I am not a libertarian,(but i have been considering it) although I more often than not agree with libertarians on economic and fiscal issues. I have a question: granting that neither the left nor the right in America shares your philosophical commitment to "freedom across the board," which is the greater danger to that commitment: the right's threat to "lifestyle" liberty or the left's threat to economic liberty?
I think it's pretty clear, at this late date, that the former "threat" is almost entirely theoretical.
this Associated Press story by Nicholas Riccardi. The article is more interesting than the headline would suggest because its author found libertarian elements in the political shift in the west...
It is heartening that Democratic Party strategist Bill Carrick recognizes the somewhat libertarian shift in the Western U.S. electorate ("West Taking Sharp Left Turn," Jan. 27.) But one quote from Carrick shows a basic misunderstanding of libertarian views and principles.
Carrick states, "The libertarian thing is no longer about property rights or gun rights. It's now aboutletting people live their lives as they choose."
On the contrary, the libertarian "thing" has always been about letting people live their lives as they choose. And their right to use their property as they choose and to defend themselves with guns is still part of that.
Consider property rights. Governments in California and elsewhere in the West often prevent people from adding a bathroom, adding an extra room or cutting down a tree without government permission. These are all violations of property rights, just as restrictions on gay marriage or using marijuana violate their other rights.
Libertarianism is still the only philosophy that consistently advocates freedom across the board.
I think it's pretty clear, at this late date, that the former "threat" is almost entirely theoretical.
this Associated Press story by Nicholas Riccardi. The article is more interesting than the headline would suggest because its author found libertarian elements in the political shift in the west...
It is heartening that Democratic Party strategist Bill Carrick recognizes the somewhat libertarian shift in the Western U.S. electorate ("West Taking Sharp Left Turn," Jan. 27.) But one quote from Carrick shows a basic misunderstanding of libertarian views and principles.
Carrick states, "The libertarian thing is no longer about property rights or gun rights. It's now aboutletting people live their lives as they choose."
On the contrary, the libertarian "thing" has always been about letting people live their lives as they choose. And their right to use their property as they choose and to defend themselves with guns is still part of that.
Consider property rights. Governments in California and elsewhere in the West often prevent people from adding a bathroom, adding an extra room or cutting down a tree without government permission. These are all violations of property rights, just as restrictions on gay marriage or using marijuana violate their other rights.
Libertarianism is still the only philosophy that consistently advocates freedom across the board.