Simple, because you live in a left-wing stronghold.
seems a bit too circular for an explanation.
To me, we are libertarians, and just a progression of the core beliefs of classical liberalism. Statists can be either left wing or right wing, and I’d say there is a bias to both. So my question is:
Why aren’t there more libertarians?
Also this Mises quote to complement my point:
That’s the perfect question to ask, I think.
Public school is definitely the one major obstacle to libertarianism spreading. But it also supports progressivism if it supports any ideology at all. That plus lifestyle and you have the modern day progressive. The same probably goes for conservatives although obviously the lifestyle parameters have to be different.
I think it’s the fear we are given by public schooling, a superstitious fear that government keeps us safe. Ironically, I think many people understand it, but either become apathetic or don’t put all the pieces together.
Public school gives you the illogical but at first glance reasonable idea that government protects us since government is the use of superior violence against elitists who deprive us of money for more or less shoddy products. They then repeat this theme throughout history classes of all grades -it’s sadly obvious indoctrination really. This and the fact that logic is not taught anymore plus the fact that economics is inherently boring to students and voila, statism matures.
Liberty grows only when people have become willing to question everything in an almost cartesian fashion.
Also I think some people also fear the government. Some who understand, think it is fantasy to fight against it and rather keep quiet.
True, since it is within reason to believe the stories about some who have been killed by state agents in america, for revealing too much info. on state secrets. It is especially compelling when you are a gov. skeptic.
Quoted for the truth. Everyones coming up way to quick against the liberals and are forgetting the republicans are just as bad. Sure we should ally with republicans for the economy or liberals for human rights, but we can’t blend. We must make our differences known from the parties, while showing the two parties that some of the logic of liberty they use on only some of their own arguments, whether it be gun control, or ending the drug war, can be applied to everything.
But the main party that damages us right now are the Libertarians. They give the anarcho-capitalists/minarchists a bad name to the public.
We should focus our energy on education and virtually nothing on politics.
Same reason many people smoke. Too stupid to know otherwise or perhaps too addicted to give it up. Man am I profound…
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But the main party that damages us right now are the Libertarians. They give the anarcho-capitalists/minarchists a bad name to the public.
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I´m sure the feeling is mutual.
Anarcho-capitalism will always be a really hard sell regardless of what the “beltway Libertarians” do or say. Expending energy on being frustrated about those who do not share your opinion accomplishes nothing.
I do agree that the #1 priority should always be education on a personal level though.
I personally never been to involved with the official libertarian party of the U.S, so what’s their deal and why are they a threat? Excuse me, I’ve mostly befriended leftists in my political life because of my hatred of war and imperialism. I don’t know too many libertarian personally, neither have I met many.
Liberals seem to have the attitude that Business are what make life unfair, that you should have a right to a job, ect.
Liberals have a strong focus on “positive rights”. They think people ought to be owed medicine. A good argument against it can be: Medicine can be a neccesity to a certain extent, but it still remains a commodity. Just like food. Should homeless people be owed food at a supermarket? Same logic. Should we have food insurance, and take any food that we desired, and thought we needed? If there were, people would take simply the most expensive food available, much of it tends either have the best health, quality or appearance. If the markets weren’t so controlled, and they worked, they’d have the $$.
They are basically republicans and in the past they were way too left-biased.
If people only are used to two choices and one of the is blantently imperialistic, xenophobic, warlike, authoritarian, and theocratic and the other at least gives more lip service to issues of life and peace what do you expect?
I find it more comforting (when considering the nature of people) that people take up a cause of something like global warming than the cause of something like imperialism. Don’t get me wrong they are both obnoxious, but still…
Also, I find it a bit comforting that most still advocate “mainstream” arguments. It is an indication that people don’t wrap themselves up in politics too much and can concern themselves with other less insane matters, and that is always a good thing.