Are there any examples of current or past successful libertarian governments?
Economically some are like Hong Kong and to a lesser extent Switzerland.
How I Became a Libertarian
11–20 of 34 posts
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#12Libertarians are pretty smart. But apolitical people with no real ideology who just limit themselves to bet (financially and socially) who will win, they are even smarter
>>> People with no real ideology who just limit themselves to bet (financially and socially)... AKA Agorists / AnCaps Ps: The smatest people in the room get lined up against the wall or loaded in the box cars 1st.
Not really. I mean those who bet on proper lines and on financial markets that Republicans will win after 8 years of Democrats and vice versa
Also those who automatically assume the political leaning of the person they are interacting with.
If I am with a hot college girl who is a Bernie supporter, you bet I'd be strongly and passionately arguing for the redistribution of wealth and a 95% income tax because that creates empathy and increases my chances.
If I am pitching to a VC in Texas, you bet I'll be strongly pro-Trump and pro 2nd amendment, because it creates empathy and increases my chances.
Politics is a tool to improve your quality of life, and I mean by acquiring friends and allies while talking about it, the trick is to not have a political opinion and polish your acting skills and suddenly the sky is the limit
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#13libertarianism is an interesting & coherent political philosophy, but I notice that it keeps losing my understanding is that, from a political perspective, the idea is to win
This is an excellent point. And I _think_ that the answer is that government is inherently about control. Both sides seek to gain power and then use it to control and manipulate people into behaving a certain way. Politics itself is essentially at odds with libertarianism.
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#14Someone should write an updated book on Socialism for the rich, Corporate Socialism, regulatory capture, funding of politicians to get government benefits, the political funding cycle and revolving door, politicians cashing in after leaving office, and the DC gravy train of the military industrial complex. It is sending taxpayers money to the rich through multiple mechanisms like tax subsidies for mortgages, bank bai…
> Someone should write an updated book on Socialism for the rich
This article is from the Cato Institute, who have had a major focus on corporate welfare for many years. Here are 309 results from them on that topic:
https://www.cato.org/corporate-welfare
Here's their review of a six year old book about it:
https://www.cato.org/blog/corporate-welfare-james-t-bennett
Spoiler: They don't think it's a good idea.
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#15Not that he's wrong about some of the principles highlighted but calling taxation straight up predation seems quite the stretch.
Why? Taxation is taking money from people and companies with the threat of voilence.
Because you get some basic services back, like roads.
Imagine the mess that are ISP peering agreements but for private transit. Jesus this community truly lives in a bubble.
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#16Libertarians are pretty smart. But apolitical people with no real ideology who just limit themselves to bet (financially and socially) who will win, they are even smarter
[dead]
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why? Taxation is taking money from people and companies with the threat of voilence.
Because you get some basic services back, like roads. Imagine the mess that are ISP peering agreements but for private transit. Jesus this community truly lives in a bubble.
Hello, neighbor. I dropped off a bag of groceries for you (food being essential for life). That'll be $500, by the way.
If for some reason you refuse to pay for these basic services, I will then be forced to destroy your livelihood and possibly imprison you.
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
>>> People with no real ideology who just limit themselves to bet (financially and socially)... AKA Agorists / AnCaps Ps: The smatest people in the room get lined up against the wall or loaded in the box cars 1st.
Not really. I mean those who bet on proper lines and on financial markets that Republicans will win after 8 years of Democrats and vice versa Also those who automatically assume the political leaning of the person they are interacting with. If I am with a hot college girl who is a Bernie supporter, you bet I'd be strongly and passionately arguing for the redistribution of wealth and a 95% income tax because that crea…
At the risk of sounding rude, that all seems kind of sociopathic?
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
Because you get some basic services back, like roads. Imagine the mess that are ISP peering agreements but for private transit. Jesus this community truly lives in a bubble.
Hello, neighbor. I dropped off a bag of groceries for you (food being essential for life). That'll be $500, by the way. If for some reason you refuse to pay for these basic services, I will then be forced to destroy your livelihood and possibly imprison you.
lol, that exactly how taxation works. You are forced to pay something which you did not ask for.
Ofcourse the pro-taxation crowd simply does does not understand this - they argue that you did indeed make use of the bag of groceries. Huh? chicken-and-egg really....
Re: How I Became a Libertarian
#20This is a thoughtful, well-written piece.
It would be helpful to see solid counter-arguments instead of flagging.