Comments on: Cato Unbound: “Can an Omnipotent Government Make a Rock Bigger than It Can Lift?” by Michael Munger; Response to “Government, Bound or Unbound?” by Anthony de Jasay http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/ Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Etc. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:27:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Andrew Stevens http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1553 Andrew Stevens Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:42:55 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1553 The Federalist Papers were written in support of the Constitution, not the Articles of Confederation. However, don't get me wrong, while the Constitution created a federal government difficult to start and easy to stop, the Articles of Confederation created a federal government impossible to start at all. The Federalist Papers were written in support of the Constitution, not the Articles of Confederation. However, don’t get me wrong, while the Constitution created a federal government difficult to start and easy to stop, the Articles of Confederation created a federal government impossible to start at all.

]]> By: jeffsdeepthoughts http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1551 jeffsdeepthoughts Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:24:55 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1551 Help me out with some history, Andrew. Were the Federalist Papers written before or after the Articles of Confederation? My old American History Teacher would have said that the articles were quite aptly described by you as having the breaks of a Rolls Royce and the engine of a lawn mower. It seems like the common view is that the Constiution fixed this, but it seems like you don't think it went far enough. Help me out with some history, Andrew. Were the Federalist Papers written before or after the Articles of Confederation?
My old American History Teacher would have said that the articles were quite aptly described by you as having the breaks of a Rolls Royce and the engine of a lawn mower.
It seems like the common view is that the Constiution fixed this, but it seems like you don’t think it went far enough.

]]> By: Andrew Stevens http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1539 Andrew Stevens Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:33:26 +0000 http://micahtillman.com/2008/02/15/cato-unbound-%e2%80%9ccan-an-omnipotent-government-make-a-rock-bigger-than-it-can-lift%e2%80%9d-by-michael-munger-response-to-%e2%80%9cgovernment-bound-or-unbound%e2%80%9d-by-anthony-de-jasay/#comment-1539 Munger is correct. The U.S. Constitution gives us a government with the engine of a lawnmower and the brakes of a Rolls-Royce. This was entirely intentional as anyone who has read The Federalist Papers knows. There is a very good reason why U.S. Treasury bonds are the risk-free asset of the entire world. The United States is the country most trusted to pay back its debts, allowing us to borrow money very cheaply. Munger is correct. The U.S. Constitution gives us a government with the engine of a lawnmower and the brakes of a Rolls-Royce. This was entirely intentional as anyone who has read The Federalist Papers knows.

There is a very good reason why U.S. Treasury bonds are the risk-free asset of the entire world. The United States is the country most trusted to pay back its debts, allowing us to borrow money very cheaply.

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