Questions About Libertarian Thought
I received a question about what libertarian government would mean in regards to immigration and so forth (referring to the unhappy Mexican officials in the article below). Here was my response:
Under a truly libertarian government, we would have open borders and allow anyone to come and go from our country as they see fit. This proposition bothers a lot of people. The reason being that they can't fathom the idea that while populations are free to move across borders, these people are also not able to take advantage of government-mandated social services because Americans in this day and age cannot fathom the idea of having no "Social Security" of any type (including Medicare, Medicaid, "free" public schools, and so forth).
Under a truly libertarian government, none of these would exist as government-owned/run/mandated/controlled entities. Sure, private setups and even state-owned/operated setups are perfectly legal under the Constitution.
Think of this simple idea: if you had a choice between moving to a country where you could work freely without having to send in documents to various government bureaucracies to prove your "worthiness" to work or if you could go somewhere where no one asked you anything but who to make the check out to...where would you go? Now, let's say that if you could go to a place where you would receive free medical care, free education, and other free social benefits, all paid by someone else who complied with the local rules while you don't have to do anything but lie... what would you do?
Yep, you'd go get the freebies too.
Of course, many argue that our so-called "free" pubic education (which I refer to as "publik edukashun") is a foundation of our nation. That's horse pucky. Before there was ever any publik edukashun, this nation had a 95% literacy rate. Now we're under 80% and falling. Literacy, mind you, is not being able to read and write, but being able to read, write, and COMPREHEND what is being read and written. It implies a modicum of core learning and understanding in various subjects. A larger and larger percentage of high school "graduates" nowadays can't even do the simple math required to balance a checkbook properly, let alone make decisions based on real information about things like candidates, issues, or even basic life choices.
The basic libertarian ideal is this: no force or fraud. This means that if I don't force you to do something (via physical force, coercion, or another form of pressure) and I don't commit fraud (lying, cheating, etc.), then our agreement is obviously consentual and it's none of the government's business what our business is.
Of course, it's hard to "save the children," and "keep our children safe" or whatever the current communist or religious mantra of the day is if you can't control everyone around you.
The term "freedom isn't free" doesn't refer to taxes or big military incursions overseas. It refers to the idea that you have to put up with other people's freedom in order to enjoy your own. This might require you to shelter your kids yourself (instead of begging the government to do so) and maybe listen to some ideas you don't agree with. The price is too steep to pay for those who would prefer to attempt to legislate morality. Judeo-, Atheo-, Islamo-, and Christian-fascists aren't much different in this regard. Religion is religion, whatever the god may be...
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Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
Under a truly libertarian government, we would have open borders and allow anyone to come and go from our country as they see fit. This proposition bothers a lot of people. The reason being that they can't fathom the idea that while populations are free to move across borders, these people are also not able to take advantage of government-mandated social services because Americans in this day and age cannot fathom the idea of having no "Social Security" of any type (including Medicare, Medicaid, "free" public schools, and so forth).
Under a truly libertarian government, none of these would exist as government-owned/run/mandated/controlled entities. Sure, private setups and even state-owned/operated setups are perfectly legal under the Constitution.
Think of this simple idea: if you had a choice between moving to a country where you could work freely without having to send in documents to various government bureaucracies to prove your "worthiness" to work or if you could go somewhere where no one asked you anything but who to make the check out to...where would you go? Now, let's say that if you could go to a place where you would receive free medical care, free education, and other free social benefits, all paid by someone else who complied with the local rules while you don't have to do anything but lie... what would you do?
Yep, you'd go get the freebies too.
Of course, many argue that our so-called "free" pubic education (which I refer to as "publik edukashun") is a foundation of our nation. That's horse pucky. Before there was ever any publik edukashun, this nation had a 95% literacy rate. Now we're under 80% and falling. Literacy, mind you, is not being able to read and write, but being able to read, write, and COMPREHEND what is being read and written. It implies a modicum of core learning and understanding in various subjects. A larger and larger percentage of high school "graduates" nowadays can't even do the simple math required to balance a checkbook properly, let alone make decisions based on real information about things like candidates, issues, or even basic life choices.
The basic libertarian ideal is this: no force or fraud. This means that if I don't force you to do something (via physical force, coercion, or another form of pressure) and I don't commit fraud (lying, cheating, etc.), then our agreement is obviously consentual and it's none of the government's business what our business is.
Of course, it's hard to "save the children," and "keep our children safe" or whatever the current communist or religious mantra of the day is if you can't control everyone around you.
The term "freedom isn't free" doesn't refer to taxes or big military incursions overseas. It refers to the idea that you have to put up with other people's freedom in order to enjoy your own. This might require you to shelter your kids yourself (instead of begging the government to do so) and maybe listen to some ideas you don't agree with. The price is too steep to pay for those who would prefer to attempt to legislate morality. Judeo-, Atheo-, Islamo-, and Christian-fascists aren't much different in this regard. Religion is religion, whatever the god may be...
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
posted by Aaron Turpen @ 8:15 PM
4 Comments:
At 9:59 PM, February 14, 2008 ,
Kent McManigal said...
In a REAL libertarian country, it wouldn't even be an issue. Private property would be the norm, and tresspassing would still be a crime. Only in a country where the government thinks it owns everything does "illegal immigration" become a problem.
At 10:26 PM, February 14, 2008 ,
Aaron Turpen said...
Thanks for the comment, Kent. The hard part, however, is convincing other people that private property is not trumped by government (in other words "endowed" by government, just as "rights" are, in their minds, "given" by government). Thus the immigration debate.
At 7:16 AM, February 15, 2008 ,
Kent McManigal said...
That's where the "REAL libertarian" part comes in.
At 7:21 AM, February 15, 2008 ,
Aaron Turpen said...
Yes, but when you use those kinds of terms with people, you alienate them. This is why I no longer waste time with the Libertarian Party or go to "libertarian meetings." Too often, these are merely vehicles for people to use to make themselves feel superior to others because they can claim to be "real libertarians" or whatever. You can't recruit and market an idea if you alienate your customers.
At any rate, thanks for the input.
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