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To: Rebel_Ace

So, is the “sharing economy” as seen in the example given in this story a libertarian thing, or is it not a libertarian thing?


61 posted on 05/01/2015 9:46:00 AM PDT by BlackAdderess ("Give me a but a firm spot on which to stand, and I shall move the earth". --Archimedes)
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To: BlackAdderess
"So, is the “sharing economy” as seen in the example given in this story a libertarian thing, or is it not a libertarian thing?"

On the chance that you are asking this in good faith:

"Libertarians" believe in Property Rights and an Unregulated Enconomy.

So, what does that mean? It means if you have resources, such as property, lodging, transportation, meal delivery systems, whatever, you should be free to offer them on the open market for whatever price and terms the market will bear.

Example: You own a car, and would like to offer to transport people to places at fees you mutually agree upon.

Example: You own a beachfront home that you do not occupy all the time. You would like to rent it out to people at fees and terms you mutually agree upon.

Example: You are good at braiding hair. You would like to braid other people's hair at fees you mutually agree upon.

The Libertarian position is that you should be "AT LIBERTY TO DO SO". Hence the party name.

Additionally, the Libertarian position is that while you reap the REWARDS of engaging in commerce, you also ASSUME THE RISK.

So, a Libertarian would leave you free to explore various business models. Find something that works for you, great, make the profits and keep your money. Stumble and fall with an idea that is not so hot? Seek redress legally against those that have wronged you (as in the case of these low-life renters), or suck it up and try something else. But a Libertarian would not seek to enact laws to FORCE people to conform to some business model they wanted to execute. Those would be "rent seeking" "crony capitalists".
64 posted on 05/01/2015 2:30:37 PM PDT by Rebel_Ace (HITLER! There, Zero to Godwin in 5.2 seconds.)
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