Village Pillage

[mglosup at randomc.com]

On 19 Nov 96 at 13:00, MASCARO at HUMnet.UCLA.EDU wrote:

 
> >I believe TRP to be basically libertarian in his politics. I can't think of
> >one instance in TRP's writings were the State has acted with benevolence.
> >It always seems to be one Brock Vond or another dropping out of the sky.
> 
> Somehow rthe line "There is a hand to turn the time"  keeps echoing as I ponder 
> your observation.  No economist I, but the libertarian faith in the Great and Good 
> Free Market always struck me as the weakness of their otherwise tempting 
> philosophy.  Do you think TRP believes in Smith's Invisible Hand?  Doesn't he 
> explore this notion repeatedly?

I believe TRP to be (l)ibertarian, but it does not necessarily
follow that he is (L)ibertarian.  The word libertarian had a noble
etymology before being coopted by Randians, Hayekites, and
Friedmaniacs.  TRP certainly acknowledges the existence of the
Invisible Hand but that doesn't have to be an endorsement of
predatory capitalism. Believing in a hurricane doesn't make one 
pro-hurricane.  In fact there is so much of GR that is
hypercritical of institutional capitalism.  Of course, I know
right-libertarian Pynchon afficionadoes who feel his work dovetails
nicely with their beliefs.  I guess we won't know TRP's politics
until he goes on the talk-show circuit for _Mason-Dixon_.  


Michael Glosup