Privatization of Roads and Highways

Walter Block has written a new book titled, “The Privatization of Roads and Highways,” which is a thoughtful inquiry into the notion that the government is the only way we could have a road system in the United States. Even many who are supposedly “free market advocates” (such as Milton Friedman) are “road socialists”: somehow the notion of private roads just has too many road blocks (pun intended) getting in the way of progress. Apparently the better method is for the State to confiscate private property for “public good.” I’m not really sure how that comports with the non-aggression axiom, but lack of creative thinking often gives way to pragmatic compromises. If it’s more convenient for one’s purposes, it doesn’t matter if it violates principles, or sometimes ethics.
Click here to download a PDF of the entire book

View Comments to “Privatization of Roads and Highways”

Charles 14 April 2009 at 9:09 pm #

I watched John Stossel talk about this topic on 20/20 a few weeks ago. He offers some great examples of how privately owned roads have worked and are still working (and making a profit). Here is a link for the online video. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/Story?id=705...
Charles 15 April 2009 at 1:09 am #

I watched John Stossel talk about this topic on 20/20 a few weeks ago. He offers some great examples of how privately owned roads have worked and are still working (and making a profit). Here is a link for the online video. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/Story?id=705...