Replies

I agree with you, and no, I don't have a source. My point is just that some acts of civil disobedience are going to be more palatable to the public than others, and libertarians should choose those with the "biggest bang for the buck". My feeling is that a much larger portion of the public opposes underage drinking than supports cosmetology licensing requirements.

...some acts of civil disobedience are going to be more palatable to the public than others, and libertarians should choose those with the "biggest bang for the buck"

Acts of civil disobedience are never palatable to the public. Palatability only exists in targeted populations. If it is "bang for the buck" that is sought out, then the public likes and dislikes should be completely disregarded.

My feeling is that a much larger portion of the public opposes underage drinking than supports cosmetology licensing requirements.

No doubt about it. The fact that the public opposes it, gives it a single check mark on the positive side with regard to reaching out to targeted potential activist populations. Targeting the general public usually turns off such populations and thereby works against bringing activists into unpopular movements. The general public will not give an unpopular movement even a second thought until it has developed enough to appear popular. The only people that can build that kind of appearance of popularity are those who do not live in fear of being unpopular to the general publicly.

Taking a public stand against the authorities by serving under age soldiers alcohol is a "big bang" activity in favor of lowering the drinking age which has almost unlimited outreach potential for reaching a new generation of Americans with the ideals of the free enterprise economics and the philosophy of libertarianism. For this reason it is a highly pragmatic activity.