Ron Kitching, “Freedom Fighter for Liberty,” turns 80.

In the battle of ideas, Ron Kitching deserves to be considered a libertarian war hero.

(Inspired by comment by GMB)

This is an early picture is of Ron, with John Campbell Miles discoverer of Mount Isa. (Click to Enlarge.)

Today is the 80th birthday of Ron Kitching, who I have had the good fortune to have known and been in contact with for what seems almost for ever. He has been an inspiration to myself and many others over the years, and has always struck me as a person who has freed his mind from the confines of the state and its thinking. Ron, for as long as I have known him has been a wealth of information on free enterprise economics, having studied the classical texts on the subject and is the author of one of the best books I have seen in the field, “Understanding Personal and Economic Liberty” 

While not a great fan of “Cattalaxy,” (they’re a bit highbrow for me, and I have to resort to the dictionary too much,) they did a great post on him:

Today I had the excellent fortune to meet Ron Kitching (left), life member of the Mont Pelerin Society and sponsor of Hayek’s month-long lecture tour to Australia in 1976. Ron is a Rockhampton local, with a lifetime’s experience in the mining industry, where he was a distinguished exploration drilling contractor. He still consults to the industry, but outside of his mining experience, he’s a genuine economic autodidact.

His interest in Hayek’s thought was piqued after his drilling business nearly went broke as a result of H.C Coombs’ 1960 credit squeeze. ‘Coombs’ legacy still pervades Australia,’ he says. ‘He managed to hold every PM he served under in thrall. Even Menzies’.

At first Ron was just irritated with the bureaucracy and regulation - particularly when the ATO was the only body to refuse to enter a deed of company arrangement. After a while, however, his irritation turned to a desire to find out how and why governments could regulate the economy to such an extent that an ostensibly booming industry (like mining) was reduced to penury. ….

I have posted many articles that are either by him, expanded from his Emails, or on things he has drawn my attention to. I owe him big time for this.

All the best Ron. I hope I can post on your 100th.