Difference between revisions of "Leaving Libertarianism"
From Critiques Of Libertarianism
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{{DES | des = A series of suggestions for how to start undoing libertarian programming. | show=}} | {{DES | des = A series of suggestions for how to start undoing libertarian programming. | show=}} | ||
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| + | See also: [[Testimonials By Former Libertarians And Objectivists]]. | ||
Many libertarians eventually start noticing that libertarianism is unsatisfying. They start recognizing that their arguments don't really work. They find they can't get health insurance or experience other personal failings of markets. | Many libertarians eventually start noticing that libertarianism is unsatisfying. They start recognizing that their arguments don't really work. They find they can't get health insurance or experience other personal failings of markets. | ||
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* Write about the conflicting ideas in your head. Even just listing them all helps stop the "thrashing": the endless cycling through the same ideas. | * Write about the conflicting ideas in your head. Even just listing them all helps stop the "thrashing": the endless cycling through the same ideas. | ||
* Read alternatives to your old ideas, and write down what you do and don't like about them and why. Some suggestions are: | * Read alternatives to your old ideas, and write down what you do and don't like about them and why. Some suggestions are: | ||
| − | ** ''Contemporary Political Philosophy'' by Will Kymlicka: a very readable college textbook. | + | ** ''[[Contemporary Political Philosophy]]'' by Will Kymlicka: a very readable college textbook. |
| − | ** ''Liberalism'' by L. T. Hobhouse: 100 years old, and still relevant. | + | ** ''[[Liberalism]]'' by L. T. Hobhouse: 100 years old, and still relevant. |
| − | ** Paul Krugman's works. Very readable. | + | ** Tom Slee's [[No One Makes You Shop At Wall Mart]]. |
| − | ** Ha-Joon Chang's books, such as ''Bad Samaritans'', if you want to learn the dirty secrets of economics. | + | ** [[Paul Krugman]]'s works. Very readable. |
| − | ** George Lakoff's books on political language and metaphor. A theory of how you are manipulated politically. | + | ** [[Ha-Joon Chang]]'s books, such as ''Bad Samaritans'', if you want to learn the dirty secrets of economics. |
| − | ** Howard Zinn's ''A People's History Of The United States''. | + | ** [[George Lakoff]]'s books on political language and metaphor. A theory of how you are manipulated politically. |
| + | ** [[The Good Society: The Humane Agenda]] by [[John Kenneth Galbraith]]. Explanation of the different things we should want, rather than what libertarians want. | ||
| + | ** [[Howard Zinn]]'s ''A People's History Of The United States''. | ||
| + | ** [[Noam Chomsky]], a favorite target of hippie-punching libertarians and conservatives. | ||
What to avoid: | What to avoid: | ||
| + | * Avoid using [[Libertarian Propaganda Terms]]. Take a look at the list, and you will be startled to see how often they come up in your thinking. | ||
* I've met many Christians who when they left became Randians. Out of the frying pan into the fire. The truth is NOT out there. You are on the rebound: if you find a really attractive ideology, you are making a mistake. | * I've met many Christians who when they left became Randians. Out of the frying pan into the fire. The truth is NOT out there. You are on the rebound: if you find a really attractive ideology, you are making a mistake. | ||
* Don't pick labels for yourself for a long time. | * Don't pick labels for yourself for a long time. | ||
