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

LP News ^ | March 1995 | David F. Nolan

[jackbob]

html> LP News Mar95 - The essence of liberty: What is it that really makes one a libertarian?

March 1995

The essence of liberty: What is it that really makes one a libertarian? By David F. Nolan As a founder of the Libertarian Party and editor-in-chief of California Liberty, I am often asked how to tell if someone is "really" a libertarian. This question has arisen more often than usual in the past few months, as more and more politicians are starting to use libertarian-sounding rhetoric-and it's a point worth raising. There are probably as many different definitions of the word "libertarian" as there are people who claim the label. These range from overly broad ("anyone who calls himself a libertarian is one") to impossibly doctrinaire ("only those who agree with every word in the party platform are truly anointed"). My own definition is that in order to be considered a libertarian, at least in the political context, an individual must adhere without compromise to five key points. Ideally, of course, we'd all be in agreement on everything. But we're not, and probably never will be. Debate is likely to continue indefinitely on such matters as abortion, foreign policy, and whether, when, and how various government programs can be discontinued or privatized. But as far as I'm concerned, if someone is sound on these five points, he/she is de facto a libertarian; if he fails on even one of the five, he isn't. What, then, are the "indispensable five"-the points of no compromise? You Own Yourself First and foremost, libertarians believe in the principle of self-ownership. You own your own body and mind; no external power has the right to force you into the service of "society" or "mankind" or any other individual or group for any purpose, however noble. Slavery is wrong, period. Because you own yourself, you are responsible for your own well-being. Others are not obligated to feed you, clothe you, or provide you with health care. Most of us choose to help one another voluntarily, for a variety of reasons-and that's as it should be-but "forced compassion" is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. The Right to Self-Defense Self-ownership implies the right to self-defense. Libertarians yield to no one in their support for our right as individuals to keep and bear arms. We wish only that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution said, "The right to self-defense being inalienable . . . " instead of that stuff about a "well-regulated militia." Anyone who thinks that government-any government-has the right to disarm its citizens is NOT a libertarian! No "Criminal Possession" Laws In fact, libertarians believe that individuals have the right to own and use anything-gold, guns, marijuana, sexually explicit material-so long as they do not harm others through force or the threat of force. Laws criminalizing the simple possession of anything are tailor-made for police states; it is all too easy to plant a forbidden substance in someone's home, car, or pocket. Libertarians are as tough on crime-real crime-as anyone. But criminal possession laws are an affront to liberty, whatever the rhetoric used to defend them. No Taxes on Productivity In an ideal world, there would be no taxation. All services would be paid for on an as-used basis. But in a less-than-ideal world, some services will be force-financed for the foreseeable future. However, not all taxes are equally deleterious, and the worst form of taxation is a tax on productivity-i.e. an "income" tax-and no libertarian supports this type of taxation. What kind of taxation is least harmful? This is a topic still open for debate. My own preference is for a single tax on land, with landholders doing their own valuation; you'd state the price at which you'd be willing to sell your land, and pay taxes on that amount. Anyone (including the tax collector) who wanted to buy it at that price could do so. This is simple, fair, and minimizes government snooping into our lives and business. Is this "the" libertarian position on taxes? No. But all libertarians oppose any form of income tax. A Sound Money System The fifth and final key test of anyone's claim to being a libertarian is their support for an honest money system; i.e. one where the currency is backed by something of true value (usually gold or silver). Fiat money-money with no backing, whose acceptance is mandated by the State-is simply legalized counterfeiting and is one of the keys to expanding government power. Conclusion The five points enumerated here are not a complete, comprehensive prescription for freedom . . . but they would take us most of the way. A government which cannot conscript, confiscate, or counterfeit, and which imposes no criminal penalties for the mere possession and peaceful use of anything, is one that almost all libertarians would be comfortable with.

[Roscoe]

" We call for the privatization of airports, air traffic control systems, public roads, and the national highway system." --National Platform of the Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, July 2000, Anaheim, CA

[tpaine]

So, -- what?

[Roscoe]

Libertarianism advocates taking away our public roads. It is not about threatening revolution if your welfare payments are cut.

