"The state is that great fiction by which everyone tries to live at the expense of everyone else."
This quote by Robert Higgs suggests that the state, as a political institution, often functions as a system where resources are collectively distributed in a manner that may not necessarily benefit all individuals equally. Instead, it implies an unfair distribution where some people might appear to prosper at the expense of others, through taxes or regulations that favor certain groups over others. The quote highlights a cynical perspective on government and its role in society, emphasizing potential exploitation and inequality as inherent aspects of state-run systems.
"Inflation: when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars."
This quote by Robert Higgs humorously explains inflation as an increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy, where a product or service that previously cost $5 now costs $10, while its perceived value remains the same at $5. Essentially, inflation erodes purchasing power, making money less valuable over time.
"There is no such thing as a free lunch, but there are lots of free lunches in Washington."
This quote by Robert Higgs suggests that while something may seem "free" or without cost in Washington (the U.S. capital), it often comes at an unseen price elsewhere. It's a metaphorical way of pointing out that government programs, policies, or actions that appear to be provided for free ultimately are paid for by taxpayers or have consequences that affect society negatively, such as inflation, debt, or reduced incentives for individual productivity and responsibility.
"Government is the only agency that can take two dollars from any two people and give it to one person without either of those people benefiting."
This quote by Robert Higgs emphasizes a common criticism of government redistribution programs, suggesting that such policies may not necessarily benefit all parties involved. In essence, he's arguing that when the government takes resources from individuals (dollars in this example) to redistribute them, it's possible that neither the donors nor the recipients might experience net gain or benefit due to various factors like administrative costs, unintended consequences, or misallocation of resources.
"War is the health of the state."
The quote "War is the health of the state" suggests that in times of war, the power and control of a government tend to expand significantly. War acts as a catalyst for increased government intervention, centralization, and authority. This expansion often continues long after the conflict has ended, leading to a stronger state structure. The idea is not necessarily an endorsement of war but rather an observation of its impact on the evolution of political power structures.
If you have a private firm and you spend a ton of money to pay employees, but what you produce is a flop, there will be no value to GDP. But government spending all gets counted as contributing to economic growth. That's why in the early days of creating these measurements, some people didn't want to count government spending.
- Robert Higgs
We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of great difficulties and obstacles. If people could keep society running in the aftermath of the Black Death, they could keep it running after the U.S. government defaulted on its debt.
- Robert Higgs
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