It sure sounds that way.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks first came to my attention when he was quoted by Deirdre McCloskey in The Bourgois Virtues.  Sacks once wrote:  “It is through exchange that difference becomes a blessing, not a curse.”  I still think that is one of the most beautiful expressions of basic economics that I’ve ever read.  It takes me several lectures to get across what he did in one sentence!

But it turns out he really does know his economics.  Check out this video of him explaining the Law of Comparative Advantage (what Mises generalized into the “Law of Association”) and how it enables each of us to contribute to the benefit of others through the market, then how exchange is the basis for peace, cooperation, and tolerance.  It is, again, expressed with great beauty.

In the last minute, he turns to argue for what seems like a basic income guarantee.  Add it all up, and I think we have ourselves a bleeding heart libertarian!  The Chief Rabbi is most definitely near the top of my “I’d love to have dinner with him” list.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50tQT1dmIHQ]