The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

512 THE FREEMAN Augustvides the only rational criterionfor adjudicating competing claimsto personal fulfillment." There isno room in Professor Andelson'sphilosophy for government welfareprograms: H ••• the alleviation ofmisery is not, as such, a right, andought not, as such, be coercivelyenforced. For the use of coercion,other than to guarantee rights, isan infringement upon righ¥s . . ."Beyond this, he would not countenanceany effort to legislate morals;conduct which merely offendssensibilities and is not clearly predatoryis no concern of the law.The author champions the right ofprivate association (and dissociation)and thus comes into conflictwith aspects of current civil rightslegislation. The law should enforcecontracts and protect rightfulproperty. The laborer is not a commodity,the author affirms, but"his labor is. the commodity parexcellence" - a position at variancewith monopoly unionism. Andas for the United Nations, its absurdDeclaration of Human Rights"is proof of its untrustworthinessto wield supreme authority."This brief resume· of some ofthe issues may convey the notionthat Dr. Andelson is forthright tothe point of abrasiveness. Correct!The reviewer dissents vigorouslyfrom several of the opinions expressedbut applauds the candorwhich makes this a cleansing bookand an important one. ,HANDSOME BLUE LEATHERLEXFREEMANBINDERS$2.50 eachORDER FROM : THE FOUNDATION fOR ECONOMIC EDUCATIONIRVINGTON-ON-HUDSON, NEW YORK 10533