Father of Benjamin, husband of Nathalie, BK Marcus works from Charlottesville, Virginia, as managing editor of Mises.org.
He is no longer a house husband, nor a faculty spouse, but he is a homeschooling father, which is much cooler.
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"It is no crime to be ignorant of economics, which is, after all, a specialized discipline and one that most people consider to be a 'dismal science.' But it is totally irresponsible to have a loud and vociferous opinion on economic subjects while remaining in this state of ignorance."
Benjamin Tucker Marcus
May 14, 2010
February 3rd, 2008 by 
bkmarcus
I especially appreciate her implicit assertion toward the end that she might be violating statute law without taking anything or hurting anyone.
Update:
Posted in comics, philosophy | 
5 Comments »
Chris said,
But if she chooses which pages to view isn’t she, via signals, actually using the home router’s processing power as well as analogous resources belonging to the ISP? This seems clearly different than just splitting a cable TV signal.
Nathan said,
Yeah, she is in fact using her neighbor’s property without permission. Electricity, bandwidth, and router processing power are consumed, diminishing the owner’s ability to use that property.
But in practical terms, I tend to feel that if you want to keep your wireless to yourself, you should secure it. If you don’t want your neighbor’s unattended cattle grazing on your land, fence it in.
Jason said,
It’s definitely an interesting issue. On one hand, the signal belongs to her neighbor. On the other hand, she is in her own home, on her own property, and her neighbor is broadcasting a signal over the airwaves. He clearly does not own the airwaves that come into her property. She did not ask him to beam it into her apartment; it is there. Should you leave your television on loud enough that your neighbors can hear it, are they stealing the audio of your cable?
If someone broadcasts a signal onto my property, I have the right to 1) make them stop sending the signal if I don’t like it, or 2) use the signal however I like, if I do.
Unsecured, on my property, and floating on the airwaves…its all fair game.
Wulf said,
No, Jason, your point would be excellent except that it ignores Nathan’s point about how her use of his resources does limit his ability to use it. There is a scarcity issues that is not in play for the TV sound waves.
It is questionable whether you could make your neighbor stop sending the signal – would you charge him under a sound ordinance? But to use the signal however you like is theft.
A theory of property according to Claire… « Check Your Premises said,
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