Nation has arrived at a new libertarian moment, experts say

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:29:57 GMT  <== Politics ==> 

Dave Helling and Steve Kraske at The Kansas City Star - claims that libertarian ideas are gaining prominence. I hope they're right, but I don't think they understand what "libertarian" really means. I commented:

"A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or to advocate or delegate its initiation. Those who act consistently with this principle are libertarians, whether they realize it or not. Those who fail to act consistently with it are not libertarians, regardless of what they may claim." -- L. Neil Smith

Non-aggression implies no extortion, i.e. no taxation. Well, unless the extent of tax "enforcement" is a letter saying "pretty please." It also means there may be no statutes whatsoever in any way regulating consensual activity, e.g. drugs, gambling, prostitution. Works for me.

Of course, the highest law of the land, the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights, already says "... the right of the people, to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." My favorite translation:

"Every man, woman, and responsible child has an unalienable individual, civil, Constitutional, and human right to obtain, own, and carry, openly or concealed, any weapon -- rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, ANYTHING -- any time, any place, without asking anyone's permission." -- L. Neil Smith

If our lords in gummint can't follow that simple restriction, how can we expect them to follow any rules at all?

Abortion is a contentious issue even amongst true libertarians. It all comes down to whether you believe a fetus is sentient. If you do, then abortion is murder. If you don't, then a woman having an abortion has no more import than cutting her toenails; she's doing with her body what she decides, which is nobody's business. That belief is a religious issue, beyond reason, not subject to rational discussion.

Add comment Edit post Add post