Posts in "Libertarianism"

Liberty is Progress

Mar 24, 2013 at 2:41 PM

This semester I am taking a Political Futures class. Since it's a futures course, one of the obvious themes of the class is innovation, and as a political science class, there's a lot on government and governmental design too.

As I listened to my professor lecture, he said something that caught my attention. He argued that allowing the dead hand of the past to govern the present and the future (i.e. the U.S. Constitution) hampered political innovation, and that the libertarian argument seeks to revert to a near state of nature state for man, in which there is no sense of community and only individual concern.

Now, I will not go as far as to say that my professor is an out of touch left-winger as others may, but I did have something to counter his argument. First off: liberty IS progress; and the increasing rate of adoption of tedious big government legislation is regression. The founding fathers did not intend for our country to regress, nor did they intend for it to remain stagnant. The U.S. Constitution was designed such in a way that society would progress while protecting certain fundamental liberties that are necessary conditions for progress.

The Catholic Libertarian

Nov 23, 2012 at 5:19 PM

By Caroline Zottl

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

A few weeks ago my chapter executive board and I presented a talk on "The Catholic Libertarian." Our university, St. John's University, is a Catholic and Vincentian university dedicated to spreading the mission of the Roman Catholic Church. Much of the Libertarian movement (although certainly not all of it) has an anti-religious under-current; because of our University's Catholic and Vincentian identity and our own personal faith, our chapter executive board sought to reconcile Catholicism and Libertarianism. We created a presentation on four principles central to our Libertarian beliefs -- and our Catholic faith.

The Last Supper

The Golden Rule and the Non-Aggression Principle

Libertarians reject the notion that the government is entitled to a monopoly of violence or has a right to violate reason, the Natural Law, or the Golden Rule -- these principles apply to everyone, including government officials. A government that deprives an individual of life, liberty, or property without prior consent violates reason, the Natural Law, and the Golden Rule.

As Jesus is undergoing crucifixion for our sins, he prays for the very soldiers that are executing him: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). This prayer reveals Jesus holds the soldiers morally responsible for carrying out immoral orders. If this were not so, he would not have sought forgiveness on their behalf -- the soldiers' lack of self-awareness of their immoral actions is not sufficient for their forgiveness. The prayer indicates that the soldiers, and by proxy all state actors, are not without sin simply because they are unaware of the nature of their actions. Government officials must also follow the Golden Rule and cannot deprive an individual of life, liberty, or property.

Why Ron Swanson is NOT an American Hero

Nov 15, 2012 at 9:30 AM

By Michelle Wilde

Several years ago, a friend of mine told me to watch this great new comedy, Parks and Recreation. Unfortunately, my friend typically has terrible taste in comedies so it wasn’t until a few months ago when I was combing the depths of Netflix for a new show to watch that I finally gave it a try. After half a dozen painstakingly stupid episodes, I admit I became a fan. However, I cannot join the join the chorus of enthusiasm erupting from libertarians across the country about the character of Ron Swanson. Quite the contrary, I believe he is a hindrance to the liberty movement, not a blessing.

Of course, I am pleased to see a libertarian character on a network TV show and hope it will help people who have never heard of libertarianism learn about new viewpoints. I enjoy Ron’s comments and lifestyle when he is not at work. However, Ron Swanson’s behavior on the job should make supporters of libertarianism shudder.

Study Finds Libertarians More "Cerebral" Than Liberals or Conservatives

Sep 26, 2012 at 7:34 PM

By Aaron Tao

This post comes from an email exchange with a friend asking my response to a University of Southern California psychological study on libertarians. It’s fascinating and for readers more academically inclined, I suggest you check it out.

From the abstract:

Compared to self-identified liberals and conservatives, libertarians showed 1) stronger endorsement of individual liberty as their foremost guiding principle, and weaker endorsement of all other moral principles; 2) a relatively cerebral as opposed to emotional cognitive style; and 3) lower interdependence and social relatedness.

You can read the full study here.

Overall, I would say this study was well done. I thought it complimentary when the paper described libertarians to be more "cerebral" than self-described liberals and conservatives. The researchers found plenty of evidence to back their hypothesis that "Libertarians will rely upon emotion less – and reason more – than will either liberals or conservatives." One of their charts documented that "Libertarians exhibit a reason-based cognitive style according to a variety of measures." In addition, they found a "pattern [that] is consistent with the libertarian valuation of logic and reasoning over em Chart otion" and it was interpreted "Libertarians may enjoy thinking about complex and abstract systems more than other groups, particularly more than conservatives." Based on personal experience talking to other libertarians, I can definitely account for the fact that they provided some of the most enriching, thought-provoking conversations I’ve ever had.

Reagan and Libertarianism

Sep 22, 2012 at 1:05 PM

By Rob Luedke

Craig Shirley, author of Rendezvous with Destiny, is a scholar who has devoted years of intensive research to the subject of Ronald Reagan. In this brief video clip, Shirley suggests that libertarianism influenced Reagan's political stances. Shirley highlights one occasion when this led Reagan to vote in opposition to other voices in the Republican party. What are your opinions on the man who became our nation's 40th president and his view that "the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism?"

Libertarianism in the Real World

May 15, 2012 at 4:13 PM

By Matthew Arbos

Recently I heard some critics of liberty dismiss the idea of libertarianism as idealistic and unreal. My fellow classmates said how the idea of maximizing liberty looks good on paper, but can not be done in everyday real life. This is the argument commonly given to communism when it says everyone is equal. (Of course, communism explicitly states the abolition of private property and ownership -- I have no idea how that looks good on paper.)

