Michael,

"The Poverty of Philosophy" was Marx's devastating rejoinder to Pierre ("Property is theft") Proudhon's "The Philosophy of Poverty."

"The Communist Manifesto" is a TINY book that is written in clear, simple language. It was written to be read by the masses. In this regard it is similar to Thomas Paine's "Common Sense," though Paine was a better writer, an absolutely superb writer.

The final volume of "Das Kapital" came out 60 years after "The Communist Manifesto."
"Das Kapital" was written for specialists. The way you lump the books together is very, well, revealing.

You wrote: "Your post contains numerous errors"

I reread it. It contains no errors of fact. Our opinions are miles apart, and they can be expected to stay that way.

"you have never even read Hayek, and most likely have never even witnessed the damage socialism did to Europe."

Michael, I have been meaning to tell you that it's unbecoming to run around saying you've read this book eight times and this book 12 times. That you have read certain books should be demonstrated by the logic and cogency of your arguments. Didn't you see the movie "The Paper Chase"? Law student to Professor Kingsfield: "I have a photographic memory." Kingsfield: "A photographic memory will be of absolutely no use to you in my class unless you learn to analyze all those facts between your ears." (Did I get it right, David?)

"I really want to believe you are an intelligent liberal, not just a pissed off radical."

What difference does it make, Michael? My girlfriend worships Bill Clinton. I think he's vile--personally and politically. The pool of people who share my politics is tiny. I insist on choosing my friends from a bigger pool.

Can we please end this now?