In my opinion, the libertarians are right on, but in our culture it wouldn't work anymore. America was built on personal freedoms, but without self accountability, those personal freedoms become a burden on everyone else. The masses become slaves to the fallen.
IF the libertarians were to end all social programs today, so people would be held personally responsible for their own choices, it would be great, but I don't see that happening.
Social liberalism leads to destroyed lives. People don't always make the right choices. Today, those who choose to destroy their lives are rewarded with a life time of care. They not only get what they need - they even get those things they want. It's destroying the nation rather than strengthening it.
IF libertarians were able to free people from being held responsible for other peoples bad choices, we'd have the country our founding fathers left for us. We'd all be free.
That sounds reminiscent of the argument for government's regulation of markets in order to make them free. Once government is involved, freedoms are curtailed, not enhanced. Regulators will always be highly susceptible to regulatory capture (run by those being regulated) and therefore ineffective.
I agree that society has been so distorted that it would be a shock to about half of Americans if true liberty would prevail. But government would no longer be able to rob Peter to pay Paul. Unions and churches alike would be free to create any type of safety net or assistance programs they see fit. But it would no longer be coerced from producers by the IRS.
+10
Nicely put and well-formulated...
If I may add: extrapolate helping the down-trodden through Christian faith: those who have fallen are helped by the faithful, given new hope, forgiven their sins ...all through the means of the religious community.
I know, in artfully put but I hope you get my drift...