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Title: The Noblest Triumph: Property and Prosperity Through the Ages by Tom Bethell ISBN: 0-312-22337-4 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: October, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (18 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Great in the application, less so with theory.
Comment: When Bethell applies his theory of the relationship between property rights and prosperity to the examples he cites, the book shines. He is a little less clear about HOW the legal environment gets to the state he considers optimal. This is a more serious flaw in light of his palpable anti-Marxist slant: Marx has a lot to say about how law is propagated in society, but the author seldom mentions him in an approving light. Opponents of libertarianism will also have objections to the book's overall tone.
But don't misconstrue my review, the book is well-done and worth reading. Those NOT on the prosperous side of capitalism might not arrive at the same conclusions about property and justice. It would seem that citizens in countries without his preferred legal climate should let bygones be bygones and leave property in the hands of the richest society members, regardless of how they acquired it up to that point. Furthermore, those that hold much property are not averse to giving up a little of it in exchange for security in the rest.
And if that sounds like justice, wait till he talks about democracy.
Rating: 5
Summary: A revelation
Comment: Bethell takes as his subject one of the oldest controversies known to man -- the issue of property rights -- and weaves together a lucid, interesting, and convincing case that stable property rights are the necessary antecedent for prosperity and progress. He describes his thesis as, "When property is privatized, and the rule of law is established, in such a way that all including the rulers themselves are subject to the same law, economies will prosper and civilization will blossom." To prove it, he discusses a wide range of historical examples. I was particularly intrigued by his discussion of the communities that have attempted to live peaceably without property rights; all have failed.
The issue of property rights is foundational to virtually every public policy discussion. If you have any interest in politics or policy, read this book.
Rating: 1
Summary: Silent about original aquisition!
Comment: Silent about original acquisition!
This book, which purports to be about property rights, is strangely silent about the concept of original acquisition. That is, the right to property is based by the method by which it was originally received. A simple example, if the property was stolen or it the original deed is false then the property is rightly not yours.
John Locke had something to say about this but that was a long time ago.
But in this book, the author is silent. And for good reason, for if he did discuss it, the topic would be embarrassing for North Americans for they would have to transfer land back to those they had stolen it from - i.e. the Native Americans.
In total, while I can agree the owning property is a good thing, it is only good when it has been acquired by the proper methods. But in North America it was stolen.
One star for dishonestly.
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