New Libertarian Manifesto - Reception - Rothbard

Rothbard

The manifesto was criticized by philosopher Murray Rothbard. He found the manifesto's assertion that wage labor was undesirable or that it would disappear to be absurd, noting specifically the manufacturing industry as one that could not be handled economically by self-employed independent contractors due to transaction costs. Rothbard also pointed out that wage labor made it unnecessary for poor workers to purchase their own capital equipment; this could be left to the capitalists. Rothbard also viewed it as implausible that the black market could out-compete the white market at providing goods such as automobiles, steel, and cement that are less valuable and harder to conceal than jewels, gold, drugs, etc. Rothbard viewed the black market as being, in any case, ineffective at bringing down tyrannical regimes and perhaps even helpful in propping up otherwise economically unviable systems such as the Soviet Union's. However, Rothbard did offer some praise, stating, "Konkin's writings are to be welcomed. Because we need a lot more polycentrism in the movement. Because he shakes up Partyarchs who tend to fall into unthinking complacency. And especially because he cares deeply about liberty and can read-and-write, qualities which seem to be going out of style in the libertarian movement." Konkin wrote a reply to Rothbard's critique.