The Libertarian view relies on an assumption that just isn't true: That there is no such thing as human frailty or imperfection.
But there is. As we saw in the last presidential election, millions of people voted against their best interests. And it completely ignores those of us who are infirm through no fault of our own (developmentally disabled, chronic disease, accidents, many elderly) who need assistance.
Communism and Libertarianism are opposite sides of the same coin: one side exalts the collective; one side exalts the individual. The trick is to keep the coin spinning so it appears as a blur. That blur is the democratic process.
I’m thinking about what you’ve written - and history teaches me that the greatest progress in both USA and U.K. societies was in the1930’s / 1940’s at a time of depression and war. Both countries got as close Socialism as they ever have. In the UK we got free health care, social housing and nationalised industries. Sadly ‘liberals’ of all persuasions have attacked - particularly since Reagan and Thatcher in the 80’s any notion of a fair and just society for all. Nearly all our politicians are corrupt and serve only corporate wealth and themselves. The media is owned by billionaires and the law is something that only ordinary people have to comply with. Racism has been normalised, genocide has been normalised and the greed of the elite is destroying the world. The middle classes will not save us because they never have. It is up to us to look to our communities to stand strong and resist our hideous cruel Governments and their deeply corrupt and craven members in any way we can
Wonderful piece, Diamond-Michael, thank you! It's funny, just before opening this to read, I'd read something about Silicon Valley's tech-wealth-libertarian dreams and how they're trying to build them, and ended up sending the person who shared it with me the story about the libertarian town in New Hampshire that failed and got overrun by bears. It's a wonderful case study to illustrate some of what you're saying here, namely that neither people nor the rest of nature are going to act in an orderly fashion. If you haven't read it, it's worth it! https://newrepublic.com/article/159662/libertarian-walks-into-bear-book-review-free-town-project
So many quotes in this piece I want to repost. Thank you for writing it. Like classic and most economics, too much political philosophy operates in a vacuum divorced from reality.
Yes, I’m all for prefiguritive politics, but we must be clear that the reigns of power need to be taken by the people in a democratic show of force. The greatest examples of mutual aid the nation has ever seen already exist at the federal level. Our government is by far our greatest tool to do the most good. The only answer is to organize and vote.
The Libertarian view relies on an assumption that just isn't true: That there is no such thing as human frailty or imperfection.
But there is. As we saw in the last presidential election, millions of people voted against their best interests. And it completely ignores those of us who are infirm through no fault of our own (developmentally disabled, chronic disease, accidents, many elderly) who need assistance.
Communism and Libertarianism are opposite sides of the same coin: one side exalts the collective; one side exalts the individual. The trick is to keep the coin spinning so it appears as a blur. That blur is the democratic process.
I’m thinking about what you’ve written - and history teaches me that the greatest progress in both USA and U.K. societies was in the1930’s / 1940’s at a time of depression and war. Both countries got as close Socialism as they ever have. In the UK we got free health care, social housing and nationalised industries. Sadly ‘liberals’ of all persuasions have attacked - particularly since Reagan and Thatcher in the 80’s any notion of a fair and just society for all. Nearly all our politicians are corrupt and serve only corporate wealth and themselves. The media is owned by billionaires and the law is something that only ordinary people have to comply with. Racism has been normalised, genocide has been normalised and the greed of the elite is destroying the world. The middle classes will not save us because they never have. It is up to us to look to our communities to stand strong and resist our hideous cruel Governments and their deeply corrupt and craven members in any way we can
Wonderful piece, Diamond-Michael, thank you! It's funny, just before opening this to read, I'd read something about Silicon Valley's tech-wealth-libertarian dreams and how they're trying to build them, and ended up sending the person who shared it with me the story about the libertarian town in New Hampshire that failed and got overrun by bears. It's a wonderful case study to illustrate some of what you're saying here, namely that neither people nor the rest of nature are going to act in an orderly fashion. If you haven't read it, it's worth it! https://newrepublic.com/article/159662/libertarian-walks-into-bear-book-review-free-town-project
So many quotes in this piece I want to repost. Thank you for writing it. Like classic and most economics, too much political philosophy operates in a vacuum divorced from reality.
YES! 🙌 I will check out this article. Can’t tell you the number of times I picked up that book in a bookstore only to put it back.
I still haven't read the book and really should!
Yes, I’m all for prefiguritive politics, but we must be clear that the reigns of power need to be taken by the people in a democratic show of force. The greatest examples of mutual aid the nation has ever seen already exist at the federal level. Our government is by far our greatest tool to do the most good. The only answer is to organize and vote.