tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post2460970221592384824..comments2023-10-20T05:51:51.625-04:00Comments on The THINK 3 INSTITUTE: A flimsy argument against libertarianismSamuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-75948178745299669252013-06-19T15:07:25.744-04:002013-06-19T15:07:25.744-04:00Of course, what is even flimsier are the arguments...Of course, what is even flimsier are the arguments in favor of libertarianism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-25532220559285733132013-06-19T11:02:41.304-04:002013-06-19T11:02:41.304-04:00Responding to all, libertarianism assumes that eac...Responding to all, libertarianism assumes that each person accepts responsibility for succeeding or failing in life. The libertarian citizen is too principled or proud to "live off" other people's money and therefore will not demand a welfare state or taxation with the purpose of redistributing wealth. He sees the function of government as part referee and part policeman, presumably ensuring fair dealing in commerce (i.e. no force or fraud) and definitely protecting property from theft. The flaw in the idea -- not counting the ineradicable human desire to keep or be kept alive -- is the assumption that people will agree on what "fair dealing" is without an act of political will (automatically suspect among libertarians) defining it. If people don't automatically agree, and they don't trust a political definition, how is fair dealing possible? Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-74142027854895531812013-06-19T10:36:07.571-04:002013-06-19T10:36:07.571-04:00It occurs to me that there is a much sounder argum...It occurs to me that there is a much sounder argument against a libertarian government, which is libertarianism itself. They believe government should have no control over business. They feel government should not demand taxes. They insist government services could and should be privatized. Basically, when it comes down to it, in their view government serves no function at all. So what would be the point of a libertarian government?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-57479473127321635302013-06-18T17:17:48.743-04:002013-06-18T17:17:48.743-04:00I really think that the only viable political/econ...I really think that the only viable political/economic/social system would have to meet certain requirements, the least of which are:<br />1) Everyone has an equal voice in creating the rules.<br />2) Everyone plays by the rules.<br /><br />The problem is that far too often, those who make the rules refuse to play by the rules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8820814198873126054.post-9537639377927486632013-06-18T17:13:26.602-04:002013-06-18T17:13:26.602-04:00I would say that the reason there is no libertaria...I would say that the reason there is no libertarian government/state in the world is quite simply that libertarianism, by its nature, does not lend itself to strong government beyond a local level. A weak government won't survive. Therefore, it is possible that short-lived libertarian government could arise, but it wouldn't last long.<br /><br />How many would be willing to accept that they are losers when, in an all libertarian society, they realize someone has to be on the bottom and that someone is them. They measure a man's worth by his success and unless every individual is involved in a unique business, there will be competition. In a competition, someone wins and everyone else is either second place, "also ran" or the loser. How many, when faced with the truth that <i>they</i> are the loser will continue to support that social structure?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com