Somebody’s comment on the libertarian anarchist argument:
“The only utility of the argument in my opinion, is to frighten away people who might otherwise take interest in Austrian economics.” - anonymous since I didn’t ask the person to quote them
People don’t always agree on the best course of action. There’s the gradualists that believe joining the populists and therefore getting one of their ideas looked at by the mainstream is a win. Or a trade-off of ideas, this liberty concept traded for this slave concept and somehow that makes it ok cause the liberty concept was finally accepted. And yes the anarchists are so scary cause their opinion seems to be such a leap for the populist to accept. Strive for acceptance is the call by some who are trying to attract the populists. I say strive for excellence in what is freedom, but that’s my opinion!
I say you’re free to stick to principles that aren’t such a leap for the populists. The more you have to gravitate from a total free market, the more you’ll come to understand just how far the populist has diverged from freedom. To take a gradualists approach or this ‘less scary’ approach above is all fine and dandy, but remember who will remain understanding of what freedom is about. Not those that get caught up in trying not to scare others and not those trying to please others. We all need a base or premise to fall back on.
What I find difficult to understand is if anybody thinks the anarchist position is so scary, then stick to your own principles of miniarchists or limited government. Then it is up to you to speak out for what you believe in. This is not a compromise by an anarchist to those that want some form of government, but what this is turning into is I have to come up with a way to get some people to be comfortable with their own opinion. If the anarchist position scares people away from Austrian economics, then don’t blame anarchists, blame yourself for not speaking your own position. If you’re a gradualists, then don’t blame anarchists for out debating you, for if you can’t handle somebody elses opinion and still like Austrian economics, then you need to find a way, your own way of marketing Austrian economics. The market for Austrian economics is large indeed. I brought up a thread about abolitionists and somebody responded that to go out and declare the State should fall today and shout this in the streets right now will get the ideas of freedom nowhere and only turn people off as they look upon the abolitionist thinking, “Crazy”. Yet it was abolitionists that spoke out against slavery in the U.S. It is abolitionists that speak out against the Federal Reserve and want it abolished in the U.S. It’s tearing it down piece by piece. It is also wanting it to crash right this very moment if it could actually happen this very moment. It’s not passing up an opportunity due to fear. It’s when the time comes and it can actually happen and it can all disappear and you say yes and want a free market. That’s what sticking to free market principles mean. Now if the moment is ripe and all the chips fall into place and you hesitate and don’t want it to happen just yet but everything is a go - then that’s when your real choice will be known - the State. And in politics it’s called selling out cause numerous choices will be on your plate and to strike them down again and again is to be a hypocrite if you profess the free market. Anybody’s fear of anarchists is their insecurity in their own opinion and their own lack of a perspective on finding a way to market their idea whether it be miniarchist or limited government to the populists.
Do I need to come up with all the ideas of those that complain about and fear a total free market and no-State presence! And when I say “I”, I don’t mean just me, wilderness, I’m talking about quit complaining about an opinion you find to be scary and start doing something about it. Show your opinion and see if others will listen. The least that you’ll do is spread the word around that Austrian economics exists, and that can’t be a bad thing.
I’m not always the most articulate in getting out what I want to say, but I find it irresponsible for somebody to lay the burden of blame on people that desire freedom when nobody has taped their mouth shut or tied their fingers up so they can’t provide and argue their opinion. If it’s the very sight of anarchist verbiage that is appalling, then so be it, it’s your freedom to find it offensive, but share your perspective over and over again but don’t forget to point the aim of freedom in the right direction while you’re at it! And if you need to paint anarchist in a way that distinguishes you from the anarchist every once in awhile, fine, I mean you’re only sticking up for your opinion and I honor that approach. Don’t be bashful. But the scarier the anarchist is, I would say that’s a sign of just how far away the populist has strayed from freedom and their ability to be responsible for themselves as individuals.
IMO of course
