Bigthink - Feature Comments Feed

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:09:43 +0100

What do libertarians think disaster victims are supposed to do? Wait for Adam Smith's "invisible hand" to create a market where offering aid and shelter is somehow profitable?

What do libertarians think about the Great Depression? Ignoring the fact they they ALWAYS bring up the Federal Reserve as responsible for that mess (its their only argument), do libertarians really think an unhindered market would create a stable society?

Hoover sat on his hands waiting for business to pick up. Roosevelt, inspired by Huey Long, at least pragmatically stepped in and started solving problems: providing people the dignity of work, the security of a paycheck, and luckily for the rich, keeping a revolution at bay.

The government that governs least does NOT govern best. The government that governs best governs best.

p.s. ayn rand sucks

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:10:34 +0100

RobinTheHood-

Libertarianism is the utmost expression selfish interest. The basis of Libertarianism is that there are only negative rights, that people should be free to follow their selfish interests as long as there interests do not infringe on the negative rights of others. Government's only purpose in Libertarianism is to uphold those negative rights, there is no obligation to help anyone in need.

My two main problems with Libertarianism are as follows:

First, Libertarians assume some sort of objective set of rights that everyone can agree on. Ms Postrel even says, "we generally agree on what is a better world." From personal experience, I could not disagree more. Every person has there own view of what makes a better world

Second, when you focus on yourself and ignore the problems of others for a long enough time, their problems become your problems. Just look at the current credit crisis for a perfect example.

As for why libertarians are more intelligent, Libertarians tend to be people who already have more money, and people who have more money tend be more well educated. Just look at the two people interviewed here - of course their are in favor of keeping what the have! How many Libertarians are you going to find in the poor inner city of a major US metropolitan area? Not many. I think this explains the lack of Libertarian support in this country

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:13:31 +0100

Libertarians were proven to be more intelegent in a recent study. I think education makes it more difficult to be mislead by people who are serving their own selfish interests.

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:12:03 +0100

I am a libertarian because the peoples rights are grossly under represented by the government of the United States.

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:38:17 +0100

No, it has nothing to do with "sticking it to the man." It is because people are frustrated with politics in America right now. They want to reverse things like the Patriot Act that have allowed the government too much control over our lives. They are unhappy with the lack of bipartisan efforts to make change.

I am not a libertarian, I am a Democrat, but I completely understand what could lead somebody to decide to become a Libertarian. I respect Ron Paul much more than most of the Republican candidates because he is honest about the change that he wants and firmly believes in it, and does not resort to cheap attack ads.

Comment on: Why are you a libertarian?

Bigthink — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:19:20 +0100

I wonder if the recent heavy flow of libertarianism, particularly in the university and college world and in support for candidates like Ron Paul, are not simply the result of an immature attack on government for the sake of sticking it to the "man."