Comments on: The Broken Window Applied to Disaster Cleanup http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:46:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Atanamis http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7149 Atanamis Thu, 29 May 2008 22:52:41 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7149 As specified in the broken window story, disasters ARE good for certain sectors of the economy, such as the glazier. The baker and tailer face a loss, but to the glazier's perspective there is nothing but gain. If we don't CARE about the baker and tailer, then the disaster caused gain for us too. In this case, the people hurt by the disaster are the owner of the freighter and whoever has to clean up the mess. Those who get to do the work though ARE having their economy stimulated. So long as the people hurt by this incident aren't people you care about, the situation is nothing but good. As specified in the broken window story, disasters ARE good for certain sectors of the economy, such as the glazier. The baker and tailer face a loss, but to the glazier’s perspective there is nothing but gain. If we don’t CARE about the baker and tailer, then the disaster caused gain for us too. In this case, the people hurt by the disaster are the owner of the freighter and whoever has to clean up the mess. Those who get to do the work though ARE having their economy stimulated. So long as the people hurt by this incident aren’t people you care about, the situation is nothing but good.

]]> By: TANK http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7184 TANK Sat, 31 May 2008 11:57:07 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7184 Probably the young hoodlum's daddy is the tailor. So, as the tailor makes even less money, the young hoodlum gets even more frustrated and breaks another window. Which again causes his daddy to lose business. The rich get richer, and we all know what happens to the poor. Probably the young hoodlum’s daddy is the tailor. So, as the tailor makes even less money, the young hoodlum gets even more frustrated and breaks another window. Which again causes his daddy to lose business. The rich get richer, and we all know what happens to the poor.

]]> By: thainamu http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7187 thainamu Sat, 31 May 2008 13:23:26 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7187 "The rich get richer, and we all know what happens to the poor." That is so true! No wonder Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you." (Mt 26:11) “The rich get richer, and we all know what happens to the poor.”

That is so true! No wonder Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Mt 26:11)

]]> By: Charles N. Steele http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7265 Charles N. Steele Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:24:41 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/05/the-broken-window-applied-to-disaster-cleanup/#comment-7265 The young hoodlum's daddy is the glazier. Daddy enjoys the extra business, and doesn't stop his child from further brick throwing. But more importantly, the fundamental point of Hazlitt's story is not circumvented by saying "what if we don't care about the people who lose?" While the disaster does lead to a redistribution of wealth, it also reduces the total wealth in existence. There's a smaller pie to be divided as a result of the disaster, never mind how we slice it. It's completely backwards to think of destruction as a growth strategy, it's just the opposite. And in the long run, a poorer economy means less for everyone. Great post, BTW. The young hoodlum’s daddy is the glazier. Daddy enjoys the extra business, and doesn’t stop his child from further brick throwing.

But more importantly, the fundamental point of Hazlitt’s story is not circumvented by saying “what if we don’t care about the people who lose?” While the disaster does lead to a redistribution of wealth, it also reduces the total wealth in existence. There’s a smaller pie to be divided as a result of the disaster, never mind how we slice it. It’s completely backwards to think of destruction as a growth strategy, it’s just the opposite. And in the long run, a poorer economy means less for everyone.

Great post, BTW.

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