Chapter 1 of 16 · Romance of Reality by Leonard E. Read

Front Matter

Romance of Reality

Leonard E. Read

1937

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Foundation for Economic Education

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ISBN (ebook): 978-1-63069-661-0

2018
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To LEONARD, Jr., and JIMMIE

“. . . God and Nature have ordained the chances and conditions of life on earth once for all. The case cannot be reopened. We cannot get a revision of the laws of human life. We are absolutely shut up to the need and duty, if we would learn how to live happily, of investigating the laws of Nature, and deducing the rules of right living in the world as it is. These are very wearisome and commonplace tasks. They consist in labor and self-denial repeated over and over again in learning and doing.”

—William Graham Sumner

“But he that knew not, and did not commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

Preface

I. Debunking the Labels

II. The Nature of the Problem

III. The “X” Factor

An Example of “X” Factor Subversion

An Example of “X” Factor Promotion

IV. Does Over-Expansion of Government Subvert the “X” Factor?

V. Government Intervention Subverts the “X” Factor

VI. The Subversion of the “X” Factor By Government Mis-direction

VII. Does Inflation Subvert the “X” Factor?

VIII. The Subversive Aspects of the “NRA” Idea

IX. What About Consumer Judgment?