Defending the undefendable : the pimp, prostitute, scab, slumlord, libeler, moneylender, and other scapegoats in the rogue's gallery of American society

Professor Block's book is in a new edition from the Mises Institute, completely reset and beautifully laid out in an edition worthy of its contents. It is among the most famous of the great defenses of victimless crimes and controversial economic practices, from profiteering and gouging to bribery and blackmail. However, beneath the surface, this book is also an outstanding work of microeconomic theory that explains the workings of economic forces in everyday events and affairs. Murray Rothbard explains why: ''Defending the Undefendable performs the service of highlighting, the fullest and starkest terms, the essential nature of the productive services performed by all people in the free market. By taking the most extreme examples and showing how the Smithian principles work even in these cases, the book does far more to demonstrate the workability and morality of the free market than a dozen sober tomes on more respectable industries and activities. By testing and proving the extreme cases, he all the more illustrates and vindicates the theory.'' F.A. Hayek agreed, writing the author as follows: ''Looking through Defending the Undefendable made me feel that I was once more exposed to the shock therapy by which, more than fifty years ago, the late Ludwig von Mises converted me to a consistent free market position. ?€¦ Some may find it too strong a medicine, but it will still do them good even if they hate it. A real understanding of economics demands that one disabuses oneself of many dear prejudices and illusions. Popular fallacies in economic frequently express themselves in unfounded prejudices against other occupations, and showing the falsity of these stereotypes you are doing a real services, although you will not make yourself more popular with the majority.'' Cover page......Page 1 Title page......Page 3 Table of Contents......Page 7 Foreword by Rothbard......Page 9 Commentary by Hayek......Page 12 Introduction......Page 13 I. Sexual......Page 19 1. The Prostitute......Page 21 2. The Pimp......Page 27 3. The Male Chauvinist Pig......Page 31 II. Medical......Page 43 4. The Drug Pusher......Page 45 5. The Drug Addict......Page 51 III. Free Speech......Page 57 6. The Blackmailer......Page 59 7. The Slanderer and Libeler......Page 65 8. The Denier of Academic Freedom......Page 69 9. The Advertiser......Page 75 10. The Person Who Yells "Fire!" in a Crowded Theater......Page 87 IV. Outlaw......Page 91 11. The Gypsy Cab Driver......Page 93 12. The Ticket Scalper......Page 101 13. The Dishonest Cop......Page 109 V. Financial......Page 115 14. The (Nongovernment) Counterfeiter......Page 117 15. The Miser......Page 129 16. The Inheritor......Page 135 17. The Moneylender......Page 139 18. The Noncontributor to Charity......Page 147 VI. Business and Trade......Page 155 19. The Curmudgeon......Page 157 20. The Slumlord......Page 165 21. The Ghetto Merchant......Page 173 22. The Speculator......Page 183 23. The Importer......Page 187 24. The Middleman......Page 197 25. The Profiteer......Page 203 VII. Ecology......Page 215 26. The Stripminer......Page 217 27. The Litterer......Page 223 28. The Wastemakers......Page 231 VIII. Labor......Page 239 29. The Fat Capitalist-Pig Employer......Page 241 30. The Scab......Page 251 31. The Rate Buster......Page 255 32. The Employer of Child Labor......Page 261 Index......Page 271 Foreward / Murray N. Rothbard Commentary / F.A. Hayek The prostitute The pimp The male chauvinist pig The drug pusher The drug addict The blackmailer The slanderer and libeler The denier of academic freedom The advertiser The person who yells "fire!" in a crowded theater They gypsy cab driver The ticket scalper The dishonest cop The (nongovernment) counterfeiter The miser The inheritor The moneylender The noncontributory to charity The curmudgeon The slumlord The ghetto merchant The speculator The importer The middleman The profiteer The stripminer The litterer The wastemakers The fat capitalist-pig employer The scab The rate buster The employer of child labor.