Difference between revisions of "What Is Libertarianism?"

From Critiques Of Libertarianism
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(A Simplistic Ideology)
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"Liberty" is the rhetorical tool of choice that unites libertarians: it can back any claim they make, no matter how bizarre.  Libertarians have no single claim in common except this rhetoric, and they can gloss over their conflicting beliefs through the persuasion of their own rhetoric of liberty.
 
"Liberty" is the rhetorical tool of choice that unites libertarians: it can back any claim they make, no matter how bizarre.  Libertarians have no single claim in common except this rhetoric, and they can gloss over their conflicting beliefs through the persuasion of their own rhetoric of liberty.
 
== Wishful Thinking ==
 
Many libertarians paint a picture of a fantasy libertarian future that is just like today, except much richer and without government.  Government in society is the equivalent of a [[Wikipedia:Keystone species|keystone species]] in ecology.  Remove government and society will change radically.  Government is responsible for the creation of middle classes, infrastructure, defense, human rights, etc.  Government combats the rise of coercion for private ends and brings about limits to externalities such as pollution.  These are problems where significant market failures exist, and market solutions have rarely worked.  A libertarian future would be different enough that the transition would be perhaps as painful as the Soviet change to capitalism, and few would be certain of their position in the new society.
 
  
 
== A Rightwing Populist Movement In Miniature ==
 
== A Rightwing Populist Movement In Miniature ==
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What do they offer the rest of us for these enormous gifts?  Nothing.  They do not expect us to do it as an exchange, but as a magical summoning.  They summon these gifts magically by re-interpreting liberal philosophy and Constitutions.
 
What do they offer the rest of us for these enormous gifts?  Nothing.  They do not expect us to do it as an exchange, but as a magical summoning.  They summon these gifts magically by re-interpreting liberal philosophy and Constitutions.
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== Wishful Thinking ==
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Many libertarians paint a picture of a fantasy libertarian future that is just like today, except much richer and without government.  Government in society is the equivalent of a [[Wikipedia:Keystone species|keystone species]] in ecology.  Remove government and society will change radically.  Government is responsible for the creation of middle classes, infrastructure, defense, human rights, etc.  Government combats the rise of coercion for private ends and brings about limits to externalities such as pollution.  These are problems where significant market failures exist, and market solutions have rarely worked.  A libertarian future would be different enough that the transition would be perhaps as painful as the Soviet change to capitalism, and few would be certain of their position in the new society.
  
 
== A Millennialist Cult ==
 
== A Millennialist Cult ==

Revision as of 14:18, 7 November 2010