On Libertarian Economics: Nature's 'Default' State
(An Open Letter to Mr. Kaushik Basu - Professor of Economics, Cornell University)

(*Let me just say up front that I am fully aware that the Scientific American article that is the inspiration for this piece is already six months old. However, the matter discussed herein is just as urgently relevant today as it was back in June of 2007, so its age is entirely beside the point and inconsequential to the discussion at hand. Also, I fully admit that I am far from an economist. I have thus far in my life devoted a relatively small amount of time to the study of the numbers and technical terminology of the field of economics. I am, and indeed have always been, a natural student of human beings and communications. It is with the sensibilities, both natural and acquired, regarding people and their interactions, and from such a vantage point that I make my case. It is furthermore my opinion that economics has become a bit convoluted and full of elitism, so to speak, and that ultimately it will become increasingly more necessary that students of this field look more to the roots and foundation of the science which can only be found in earnest study of human beings, and most especially their desires, needs, and motivations for interacting and initiating/conducting trade of any description with one another.*)

Mr. Basu,

I have just read your article, "The Travelers' Dilemma" (Scientific American, June 2007) discussing the hypothetical scenario bearing the same moniker which is your personal contribution to the field of game theory. I write to you, sir because I feel strongly compelled, first of all, to thank you for contributing this analysis of the various implications and suggestions offered within the average person's tactics for participation in studies involving your invention. A fair distance removed from your actual purpose in writing the article though it may have been, it has inadvertently turned out to be a tremendously valuable epiphany for me, personally, articulating a simple explanation to a very basic question which I'd yet to answer for want of a proper viewpoint (due, entirely by chance, to the fact that, simply put, such an angle is entirely alien to my own natural sensibilities).

That said, I feel a bit antsy to go ahead and share my freshly-broadened perspective and sincerely hope that in so doing, I might additionally return the favor to you and we can both go on about our lives a bit

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