I have to disagree. I think it’s one of the reasons why Rothbard has had much less of an influence than other libertarian thinkers (on the general population that is); his work is far too extreme for the layman and is instantly dismissed as ‘radical’. You can’t just throw Rothbard at people and expect it to stick, you have to ease them in to it. Gradually open their eyes to the failures of the state and get them questioning their own beliefs, only then will they be receptive to the works of people such as Rothbard.
While we don’t utilise ad hominem attacks, the statists most definitely do and to good effect. It’s important not to be labelled an extremist; unfortunately in the real world you won’t get published in newspapers or have much of an audience for your ideas if people perceive you as some anarchist wacko. Maybe it’s different in the US, but that’s generally how it is in Australia, at least from my perspective.
I came across your blog today. You had a post on a Murray Rothbard article called “Why be Libertarian?”. It was a good read. It argued for radicalism. I’m sold but I came to it slowly myself. I am still trying to “verify freedom” from an economic standpoint. I am not an economist and there are many what I call “tough questions”. It’s difficult to believe when you’re coming at it from a utilitarian point of view - one has to be very knowledgable and very certain/confident. I recently came across the argument from morality from Stefan Molyneux’s Freedomain Radio and listening to Rothbard’s For a New Liberty. I am hoping there is a succinct ethical argument in the Ethics of Liberty which I haven’t listened to yet. It may be possible to increase the Libertarian ranks with a succinct argument from morality (particular at a time when so much immorality is going around).
Well I am gladdened by the number of people replying in this post.
Since searching for an organisation or society like “campaign for liberty” in the US, I have found The Australian Libertarian Society and Liberal Democratic Party. I haven’t been impressed with either. The ALS is certainly not friendly place to post - they seem like a bunch of kids and libertines. Maybe they just like to get stuff off their chest after a tough day at work as an economist or whatever :). In any case, it’s not a friendly place for newcomers to the ideas of liberty (particularly if you find Rothbard enticing).
The Australian Libertarian Society (ALS), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Centre for Independent Studies and the Institute of Public Affairs are not libertarian organizations. They are, at best, “free-market” organizations. And even that isn’t certain. Who knows how much resistance they will offer if the government decides to socialize the economy to pay for a war?
I used to blog for the ALS, however I left due to the warmongering and arrogant anti-intellectual attitude. Similarly, I ran as a candidate for the LDP in the 2007 federal election, however once I discovered their national executive is stacked with neo-cons, I realized that they didn’t really understand what liberty was all about.
Thankfully, Australians now have a real libertarian alternative - www.la.org.au.
In Jayjay’s terminology, La.org.au would be “radical”, while the CIS, IPA, LDP, ALS would be “moderate”. But the moderate organizations think it’s OK for America/Australia/Britain to go around killing people in foreign countries at random! So I’d much prefer to be a radical at this point, for the sake of thousands of innocent lives.
We need to build a movement based around Austro-libertarian ideas to wake the public up. That’s what’s missing in Australia. We’ve got enough people preaching watered down libertarianism.
By the way, I’m not suggesting that there aren’t any good people working at the above organizations, or that one shouldn’t make friends and work with them where possible.
It’s just important that Austro-libertarians forge their own path, because Ron Paul has proved that radical ideas are the only way to energize the masses.
Please don’t put words in my mouth Sukrit. I’m not suggesting we avoid “radical” websites such as la, I’m just saying that when addressing a public audience you have to tune it down a notch, get them interested and give them a basic understanding, before unleashing full-on Rothbard (as an example). It’s a means to and end, not the end itself.
In other news, has anyone got more information about the Rudd Army? I wonder how long until this becomes compulsory?
You people do realise that according to the (albeit Semi-Neocon) Heritage Foundation, Australia is better than the US on Economic Liberty.
In fact we are third behind only Hong Kong and Singapore.
Of course, the most free countries are all the common law, former British colonies, but the UK itself has dropped down because it is being engulfed by the socialists in the EU.
Yeah, but Curlz, those rankings are not entirely accurate. I recall some criticism by some Australian free-market economists about how they were overly generous to John Howard’s labour market “deregulation” (sic).
In any case, America is a richer country than Australia. It also possess more social freedom (e.g. gun rights), although I agree it’s going downhill fast.
Our GDP per capita is only slightly less than the US and our national debt per capita is much less
US public debt per capita stands at US$37,000
Australian public debt per capita stands at US$7000
I think we are in a very fortunate position to do alot better here in Australia. Plus the propaganda machine is not as ingrained and impenetrable here.
Haha, thanks. I do have a passion for justice & self righteousness. As no doubt a lot of folks here do. Strategy for Liberty is one of the things I am most interested in.
That’s the plan Stan! [:D] Sedition laws here we come… ! lol