Six Myths About Libertarianism

lewrockwell.com ^ | Jan. 15, 2002 | by Murray N. Rothbard

[tberry]

"Libertarianism holds that the only proper role of violence is to defend person and property against violence, that any use of violence that goes beyond such just defense is itself aggressive, unjust, and criminal. Libertarianism, therefore, is a theory which states that everyone should be free of violent invasion, should he free to do as he sees fit except invade the person or property of another. What a person does with his or her life is vital and important, but is simply irrelevant to libertarianism."

"libertarianism as a political philosophy dealing with the proper role of violence takes the universal ethic that most of us hold toward violence and applies it fearlessly to government. Libertarians make no exceptions to the golden rule and provide no moral loophole, no double standard, for government. That is, libertarians believe that murder is murder and does not become sanctified by reasons of State if committed by the government. We believe that theft is theft and does not become legitimated because organized robbers call their theft "taxation." We believe that enslavement is enslavement even if the institution committing that act calls it "conscription." In short, the key to libertarian theory is that it makes no exceptions in its universal ethic for government. "

I have always thought of myself as a "Paleo-conservative". After reading this article, it appears that all conservatives believing in the principles expressed in the Constitution "could" see themselves as a subset of Libertarianism.

Please comment.

[riley1992]

Very good post. It seems to be much easier for those who have a distaste for libertarianism to use a broad stroke to paint all in one manner as opposed to actually learning that libertarians come in many different stripes, as do conservatives.

[tacticalogic]

You can believe in the concepts and principles of libertarianism without being a Libertarian, just like you can belive in the concepts and principles of democracy without being a Democrat.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Myth #5 Libertarians are utopians who believe that all people are good, and that therefore State control is not necessary. Conservatives tend to add that since human nature is either partially or wholly evil, strong State regulation is therefore necessary for society.

yea, like, all the conservatives I know are such strong proponents of the State. whatever

[steve50]

I think the libertarians are closer to the original meaning of the Constitution and I find myself on their side more times than not.

I'm trying the principles of "Strict Constructionist" myself, haven't had a major conflict with myself yet.

There is no way we could pass the insane legislation we have on the books today if a Constitutional Admendment was required to do so.

[Aquinasfan]

My experience with libertarians confirms most "myths." I went to many Libertarian events in my early 20's.

True "Myth" No. 7 is that 60% of libertarians work in computers.

True corollary to Myth No. 7 is that the other 40% are engineers.

[steve50]

How many "conservatives" have done anything but talk about reducing the size of goverment? The fight between libs and cons isn't over how much you are ruled, it's over who wears the crown.

[E Rocc]

You can believe in the concepts and principles of libertarianism without being a Libertarian, just like you can belive in the concepts and principles of democracy without being a Democrat.

But can you believe in such principles while being a Democrat? (:<

Seriously, I've often made the distinction between "small l" libertarians (among whom can be included Ronald Reagan, among others including myself), and "big L" Libertarians, the purists that currently dominate the Libertarian Party.

The LP seems to think that their principles can be implemented immediately, while small l's realize that government intervention in our lives is like a dangerous drug from which many addicts will require careful weaning. The LPs are also quite isolationist, while the "small l" crowd is much more likely to support fights around the globe in favor or freedom, or at least against its most bitter enemies.

-Eric

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

Bump for later reading.

[Liberal Classic]

Good post. BUMP and bookmarked.

[js1138]

How many "conservatives" have done anything but talk about reducing the size of goverment? The fight between libs and cons isn't over how much you are ruled, it's over who wears the crown.

Or wears the ring, or wants to.

[AnalogReigns]

This article, first published ... Winter 1980.... "LIBERTARIANISM is the fastest growing political creed in America today."

Hmmmm...published over 21 years ago, and a lot of socialists later--what's happened to that fast growth? (and I say that as (small L) libertarian myself). I think a lot of folks with libertarian ideas have a large gap between their head and their heart! The drug war is a case in point...

[freeeee]

Outstanding article. Thanks for posting.

[tacticalogic]

But can you believe in such principles while being a Democrat? (:<

Only when it's convenient. For instance, they were very much in favor of doing away with the Electoral College after the last election. But I seriously doubt they'd be receptive to the idea of dragging out all of Clinton's executive orders, PDD's and pardons, and putting them to a public vote.

[Bryce Buchanan]

Good Post - Most of the fallacious charges show up at times on FR.

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Libertarianism rather asserts that everyone should have the right to pursue his own interest as he deems best. What is being asserted is the right to act with one's own person and property...

Far from being immoral, libertarians simply apply a universal human ethic to government in the same way as almost everyone would apply such an ethic to every other person or institution in society. ...

...the institution of the State establishes a socially legitimatized and sanctified channel for bad people to do bad things, to commit regularized theft and to wield dictatorial power.

[steve50]

That's where I have my problems, with the big L's. I think the small l's have more support in the Republican Party than the "neo cons" would like to admit, but they play the "it's us or them " game to protect the 2 party(not really) monopoly system.

[Always Right]

There is no necessary connection between being for or against libertarianism and one’s position on religion. It is true that many if not most libertarians at the present time are atheists, but this correlates with the fact that most intellectuals, of most political persuasions, are atheists as well.

I don't buy that at all. Being intellectual does not correlate to being atheist, at least not amoung conservatives. The vast majority of intellectual conservatives are very religious. I would also say in my experience that most Libertarians are hostile towards religous people. Of course they will never admit it and get downright angry when I point it out.

[Outraged]

Libertarianism would work, if you could just have a world without democRATS, who would love to tax drugs and prostitution. Great idea...expand the government, subsidize the industries of prostitution and drug manufacturing and farming, misuse the revenues received from the taxation, create dependency programs and free-drug welfare assistance for the 'needy' addict and their family...and finally have the defense attorney lobby sue because of the fallout from the legalization of these industries.

Libertarianism is sort of like Marxism...Almost looks good on paper...but in practice, a nightmare!!!

[Always Right]

Hmmmm...published over 21 years ago, and a lot of socialists later--what's happened to that fast growth?

I found that rather funny too. For 20 years the Libertarians have been stuck at between 0.5-1.0% of the vote. I would hate to see how the slowest growing political party is doing.

[FreeTally]

So...... how long until posters show up and make snide comments without reading this?