Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest?

You cannot be sure that you are right unless you understand the arguments against your views better than your opponents do.

When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought through, and are made effective.

. . I think the Adam Smith role was played in this cycle i.e. the late twentieth century collapse of socialism in which the idea of free-markets succeeded first, and then special events catalyzed a complete change of socio-political policy in countries around the world by Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom.

I think that the Internet is going to be one of the major forces for reducing the role of government.

Undoubtedly Internet has reduced the possibilities of taxation. Why should I buy something here if I can buy it from a company in Japan or England or Brazil with a lower tax?

Complete free trade is not politically feasible. Why? Because it's only in the general interest and in no one's special interest.