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Edited on Fri Jun-22-07 08:15 PM by kenny blankenship
Most Libertarians are Republicans who think A) Even the Republicans want to provide too much in the way of social services through government--according to them the government should be stripped down to just its military and policing functions. This is an old-school "Ron Paul" Libertarian. If a government collects taxes beyond what is needed to cover defense and police functions, that government is "out of control" according to these Libertarians. Anything aside from police and defense which you might raise as a concern that should be a legitimate object of policy, such as what about safeguarding the environment?, education?, food and product safety?, what about old people & orphans dying of starvation in the streets? what about planning to transition our economy off of fossil fuels? or whathaveyou?, this kind of Libertarian believes all that would be best addressed by "the magic of the marketplace", and in rare instances the court system and principles of English Common Law. In fact their objection is not that they think that it would be best if those things were addressed solely by market forces of businessmen trying to get rich, it's more like they object that government has no right to do them, even if the private sector has no interest in doing them. They do not often evince hatred for the poor, but instead they display an absolute faith that some great immutable abstract principle will be violated if the government notices that there are poor people, or notices problems with the environment, etc, and then tries to do something about it. Government, they stammer, just ought never to interfere in matters that don't concern common defense of our lives, borders or property. Just ought not to. If you got them to agree that there was evidence of widespread poverty existing somewhere, they'd simply reply that was merely evidence that the government needed to stop trying to assist those people and the problem would eventually "correct itself". Although these Libertarians embrace (and often personify) an extreme utopia of isolation, they have a great deal in common with diagnosed autistics. They could form a club together if someone would just introduce them.
Or B) They love our highly unequal society and don't give a shit about the poor the environment etc, but think they should be allowed to smoke pot because they are "free, white and 21" , and it should be their right to enjoy themselves with their money as they see fit. These are "lifestyle" or South Park Libertarians. They are more commonly called South Park Republicans, because that's the way they vote. And everybody else in their frat thinks that name is cool. They benefit from the status quo, it's just that they don't think they are benefiting enough.
Or C) They like our highly unequal society just fine, but they don't care about abortion and/or they are militant atheists and hate the Republicans for wedding themselves to the religiously insane fundamentalist Xtians. These are the "Zarathrustran" Libertarians like Penn Gillette, who believe Nietzsche prophesied their coming as god-men bestriding the Earth to dazzle and rule over the herds of common idiots with their awesomeness, and who although they despise anything "socialistic" like the Democratic Party, ultimately find it beneath their dignity to make common cause with the Bible Thumpers within the GOP who drool and holler. They are far, far above having converse or truck with such superstitious savages.
Obviously, you can get mixes of different Libertarian personality disorders in one person. Types B&C often travel together behind one face.
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