The idea of libertarianism, by contrast, maximizes freedom both personally and economically. It stresses the non-agression principle, which is to not initiate force against an individual or property of others. Indeed, this does look good on paper -- and it looks even better when applied to real world solutions.

Often times many people ask where are the real life examples of this theory being put into practice. Well, there are plenty of them, you just have to think critically.

1) Concealed carry of handguns

Real life example: New Hampshire, Texas, and Vermont

These states allow concealed carry in varying degrees. Texas achieved concealed carry status in 1995 and crime has remained low ever since. New Hampshire even allows open carry in all places except courthouse and government buildings. New Hampshire is probably the safest place to live in the country with the lowest crime rate overall and by far the most lax gun laws. Vermont is not far behind in low crime rates as well.

2) Allow consumers to choose their electric company

Real life example: Lubbock, Texas

In Lubbock, Texas there are multiple, competing electric companies. These networks drive down utility prices and increase consumer satisfaction without noticable additional environmental impact. This system offers a clear choice for the consumers instead of forcing them to pay for one large electric company owned by the city. Choice is a key tenant in liberty. You are free to choose what you want to do with your body and money. In this case, the residents of Lubbock are just fine with choosing their energy source.

Discovering Libertarianism - Non-Aggression Principle Introduction

Apr 1, 2012 at 11:57 AM

By Matthew Gold

The fundamental monolith of libertarian morality is the non-aggression principle (NAP), also known as the non-aggression axiom. The NAP is the idea that it is wrong to initiate physical force, threats of force, or lies against others. As such, self-defense and peaceful coexistence and interaction is moral, and attacking others or manipulating people is immoral. This has also been referred to as “Kindergarden Morality,” as it rings home with what we are all taught when we are young -- don’t hit others, don’t threaten others, don’t lie to others. In as much that people have a right to self-ownership, the NAP follows with necessity, as it is the basic moral framework that enables interaction with others while not infringing upon their rights, which are equal to the rights that you yourself have.

Most people would, at the most basic level, accept that the Non-aggression principle is generally correct, not because it is true a priori, but because it appeals to basic moral intuitions with which we were born. The thing about natural law moral axioms such as the NAP, though, is that they are always true: Whether or not we agree with it, the irreducible logical consistency of the NAP dictates that it is in fact true. The NAP is deontological, in that morality is determined based upon an objective duty (being the NAP itself).

Discovering Libertarianism: Natural Rights

Mar 5, 2012 at 3:50 PM

By Matthew Gold

This is to be part one of an introduction to Libertarianism. Libertarianism and its logical progression to Anarchism are either unfamiliar, or worse, shrouded by false preconceived notions or bad remnants of public perception by the vast majority of people. I look to shatter these notions, and enable free independent thought so that you will recognize what many of us already have, “The state is the enemy, and liberty is the cause worth defending.”

Let's dive right in. The content of this column, and the arguments within, are dependent on a certain basic proposition. The vast majority of people will agree to this assumption, and as such I will not go into depth providing support for this tenet, but rather only briefly commenting on it to form the foundation on which our discussion will stand. This assumption is that individuals are valuable by their nature of being human, and as such contain inherent worth. All of modern society is based on this idea, as are the Abrahamic Religions, i.e. it is near universal that life is valuable.

From this basic assumption, we can derive other, more complex moral truths. For example, murder is wrong because ends a human life, which has inherent worth. Going a step further, we can see that based on people having inherent worth, individuals also have the right to self-ownership, which is defined as being able to control themselves free from coercive restraint

Libertarians need to lie more

Feb 24, 2012 at 5:45 PM

By J.P. Medved

It sounds so harsh when you phrase it like that, doesn't it?

But it's true. The expansion of the libertarian movement, and the future survival of liberty, require that you lie a lot more than you currently do.

And I'm not talking little white lies either. I'm talking huge, honking, "you're-grounded-for-a-month-mister!" lies. Lies with elaborate complexity, memorable characters, and inventive subplots. Lies that even politicians would hesitate to promulgate.

The type of "lies" I'm referring to are, of course, more commonly called stories. Fiction. Literature. Screenplays. And they are no less truthful for being made up.

hemingway

Ernest Hemingway put it this way:

All good books are alike in that they are truer than if they had really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you.

Storytelling is an extremely powerful way of conveying ideas and philosophies in a convincing manner.

And it is absolutely vital that libertarians do more of it.

What do you mean? My 50 page economic treatises aren't winning hearts and minds?

Erm, well, in a word, no.

Stories are much more powerful vehicles for persuading others.

The 7 Best Libertarian Songs You've Never Heard of

Jan 25, 2012 at 5:56 PM

By J.P. Medved

Sick of hearing Green Day bash capitalism and U2 calling for more and more government intervention? Need some music that doesn't unthinkingly accept the default leftist, collectivist worldview?

Look no further!

Below are the top 7 best pro-liberty, pro-economic freedom songs that you've (probably) never heard of (no Lee Greenwood or Rush here!) in no particular order. Feast your ear holes:

1. “Sons of Liberty” by Frank Turner

Remember when I said this list was in “no particular order?” (Yes I did, right up there, like, three lines ago). Well, I lied. This first one is easily my favorite song of the bunch. That's why it's first.

Frank Turner, a former anarchist who now describes himself as a “classical liberal/libertarian,” combines an excellent folk/punk guitar sound with defiant lyrics informed by a very British sense of liberty.

To wit:

But a sorry cloud of tyranny has fallen across the land/
Brought on by hollow men, who did not understand/
That for centuries our forefathers have fought and often died/
To keep themselves unto themselves, to fight the rising tide/
That if in the smallest battles we surrender to the State/
We enter in a darkness whence we never shall escape./