Thursday, November 05, 2009

Calling all UK-based Austrians

I think it's about time we had 'Ludwig von Mises Institute' here in the UK, perhaps allied to the one in Auburn, Alabama, and possibly even a commercial outpost, so we can get books and things posted from here to cut down on shipping costs, and help them arrange more European conferences, such as the one in Salamanca.

If you are an Austrian in the UK, do you agree?

Rough plan:

1. Inaugural meeting to discuss what the heck we're going to do with the thing, somewhere nice such as Henley, Oxford, Keswick, or Bath, in a nice out-of-season B&B beside a splendidly-rated public hostelry. I'll buy the first round.

2. Assuming we get past stage one, link to be formed with LvM in Auburn (I have some cunning tricks up my sleeve, for this one)

3. Errr... that's about it for the moment

Any comments?

If there are any rogue UK-based Austrian billionaires out there, who'd like to sponsor such a thing, then I'd particularly like to hear your thoughts. Especially if you own a splendid hostelry somewhere nice.

I know there's at least one other Austrian here in the UK. You know who you are. Do you think it's a good idea?

10 comments:

Katabasis said...

I'm in.

There are quite a few others in LPUK too AFAIK....

Jack Maturin said...

Good to hear it. I'm talking to the spouse of a Vice-President of the LvMI in Auburn, next week, about what we need to do to make this a reality. More soon...

Any more comments?

Richard Wellings said...

Are you aware of the Cobden Centre, formed within the last few months? Several UK-based Austrians are supporting it: http://www.cobdencentre.org/

Jack Maturin said...

Cheers Richard.

On first viewing I see Mr Toby Baxendale is involved, who has spoken at several LvMI conferences.

I shall have to check it out. On first viewing, looks a bit heavy, but that's probably only because I'm jealous.

Also, unless it's a pure anarcho-capitalist Miseseian organisation, I think there's still room for a LvMI UK.

The trouble I have found with libertarian 'collectives', particularly those which include varying flavours of Minarchist, is that you always spend all of your time arguing over the number of angels on the head of a pin, rather than advancing towards the destruction of the state, and nobody ever has any laughs on the way, as they strive to dominate with their Postrelian/Anarcho-Georgist/Popperian/Randian versions of Libertarianism.

What I would aspire to (and who knows, it's probably impossible now) is a cloister of Rothbardians, with a very strong link to the LvMI in Auburn, having as much fun as the Mises Circle did back in the 1950s in the US, in New York.

Paul said...

Good idea on remailing the LvMI books, I guess you could do that EU-wide to get a bigger market. I would buy a lot from you!

Tom Harrington said...

I agree that there is a gap in the market for a UK-based organisation that puts forward a consistent Austrian line, and that shares the same ambition as LvMI, in the sense of seeking to spread ideas, rather than influence the political process.

Jack Maturin said...

Yes, Tom, a hardcore 'cadre' of Austrians is what I think we need, rather than an intellectual cock pit for libertarian dandy cock fights.

Also, although we'll tolerate vague Minarchists with surnames like 'Mises' or 'Hayek', it will be mainly hard core anarcho-capitalist, and no shilly-shallying with Westminster cocktail parties to 'influence' the Stupid Parties.

We will aim to completely undermine and ruin the future of Leviathan, not help Leviathan become more efficient in its oppression.

(Though if Bonson Jorris, well-known fan of Lew Rockwell, and possessor of copies of 'Democracy: The God That Failed' and 'Human Action', should turn up, I suppose we could let him buy us a beer.)

OK. Sold. Part II rolls into action. I need to talk to my 'control' from Auburn, to see what he thinks.

A report will be published following this meeting.

aje said...

Jack - drop me an email when you get chance

Jack Maturin said...

Might want to read this first:

=> http://angloaustria.blogspot.com/2009/11/report-on-lvmi-uk.html

You can email me on Jack UNDERSCORE Maturin AT Yahoo DOT com

Jack Maturin said...

Might want to read this first:

=> http://angloaustria.blogspot.com/2009/11/report-on-lvmi-uk.html

You can email me on Jack UNDERSCORE Maturin AT Yahoo DOT com