Hans Hermann-Hoppe on idolizing politicians

Idolizing a politician is like believing that the stripper actually loves you.

~ Hans Hermann-Hoppe

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on Javier Milei

From the point of view of an anarcho-capitalism, which he claims is his philosophical conviction, he is of course a disaster.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, "What to Make of Milei," LewRockwell.com, October 3, 2024

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on democracy

What is true, just, and beautiful is not determined by popular vote.  The masses everywhere are ignorant, short-sighted, motivated by envy, and easy to fool.  Democratic politicians must appeal to these masses in order to be elected.  Whoever is the best demagogue will win.  Almost by necessity, then, democracy will lead to the perversion of truth, justice and beauty.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe

2013

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on decentralization

As indicated, the democratic system is on the verge of economic collapse and bankruptcy as in particular the developments since 2007, with the great and still ongoing financial and economic crisis, have revealed.  The EU and the euro are in fundamental trouble, and so are the US and the US dollar.  Indeed, there are ominous signs that the dollar is gradually losing its status as dominant international reserve currency.  In this situation, not quite unlike the situation after the collapse of the former Soviet Empire, countless decentralizing, separatist and secessionist movements and tendencies have gained momentum, and I would advocate that as much ideological support as possible be given to these movements.

For even if as a result of such decentralist tendencies new State governments should spring up, whether democratic or otherwise, territorially smaller States and increased political competition will tend to encourage moderation as regards a State's exploitation of productive people.  Just look at Liechtenstein, Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong, and even Switzerland, with its still comparatively powerful small cantons vis-a-vis its central government.  Ideally, the decentralization should proceed all the way down to the level of individual communities, to free cities and villages as they once existed all over Europe.  Just think of the cities of the Hanseatic League, for instance.  In any case, even if new little States will emerge there, only in small regions, districts, and communities will the stupidity, arrogance, and corruption of politicians and local plutocrats become almost immediately visible to the public and can possibly be quickly corrected and rectified.  And only in very small political units will it also be possible for members of the natural elite, or whatever is left of such an elite, to regain the status of voluntarily acknowledged conflict arbitrators and judges of the peace.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, A Short History of Man: Progress and Decline, pp. 131-132

2015

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on Walter Block's defense of Israel's retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack

Grotesque.  If anything, this assessment of Block’s only indicates that he has lost any sense of measure and proportion...  [H]is call for total and unrestricted war and the indiscriminate slaughter of innocent civilians is actually the complete and uninhibited rejection and renunciation of the non-aggression principle that constitutes one of the very cornerstones of the Rothbardian system.  To believe that Rothbard would have given serious consideration to his WSJ piece is simply ridiculous and only indicates that Block’s understanding of Rothbard is not nearly as good as he himself fancies it to be.  The Rothbard I knew would have denounced the piece in no uncertain terms as monstrous and considered it an unforgivable aberration and disgrace.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, "On Open Letter to Walter E. Block," LewRockwell.com, January 31, 2024

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on who rises to the top of a democracy

Democracy virtually assures that only bad and dangerous men will ever rise to the top of government.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Democracy: The God That Failed

2001

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on how the Founding Fathers felt about democracy

Even the Founding Fathers of the U.S., nowadays considered the model of a democracy, were strictly opposed to it.  Without a single exception, they thought of democracy as nothing but mob-rule.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Democracy: The God That Failed

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on the social contract

The state operates in a legal vacuum.  There exists no contract between the state and its citizens.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, "The Mind of Hans-Hermann Hoppe," The Daily Bell interview on mises.org, March 27, 2011

Hans-Hermann Hoppe on the state

The state is an institution run by gangs of murderers, plunderers and thieves, surrounded by willing executioners, propagandists, sychophants, crooks, liars, clowns, charlatans, dupes and useful idiots - an institution that dirties and taints everything it touches.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe

Hans Hermann-Hoppe on the selection bias of elections

[S]election of government rulers by means of popular elections makes it practically impossible that any good or harmless person could ever rise to the top.  Prime ministers and presidents are selected for their proven efficiency as morally uninhibited demagogues.  Thus, democracy virtually assures that only bad and dangerous men will ever rise to the top of government; indeed, as the result of free political competition and selection, those who rise will become increasingly bad and dangerous individuals, yet as temporary and interchangeable caretakers they will only rarely be assassinated.

~ Hans Hermann-Hoppe, Democracy: The God That Failed, p. 88

2001