Difference between revisions of "Introduction To Libertarianism"
From Critiques Of Libertarianism
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| + | ==What Is Libertarianism?== | ||
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| + | Libertarianism is a cacaphony of political ideas united only by a rhetoric of [[liberty]] and [[freedom]]. On this website, libertarianism refers only to the right-wing, capitalist versions; there are also left-wing, socialist libertarianisms, but they are comparatively tiny. At this point, libertarian ideas have entered the mainstream media and are unavoidable. | ||
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| + | == Three Realms of Libertarianism.== | ||
Libertarianism can be divided into three major realms. (There might be unimportant others.) | Libertarianism can be divided into three major realms. (There might be unimportant others.) | ||
| − | ==Political Libertarianism== | + | ===Political Libertarianism=== |
| − | Political libertarianism is the libertarianism that we are exposed to through the media, | + | Political libertarianism is the libertarianism that we are exposed to through the media, a mass market astroturf libertarianism. |
Political libertarianism, like the media, is controlled top-down by plutocrats and operated for the benefit of plutocrats. It is not about "[[liberty]]" or "[[freedom]]": it is about ownership. The plutocrats want to convince the populace that: | Political libertarianism, like the media, is controlled top-down by plutocrats and operated for the benefit of plutocrats. It is not about "[[liberty]]" or "[[freedom]]": it is about ownership. The plutocrats want to convince the populace that: | ||
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(Short list of plutocratic funded libertarian-oriented organizations needed here.) | (Short list of plutocratic funded libertarian-oriented organizations needed here.) | ||
| − | ==Individualistic Libertarianism== | + | ===Individualistic Libertarianism=== |
Individualistic libertarianism is what the targets of political libertarianism believe. This is a huge morass of conflicting ideas with only one constant: the political libertarian idea that ownership should be sacred. Ask a libertarian what part of ownership they would give up to achieve any other social end, and they will say no part. It doesn't matter if some socialistic government (such as roads or defense) would benefit the lives of everybody; they despise it because it conflicts with their property, no matter how meager. | Individualistic libertarianism is what the targets of political libertarianism believe. This is a huge morass of conflicting ideas with only one constant: the political libertarian idea that ownership should be sacred. Ask a libertarian what part of ownership they would give up to achieve any other social end, and they will say no part. It doesn't matter if some socialistic government (such as roads or defense) would benefit the lives of everybody; they despise it because it conflicts with their property, no matter how meager. | ||
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Individualistic libertarianism ranges from the honorable and sincere to the vile and repulsive, with stops along the way for the immature, foolish, and intemperate. You've got your government haters, racists, sexists, pederasts, conspiracy theorists, tax evaders, exploiters and other socially repulsive types generously represented in this category. Especially because they are rejected by mainstream parties for obnoxious views. That's not entirely bad, as Noam Chomsky has observed: libertarians have great tolerance of diverse views as long as they denounce government and promote private property. | Individualistic libertarianism ranges from the honorable and sincere to the vile and repulsive, with stops along the way for the immature, foolish, and intemperate. You've got your government haters, racists, sexists, pederasts, conspiracy theorists, tax evaders, exploiters and other socially repulsive types generously represented in this category. Especially because they are rejected by mainstream parties for obnoxious views. That's not entirely bad, as Noam Chomsky has observed: libertarians have great tolerance of diverse views as long as they denounce government and promote private property. | ||
| − | ==Libertarian Philosophy== | + | |
| + | ===Libertarian Philosophy=== | ||
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Libertarian philosophy is mostly corrupt: much of it is funded by plutocrats to provide ideas and materials for their public relations campaigns. Hayek, for example, never held an academic position that wasn't funded by plutocrats. (Milton Friedman and Robert Nozick are exceptions to this funding generalization.) | Libertarian philosophy is mostly corrupt: much of it is funded by plutocrats to provide ideas and materials for their public relations campaigns. Hayek, for example, never held an academic position that wasn't funded by plutocrats. (Milton Friedman and Robert Nozick are exceptions to this funding generalization.) | ||
