The essence of liberty: What is it that really makes one a libertarian?

LP News ^ | March 1995 | David F. Nolan

[thoughtomator]

Compared to the essential duty of defense, roads are a silly thing for the federal government to be involved with. When we have hundreds of fighters but not one close enough to NYC to react to the incoming jets, I think a back-to-basics approach to reform is appropriate. When the federal government is so gargantuan and complex that such a basic function is overlooked so negligently, trimming powers is definitely in order. Coincidentally, we happen to have a document already that has some good ideas on what the feds should really be doing... it's called the Constitution.

The Constitution of the United States of America - good for more than just a few Amendments

[Roscoe]

Interstate highways, interstate commerce, public welfare served.

No violation of the Constutution there.

[verity]

And libertarians have absolutely no sense of humor!

[Eagle Eye]

And libertarians have absolutely no sense of humor!

As if you do.

That's a sleazy trick you are trying. You want to make 'hit and run' one line, no brain, smart-ass remarks, then when you get slammed you say, "JOKING!" and then play the hurt victim role.

What a loser you appear to be.

[Eagle Eye]

During the pre-election debates and discussions on FR, many freepers told me that they were confident that Bush was simply saying what was expedient and that once in office he would do things 'his' way.

Unlike his supporters, I believed Bush to be a man of his word and that he would do what he said he would do. I believed that he would expand government as he pledged to do. So far, it seems, I've not been incorrect.

[thusevertotyrants]

Tolls for their use

[Roscoe]

Facile.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

We hollered when clinton abused Executive Privelge. Why accept it now?

Its ok when your team is abuseing executive privelge. What part of that do you not understand? Its ok when a republican does it if Rush tells us its ok yet when a democrat does it then its wrong. Selective morality.

[thusevertotyrants]

Quite. When government provides a service (i.e. - building and maintaining public roads) they may charge a fee, to be paid for by the parties who use the service (i.e. - those who drive on said roads). What the government may NOT do, is steal from the people as they see fit in order to redistribute wealth to those who did not produce it

[Roscoe]

Still facile.

There are public roads in existence. What happens to them under libertarian doctrine?

[Joe Bonforte]

"And libertarians have absolutely no sense of humor!"

Au contraire! Many folks think Dave Barry is the funniest writer in America, and he is libertarian. PJ O'Rourke is probably the second funniest, and he describes himself as a libertarian-leaning conservative.

Now, I'll admit that libertarians get a bit peeved at some of the silly libertarian bashing they have to endure, like a lot of that on this thread. So seeing them in these discussions does not tend to bring out their humorous side.

[thusevertotyrants]

They become toll roads - Their upkeep is financed by those who use them. What dont you understand?

[Roscoe]

They become toll roads

Just wave the magic wand, huh? Who owns them?

[thusevertotyrants]

Who administers the tolls? No one entity The Interstates go to the Fed, state roads go to the state, local roads to municipalities or counties. Now, if a certain locale doesnt keep their roads in good shape and therefore they lose business in that community, the local government is acountable to their voters. If state roads are not kept up and states lose business, then the state government is accountable to their voters.

[Roscoe]

Who administers the tolls?

Who owns the existing public roads? Simple question.

[thusevertotyrants]

I would think it rather obvious that noone but the owner of a road could charge tolls on that road. See above

[Roscoe]

I would think it rather obvious that noone but the owner of a road could charge tolls on that road.

And who would that owner be? Who owns the existing public roads?

I don't think you know.

[thusevertotyrants]

You are now asking a different question. I told you who WOULD own the roads in a libertarian system, not who owns the roads at present.

[Roscoe]

Then you advocate theft. You don't know who owns the public roads.

[bray]

Republican=Republican

Independent=Republican who swore to their father they would NEVER be a Republican

Libertarian=Independent who wants legalized dope

Pray for GW and the Truth