Agorist Thesis #3

Nobody gets taken advantage of through mutually voluntary trade.


This one is often contested when I share my moral beliefs.   Because one person can "clearly" benefit more than the other, it means that they're being taken advantage of. 


The most common argument I hear is that of the wage laborer, and how they are "enslaved" by their boss or by capitalists.  This is ridiculous to say the least...I respond "So if I offered you $0.50 an hour to do whatever I want for 15 hours a week, would you take up my offer?"  No one's accepted it yet, I'm still hoping for my own personal servant though.   


It comes back to the truth that all value is relative - and each person makes the decision for themselves what is worth more.  I might look at two people making a trade and say that I think that one person gets more out of it, but that's just my opinion.  What matters is each person in the trade, and remember: in a voluntary trade, both parties receive more than they give up, otherwise neither would trade.


Agorist Theses originally from An Agorist Manifesto by Kyle Bennett.

Agorist Thesis #2

Agorist Thesis #2 - In a voluntary trade, both parties receive more than they give up, otherwise neither would trade.

This is pretty straightforward.  In all voluntary trade, those who trade get more out of it that what they give up, otherwise they wouldn't trade.

This is why I work for my boss, this is why I'm able to buy food with the money I earn from my labor, etc.  I get more out of trade than I give up, otherwise I wouldn't trade.

It comes back to the truth that all value is relative.  I may want a new phone more than I want a new computer,but there isn't a specific number I could tie to in order to say how much I want the new phone more than the computer.

Agorist Thesis #1

1. Trade that is unregulated, untaxed, and unmonitored is the natural right of all human beings.

This thesis is pretty straightword, now let me sell my case to you.

Taxation is forcing people to spend money on goods or services they wouldn't do voluntarily.  Taxation is bad economically, because it distorts the profit/loss signals the market provides - causing you to not know if your resources are being used wisely or not.  Also, by taking away part of what I earn, it is less incentive for me to earn more - especially if there's different tax brackets.

The Real Cause of the Financial Crisis

The Austrian Economist Jesús Huerta de Soto explains the real cause of the financial crisis.