Libertarianism, Rightly Understood

by Will on May 5, 2009

Libertarianism does have public relations problems, and it’s not because most people are stupid or immoral. It’s because libertarians have done a terrible job countering the widespread suspicion that it’s a uselessly abstract ahistorical ideology for socially retarded adolescent white guys.

Will writes from Washington, D.C. (well, Arlington, Virginia). You can reach him at willblogcorrespondence at gmail dot com.

{ 1 comment }

1 greginak May 5, 2009 at 10:28 am

I read your full post at your site. It is a well written and a clear explanation of libertarian principles. I certainly think I understand where libertarians are coming from a bit more. However I still don’t see how Libertarianism isn’t abstract and out of touch with how to live in this world. It seems stridently absolutist. I just can’t see how it is a guide for living in a modern country of 300 million or so people. It always seemed to me, and still does, that Libertarians have taken American individualism to an unworkable extreme. This is seen best in your example where you state L’s think society should have full consensus on governmental action.

I do think L’s have something to offer this country and I wish there were more actual L’s in the republican party, as opposed to the libertarian when it is convenient for business interests republicans.

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