Just a general question on Libertarianism.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

Has anyone read much on it? I can actually see some things they say about getting the Government out of people's lives - personal lives. But some of it is way out like eliminating laws on discrimination, minimum wage or zoning?!?!

What do you think?

[Burma Jones]

1. I think it brings up the conflict between liberty and equality

A Libertarian believes that any form of coercion short of actual violence is allowable. A Libertarian will sacrifice equality of opportunity, equal protection, and other measures the government has adopted that address economic and social coercion.

Libertarianism is the ultimate expression of a dog-eat-dog world. It works out pretty sweet if you are the biggest dog, or are a member of the dominant pack.......

[Crazy Guggenheim]

2. Think they don't get that the markets are not always the best

choice.

[Burma Jones]

4. Why do you hate freedom?

The markets are neutral, right??????

What I do like about Libertarians is their resistance to religion....

[Crazy Guggenheim]

7. Theoretically, yes the markets are neutral. But that's not how

the markets "work". What's to stop someone from unfairly bulldozing the competition?

[livetohike]

3. One of my closest friends is a Libertarian

Try this link for more info: http://www.libertarianism.com

We get into some really heated debates. Libertarians believe that everything should be privatized and we should not be taxed. They believe that education should be privatized for instance. They believe that the "free market" would create competition so that prices would be low.

Unless something hits them personally (like parents needed Medicare for instance), then they believe everything the government has a hand in is bad.

[dean_dem]

5. I read a lot on Libertarianism...

and I think sometimes they get an unfair rep on DU, honestly. I think a lot of people here might find they have very much in common with some Libertarians, especially from a social aspect.

I think the main flaw with the party in general is, like what was already said, their unwavering faith in the market as a great equalizer. I think history has shown that an authoritarian-style of market intervention doesn't work, but there has never, ever, ever, been a completely free market system, and there probably never will be. To push for such a thing to happen is completely unreasonable. And I think most Libertarians would admit that some government intervention outside of providing for the common defense is in fact necessary.

Reason is a really good Libertarian magazine if you're really curious. I don't always agree with them, but the articles are usually very thoughtful and interesting.

[BurtWorm]

6. Here's a great site if you're looking for critiques of Libertarianism

http://world.std.com/~mhuben/libindex.html

Here's a taste (but the site isn't entirely satirical; it includes serious critiques from right-wingers as well as lefties):

Introduction

One of the most attractive features of libertarianism is that it is basically a very simple ideology. Maybe even simpler than Marxism, since you don't have to learn foreign words like "proletariat".

This brief outline will give you most of the tools you need to hit the ground running as a freshly indoctrinated libertarian ideologue. Go forth and proselytize!


Philosophy
In the beginning, man dwelt in a state of Nature, until the serpent Government tempted man into Initial Coercion.

Government is the Great Satan. All Evil comes from Government, and all Good from the Market, according to the Ayatollah Rand.

We must worship the Horatio Alger fantasy that the meritorious few will just happen to have the lucky breaks that make them rich.

Libertarians happen to be the meritorious few by ideological correctness. The rest can go hang.

Government cannot own things because only individuals can own things. Except for corporations, partnerships, joint ownership, marriage, and anything else we except but government.

Parrot these arguments, and you too will be a singular, creative, reasoning individualist.

Parents cannot choose a government for their children any more than they can choose language, residence, school, or religion.

Taxation is theft because we have a right to squat in the US and benefit from defense, infrastructure, police, courts, etc. without obligation.

Magic incantations can overturn society and bring about libertopia. Sovereign citizenry! The 16th Amendment is invalid! States rights!
Objectivist/Neo-Tech Advantage #69i : The true measure of fully integrated honesty is whether the sucker has opened his wallet. Thus sayeth the Profit Wallace. Zonpower Rules Nerdspace!

The great Zen riddle of libertarianism: minimal government is necessary and unnecessary. The answer is only to be found by individuals.

[GOPisEvil]

8. Wanna piss off a Libertarian?

Sentence him to live in his own utopia.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

10. I know. lol.

[mark414]

9. i have a bit of a libertarian streak in me

in that the government needs to stay the fuck out of our day to day lives

we don't need a big brother to take care of us