
Second, there is all the world of difference, as far as libertarianism
is concerned, between aiding and abetting the state in its
ill advised, ill considered, dangerous, mischievous and even
murderous road system, on the one hand, and infiltrating into
the state’s educational system with the goal of examining and
transmitting to students a political-economic philosophy that is
consonant with economic freedom. That is, stipulate for argument’s
sake, that during the years I was involved in public education,
39 my teaching did not promote Marxism, socialism, or
even a centrist, mixed economy; but, rather, to the extent that
positive economics leaks out into the normative realm, the very
39 Full disclosure regarding my employment at public universities: from
August 1997–May 2001, I was professor and Chair of the Department of
Economics and Finance, College of Business Administration, University of
Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas 72035; from September 1975–June
1979, I was assistant professor, Economics Department, Rutgers University,
Newark, New Jersey 07102; from September 1971–June 1974, I was assistant
professor, Economics Department, Baruch College, C.U.N.Y., New York,
New York 10010; from September 1968–June 1971, I was instructor, Economics
Department, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and
from September 1967–June 1968, I was instructor, Stony Brook, S.U.N.Y.
11794.