[tpaine]

BS

[Roscoe]

BS

Straight from their laughable platform.

[Virginia-American]

"And libertarians have absolutely no sense of humor!"

How many LIbertarians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Zero, the market will take care of it.

[Maelstrom]

This is GREAT! And absolutely true :-)

I'll give you .05 (one nickle) to screw in one of my light bulbs, just to keep it that way :-)

[Trident/Delta]

What is it that really makes one a libertarian?

Simple.

Casteration and Frontal lobotomy.

Libertarians are simply democrats that support anarchy.

Semper Fi

[Joe Bonforte]

I can't resist...

What is it that really makes one a Republican?

Simple.

Gullibility - believing that Republican politicians are actually going to rein in the government.

Republicans are simply democrats that are afraid to admit it.

Now see how silly that sounds? How about having constructive debate instead of falling back on sophomoric assertions?

[secretagent]

The fifth and final key test of anyone's claim to being a libertarian is their support for an honest money system; i.e. one where the currency is backed by something of true value (usually gold or silver). Fiat money-money with no backing, whose acceptance is mandated by the State-is simply legalized counterfeiting and is one of the keys to expanding government power.

Going back to the enabling rule, non-initiation of force or fraud, I see the real libertarian stand as getting the government out of the money business altogether, except for definitions.

[jackbob]

I knocked at least 500 doors for GW in The Peoples Republic of Oregon. If that isn't the front lines tell me what is?

I have knocked on over 500 doors for libertarian party candidates, in the heart of Democratic Party countrolled districts of Tacoma, Washington. I do not think that to be bravery; which was by the way the issue, not front lines.

.....ignoring the UN and unilaterally fighting the terrorists in addition to dropping the ABM.....

All of these may be good for the security of the country, but none have anything to do with returning my lost freedom.

So I return to your words: I refuse to take Libertarians/cowards seriously! GW has done more to return your freedoms in the past year than Clinton stole in the past 8.

To which I asked: Now tell me some of what the Bush has done, related to returning my lost freedoms. ..... I'm also not going to credit him with what he has not done.

You call libertarians "cowards," tell me of your Republican bravery?

[jackbob]

Interesting observation. I pretty much agree with you. This was the one point that I really disagreed with Nolan on. I didn't mention it up till now, as my disagreement is rather insignificant, for the purpose of my post. All his other four points deal with topics that everyone can easily grasp. This one however, deals with a topic that a lot of people may not know about or understand, and thereby may not have formed an opinion as yet. Still they could be full blown libertarians.

Additionally, I think that Nolan, like most libertarians, has not given much thought about the complexities involved in moving from one system to another. It is not as simple as canceling the Federal Reserve Act. I also think it a mistake to refer to American currency as fiat-money (not including U.S. Treasurery coin, which is fiat money). It can be argued that fiat-money was only issued three times, the last being in 1963.

At any rate I generally agree that the one of the goals of libertarians should be to institute a more solidly backed money system.

[Trident/Delta]

What is it that really makes one a libertarian defender?

The firm application of faux intellect in an abysmal effort to justfy anarchy as a legitimate form of governing.

OBTW Joe, slamming pubbies is ok with me, I am an independent. I don't like ANY of the idiots.

Semper Fi

[jackbob]

You got nerve to talk about libertarian defenders having a fake intellect. Then go on to call the "pubbies idiots." But rather than taking a tough stand, you hide behind the title of "independent" (which can mean anything), thereby protecting you from any real challenge. It wouldn't be so bad, if at least you had enough personal honor to use truthful observations in delivering your insults. But typical of a coward, unable to deal with a real challenge, you make up a fantasy, so as to have an easy target.

Libertarians here at FR do not attempt "to justify anarchy as a legitimate form of governing." To say they do, is a lie, and an act of personal dishonor. Both libertarians and republicans, take hard stands, knowing that they are open to both challenge and ridicule. While"Independents" like you are to afraid to offer any positive ideas, which in turn may get challanged or ridiculed.

The mascot of the so called "Independents" is the Chicken.