A frequent visitor here posted a ridiculous anti-libertarian screed he had dragged out of the sewers of Left Blogistan. It was rife with MSLSD-style soft-headed thinking and false dilemmas.
The hero worshipers on the left can't stand the though of people running their own lives and they are continually pining and sighing for a Strong Man to deliver us from ourselves.
Here are a few snippets from the missive...
Libertarianism respects the rights of others
The author goes on to completely mischaracterize the libertarian understanding of rights. I won't repeat it, it's too muddled and I don't want to spread the infection. Instead, here's a load of quacking twaddle about a mythical libertarian workplace:
Brilliant libertarian thinker Tibor Machan explains it best, enunciating his first two tenets of libertarianism:
I guess he doesn't realize that the modern state uses these exact forms of covert coersion, but since its a government strong man doing it, it's OK. He lists a litany of supposed sins that would happen in his theoretical libertarian world, but ignores the fact that the governments we have now bully us, discriminate, include and exclude based upon officially-sanctioned categories, and picks winners and losers.
So, to sum up the left's position, it's OK when done to us by a big, giant conglomerate with "Government" stamped on its side, but not when freely-self-chosen groups of free people do it. Has he even been in a bowling league or a shooting club?
Here are a few snippets from the missive...
"In a perfect libertarian world, it is therefore possible for rich people to buy all the beaches and charge admission fees to whomever they want (or simply ban anyone they choose). In a libertarian world, a self-organized cartel of white people can, under certain conditions, get together and effectively prohibit black people from being able to go out to dinner in their own cityYes, but they would have to buy the property from somebody first. And in a perfect libertarian world, black people, muslims, or one-legged German immigrants could do the same thing. Imagine that. Free people exercising use of their property free from government interference...
Libertarianism respects the rights of others
The author goes on to completely mischaracterize the libertarian understanding of rights. I won't repeat it, it's too muddled and I don't want to spread the infection. Instead, here's a load of quacking twaddle about a mythical libertarian workplace:
In a libertarian world, a corporate boss can use the threat of unemployment to force you into accepting unsafe working conditions.A basic libertarian tenet states that you may not harm others or their property. Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of you neighbor's nose. Therefore, a boss may not harm another, and if the dangerous conditions in his factory harm you, you have legal recourse for restitution.
Brilliant libertarian thinker Tibor Machan explains it best, enunciating his first two tenets of libertarianism:
1. Adult human beings (and children derivatively and with proper adjustments) are sovereign over their lives, actions, and belongings. They have rights, among others, to life, liberty, and property.
2. Human beings have the responsibility in their communities to respect and act in recognition of this fact when dealing with others.
Unions are compatible with Libertarianism
But let's take is a step further and imagine that to avoid liability, the boss says you must provide your own scaffolding and other expensive safety equipment. That way, if there's a collapse or mishap due to safety gear, it's not his fault. It's too expensive to buy on your own, so maybe you could form a union or a coop to collectively buy such expensive equipment. Further, that union could retain lawyers to press cases of labor law violations. Yes, under a libertarian system that respects the rule of law, a worker can defend his rights without rent-seeking labor advocates infesting our governments.
Imagine that! A libertarian world has a place for labor unions and professional guilds. Not the rent-seeking unions that attach themselves to governments like leeches, but real human collectives that encourage like-minded people to voluntarily band together for the good of all in the group.
The silly little screed also ignores the free market for labor. A business that treats people like crap will have a harder time attracting workers than one who treats people better. History and human experience show that monopolies cannot exist indefinitely in a society that respects the rule of law and punishes violators
The writer then whines about the libertarian concept of a limited government...
Imagine that! A libertarian world has a place for labor unions and professional guilds. Not the rent-seeking unions that attach themselves to governments like leeches, but real human collectives that encourage like-minded people to voluntarily band together for the good of all in the group.
The silly little screed also ignores the free market for labor. A business that treats people like crap will have a harder time attracting workers than one who treats people better. History and human experience show that monopolies cannot exist indefinitely in a society that respects the rule of law and punishes violators
The writer then whines about the libertarian concept of a limited government...
But they didn't extend the principle to covertly violent, semi-violent, or nonviolent forms of coercion.Bullying? Government has unleashed legions of bullies
I guess he doesn't realize that the modern state uses these exact forms of covert coersion, but since its a government strong man doing it, it's OK. He lists a litany of supposed sins that would happen in his theoretical libertarian world, but ignores the fact that the governments we have now bully us, discriminate, include and exclude based upon officially-sanctioned categories, and picks winners and losers.
So, to sum up the left's position, it's OK when done to us by a big, giant conglomerate with "Government" stamped on its side, but not when freely-self-chosen groups of free people do it. Has he even been in a bowling league or a shooting club?
The quacking crayon wielder who scrawled this on my wall ended by saying, "Wish I knew the author." Me too, so we could all point and laugh at his colossal ignorance.
Can Mutually Beneficial Exchanges be Exploitative?
Can Mutually Beneficial Exchanges be Exploitative?
