Hello everyone, I’ve been a daily reader on this site for quite sometime and I’m currently a libertarian in progress, as I have many years of studying the works of the more prolific members of this institute. But, that’s not what I came here to write about so, I’ll cut to the chase here:
Is it just me or are we not like that well liked?
I just finished my first semester at college and most of my professors have a blatant disliking for Libertarians and classical liberalism. Ironically, the only professor that actually thoroughly enjoys my contributions in class is the biggest statist I’ve ever met.
Sorry if this post is insipid and boring, I just wanted to read some other perspectives on this matter.
I’ve had similar experiences. I think it’s mainly because people associate libertarian with “anarchist” and then anarchist with chaos. So they think anyone who calls themselves a libertarian is for chaos. This is based on anecdotal evidence though, I can’t make any general statements.
Not boring or insipid at all. Posts like this is one of the reasons for the forums.
I think the hostility lies in the idea that business must be regulated through government or else we’d all be enslaved by the bourgeois’ capital. They fail to see that if anything comes close to the description of the bourgeois boogeyman, it’s the people who have political power. Despite having over 40% of their income expropriated by the government, people find that the companies that serve them are the real enslavers. In my opinion, the government has been doing a damn fine job of keeping up this image. Even today, people blame the big banks alone for their “worthless capital” causing an economic meltdown. (If the capital was so “worthless” how could it enslave us?) They still don’t see that these bankers were only able to make that possible through political power. Instead of removing the government which steals from us, people would much rather destroy companies that produce things at a profit, and are only able to produce things at a profit because they are creating things that are valuable society.
… but that’s enough of from me and my insipid boring rant.
People are heavily invested in the mythology of the state. You’re telling grown-ups that Santa Claus doesn’t exist. They don’t take too well to A. this revelation and B. to you.
Yes, and it’s unfortunate. I remember last year trying to combat the forces of statism in my AP Economics course. Although, I definitely had some Austrian ideals established, i hadn’t stumbled onto the actual school of thought.
I stood up and said the dollar was worth absolutely zero, which only conjured up a bunch of laughter.
My opposition to Bernanke, Geitner, and Keynes did not help either I can assure you. They began to call me a rambling idiot. Luckily, I stumbled onto Mises at the very end of the year.
This school needs to be recognized in contemporary culture or we’re facing impending doom, if we haven’t already past the tipping point.
Most of the opposition I face is usually along the lines of, “Well, those kinds of things wouldn’t work with today’s society” or “That’s fantasy and doesn’t work in the real world.”
At some point, they will have to realize that the liberal/statist tactics don’t really work either because they cause as many or more problems than they solve.
Libertarians cannot afford to be anything less then the smartest, most tactful proponents of liberty and property. That being said, you will not find education in the halls of college per say. You will certainly be educated in what the opposition thinks but nothing of classical liberalism or libertarianism. You will come to find that this institute is your college, we are your classmates and the faculty our professors. There will come a time when you grow beyond the student motif and become a teacher yourself. Until such a day, bolster your library, train your mind and steel your heart.
I haven’t really experienced that dislike… but I’ve been mistaken for a conservative before. In my political ideologies class I took last year I was advocating for personal responsibility when a statist liberal argued that people acted for their own selfish interests. I actually was a Democrat before… so I don’t really have the experience of being disliked as great. I don’t know. I guess I haven’t had that experience before.
The last thing people want to hear are their idealistic statist fantasies being crushed.
I’ve realized, to most people, the state is like a four year old child with a learning disability; he’s completely innocent, his mistakes aren’t his fault and if we just love him enough he’ll eventually succeed.
“Few men desire freedom; the greater part desire fair masters” - Sallust.
Cheer up, I’ve been mistaken for a Fascist of all things! [;)]
Also remember that all government employees know perfectly well that anything even resembling a free market reform would result in some of their number getting fired or having to work for reduced privileges so they are our worst enemies. Yes, even worse than armchair Socialists.
My advice? Do not waste time debating or contributing to these classes. Do the minimal to pass with decent grades and do not waste your time and strength with these leeches and their disciples. Use your resources to achieve a better, more complete education. As the Brits would say quietly take the p***. [;)]
