I decided to label myself as a libertarian after I realized that my political views were entirely inconsistant and were completely ignorant of economic principles.
I had always been left-leaning and at one point was strongly pro-socialist/communist(… I know). I would say even as soon as 9 months ago I was leftist. Seeing the abuses of power perpetuated by governments with respect to war, both foreign(Iraq) and domestic(drugs) really started to shake my faith in governments in general but I still held the belief that as long as the right people were in power all would be peachy. But then listening to Ron Paul really started to change my perspective on things. I was willing to give capitalism a chance(which I used to consider mankind’s greatest enemy. LOL How wrong I was!) and began reading individualist/libertarian philosophy and economics. It immediately became clear to me that my original views were heavily propagandized and that I worshipped the ‘state’. Disgusted and disillusioned I came to embrace the libertarian ideology. My interest in the subject lead me to this fantastic website.
No. I used to be a super-monarchist. I took pride in nationalism and my Commonwealth background. [I still have some sort of irrational patriotic pride… for my local hockey team, that is.]
Before answering the question of the Opening Post, I would like to make one comment: it seems like there are a handful of young (under 30 years old) libertarians here on this site and I am envious of you guys. I wished I had come to my senses earlier on too.
Anyway, my story is the typical neo-con transition to libertarian special thanks to the internet. I grew up listening to right-wing talk radio crap and loving it! I studied economics right after high school and completed a degree in Keynesionomics. After that, I went into a health care field for a career.
If there is one thing that might be unique in my development as an anarchist it might be that I was always fascinated with reading about true crime stories past and present. This may have inculcated a frame of reference whereby the intimate interactions between cops and robbers makes the superficialities of the state melt away. It was easy for me to identify the State as being criminal.
I do a bit of radio. I love the mystique. I volunteer at my local college station and host/produce/engineer a music weekly program.
Here all parties (though here the parties are only one person…no caucuss, no convention) praise statist in differente ways. The leftists are very statist, and think the nice state will solve all our problem with only “redistributing wealth” while taxing the evil rich people. And the rigthists are the same but use another expressions, also because they are afraid of being called “neoliberal” (not the liberal american, the classic liberal meaning).
All the parties are mostly statist, nacional socialist (light), and very populist. But people hate the concepts of freedmon and free markets, something the politicians themself have created allong with the media during the years.
Our country used to be the “granary of the world” in the in the early 1900’s, with an importante econony. Some people even said we could be the america of the south…but well here we are…
I’m not really sure as to what labels you would use to describe me, but I was definitely a nationalist, and thought that using the military to force other countries to accept democracy was acceptable. My love of freedom hasn’t changed, but becoming informed that the state can only limit freedom really woke me up. And while I still think force can be justified in some instances, the state can never be justified when it’s forcing its subjects(notice I didn’t say citizens) carry out its evils.
Probably the most influential factor in my becoming anti-interventionist was my desire to be consistant in my viewpoints. I believed that the state was horrible when it came to the economy, and thus I was non-interventionist economically. But when it came to foriegn affairs I somehow become a progressive.
I’m sad to say I was taught in public schools, but in some ways I’m glad because the abhorant quality of public schools made me look elsewhere for my education. I ignored the indoctrination of the state somewhat but I was still listening to talk radio. Becoming a libertarian has not changed the fact that I listen to talk radio, but I now listen to different commentators. I love free talk live, and I’m also listening to Gary Nolan, who is a local libertarian talk show host.
While I can’t take back all the time I wasted in public schools, I think I’m now heading in the right direction, and I’m always trying to challange my own viewpoints as well as those of others.
I still need a bit more convincing on private defence agencies. Hoppe has me pretty well convinced on domestic defence, but I still have some inhibitions as regards national defence.
If you believe that coercion is immoral, pragmatism should come second.
In any event, you don’t think that today’s “chickenhawks” – those who advocate war but abstain from enlisting – would be more than willing to show their toughness by donating to defense agencies? I imagine they would be run like charities. Also, keep in mind that the United States wouldn’t need a huge military if we weren’t constantly in some foreign war.
Like most small children, I was a anarchist, then I got indoctrinated for 12 years in public schools, at the point of a gun, of course. When I was a teenager they almost, just almost, made me turn into one of the spineless, soulless machines that is the socialist man. It is only thanks to the libertarian tradition (especially the Americans) that I today can not only call myself moral, calm (as the opposite of the confused children of the state) and peaceful but also educated and critical.
From a literary standpoint, I’m not as well read or studied as many here, but my life has been a personal, anecdotal journey towards principled liberty and a quest for freedom.
I’m Canadian, so I am well aware of the nanny state. I’ve been an entrepreneur so I am familiar with over-regulation and hinderances to free markets. I’m a slave to the banks because they own the system, even though I have learned to avoid and carry no personal debt. Confronted racism, so I understand collectivist thought.
I am a minarchist who is starting to trend towards anarcho-capitalism. The brakes on my development being my desire to pursue something pragmatic, something that can be tangibly achieved in my lifetime. Advancing liberty, even a little, is my personal goal.
It could very well be possible. I’m on a journey to keep learning and growing, and likewise spread the influence of my ideas on liberty. I do truly believe that fighting for goals one at a time is worthwhile. That striving for liberty is an endless struggle against statist ideas and power.
It’s my belief that the people who hold out for ideologically perfect events to change the system are just a little too intimidated to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
I am an anarcho-capitalist, but (unlike several members of this forum) I have nothing against striving for short-term, realistic goals. I’m perfectly willing to admit that I’d be happy with a smaller government (not that I’d stop there), an apparently sacrosanct position.
That doesn’t mean continuing the same failed electoral strategy, of course, but it does mean that we have to come out of our shells and actually be willing to accept a slower process.