[snoringbear]

“Barron’s says: “More than 16,000 books have already been written about Abraham Lincoln. But it took an economist to get the story right. The Real Lincoln, by Loyola College economics prof Thomas J. DiLorenzo, is this year’s top pick in [Gene Epstein’s] sixth annual review of Holiday Gifts that Keep on Giving, When It’s the Thought that Counts.”

I disagree. Lincoln's initial objective was to preserve the union and then later in the war ending slavery. In achieving both, Lincoln demonstrated a great deal of sophistication and intellect as he was under a great deal of pressure from the union side including the west for a negotiated settlement. Suggest you read Tried by War, author James M. McPherson to gain some insight into the tight rope Lincoln had to walk in order bring the war to a successful conclusion.

[Buchal]

Lincoln did appear to have considerable personal insistence upon forbidding succession, which could have been quite independent of the economic drivers for conflict. I don’t pretend to be a Lincoln expert, but merely wanted to suggest that there is a view of history in which he did very great damage to the Constitution, and laid the foundation for the modern welfare state. Not quite as bad as a Bismarck, but not someone to be the subject of unbridled admiration.

[RKBA Democrat]

“Suggest you read Tried by War, author James M. McPherson to gain some insight into the tight rope Lincoln had to walk in order bring the war to a successful conclusion.”

That’s true. The tyrant had to be savvy to win. Pardon if I don’t laud his work ethic or leadership.