What Libertarianism Isn't

Lew Rockwell.com ^ | December 22nd 2001 | Edward Feser

[Roscoe]

Most in the RNC understand the principles of the Libertarians and agree 99% with them

Crack, porn and prostitution? Open borders? Abolishing public schools, roads and parks?

Horsefeathers.

[Christian_Egalitarian]

Not bad, I am looking for a single word...if you have one to extend, I will be in your debt. I have had doubts about "egalitarian" since Ruth Bader Ginsberg laid claim to the term.

[Jolly Rodgers]

In our free marketplace of ideas, Libertarianism, Communism and Socialism have all come up losers.

In the US free market of ideas, we speak the words of freedom and liberty, but the actions consistently descend towards communism and socialism. The vast majority of people have come to the point where they willingly seek the unearned, yearning to get something for nothing. Or, at least something that someone else must pay for.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

The Libertarian Party does not equal libertarian philosophy.

Besides, if you really think it has failed, why are you expending so much effort opposing it?

[Christian_Egalitarian]

Crack, porn and prostitution? Open borders? Abolishing public schools, roads and parks?

Is this your summary of the Libertarian Platform?

[Roscoe]

So did human servitude

Slavery was abolished by the 13th Amendment. Some Libertarians argue that it should be legal to own human servants.

[muir_redwoods]

Traditional morality has as its primary practical advantage the furtherance of long life, strong families, well raised children and happy domesticity. Left to ourselves, the survivors and prosperous tend to be those who live a life consistent with conventional morality.

With enough room for a little fun!!

[Deb8]

Apologies if I'm not posting correctly. I've been a lurker for many years but am intimidated by the speed and volume of the posts. I consider myself a libertarian. I've read the books (my favorite was The Bell Curve by Murray and Hernstein) but I keep hearing people like Geraldo and Bill Maher call themselves Libertarians. An earlier poster sited Einstein re: simplicity. The simplest definition I can posit is that the Left (liberals and social democrats) believe that government solves problems (ie, leads to Utopia) and that the Right (conservatives and libertarians) believe that government creates problems...the law of unintendend consequences!

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Crack, porn and prostitution? Open borders? Abolishing public schools, roads and parks? "

If that is your belief of the Libertarian stance, then forget I said "useful".

[Christian_Egalitarian]

I'm sure you wouldn't mind naming those "gaping logical holes/exceptions" that you so firmly declare exist. Right?

Government enforced child support, for one.

[Jolly Rodgers]

Public schools have existed since the dawn of our Republic, Libertarian ignorance of the matter notwithstanding.

Mandatory government funded and operated education may have existed in isolated cases in the early US, but it certainly was not the monopoly that it is today. Even if it were, it would not change the fact that it is a blatant failure and a gross violation of individual rights.

[Roscoe]

The Libertarian Party does not equal libertarian philosophy.

The title of this thread is "What Libertarianism Isn't".

[PatrioticAmerican]

"Some Libertarians argue that it should be legal to own human servants."

Name one.

[Roscoe]

Mandatory government funded and operated education may have existed in isolated cases in the early US, but it certainly was not the monopoly that it is today.

Where do you live? Plenty of private schools near me.

[Buckeroo]

As always .. you are a friggin' fruitcase.

[Roscoe]

See http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3aad218b5c77.htm

[OWK]

Hey... nice effort at changing the subject.

But the fact remains, that public schools force people to pay for the advancement of ideas they do not condone or share.

That, is immoral.

To force a creationist Christian to contribute money to the teaching of evolution in a public school is immoral.

Likewise, to force a secular parent to contribute money to the teaching of creation in public schools is immoral.

The only moral solution to this problem, is to stop taking the money from parents, and allow them to purchase the education they DO approve of, on the free market.

It's called capitalism and liberty.

It works amazingly well.

[Roscoe]

If that is your belief of the Libertarian stance

Read the platform.

[Roscoe]

...capitalism and liberty. It works amazingly well.

Unlike Libertarianism.

[Christian_Egalitarian]

Agree with everything in your #117.