LIBERTARIANISM--IDEOLOGY vs. GOVERNANCE

Wikpedia describes Libertarianism as a “maximization of individual liberty in thought and action and the minimization or even abolition of the state.” Further, “libertarians take liberty and property ownership to be inviolable natural rights and resist most collectivist approaches to social organization.” Going further, “libertarianism is increasingly viewed worldwide as a free market position.”

According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy “Libertarians are committed to the belief that individuals, and not states or groups any other kind, are both ontologically and normatively primary; that individuals have rights against certain kinds of forcible interference on the part of others; that liberty, understood as non-interference, is the only thing that can be legitimately demanded of others as a matter of legal or political right; that robust property rights and the economic liberty that follows from their consistent recognition are of central importance in respecting individual liberty; that social order is not at odds with but develops out of individual liberty; that the only proper use of coercion is defensive or to rectify an error; that governments are bound by essentially the same moral principles as individuals; and that most existing and historical governments have acted improperly in sofar as they have utilized coercion for plunder, aggression, redistribution, and other purposes beyond the protection of individual liberty.

In further defining the philosophy, the Internet Site “Libertarianism.com” states: “Libertarianism is, as the name implies, the belief in liberty. Libertarians strive for a free, peaceful, abundant world where each individual has the maximum opportunity to pursue his or her dreams and to realize his [or her] full potential. Libertarians believe you should be free to do as you choose with your own life and property, as long as you don’t harm the person and property of others.”

Libertarians advocate a high degree of both personal and economic liberty. They are in favor of free markets civil liberties [to an extent that will be elaborated on later in this article], and self-ownership. Libertarians believe that, on every issue, you have the right to decide for yourself what’s best for you and to act on that belief so long as you respect the right of other people to do the same and deal with them peacefully and honestly.

The Libertarian way is a logically consistent approach to politics based on the moral principle of self-ownership, Each individual has the right to control his or her own body, action, speech, and property. Government’s only role is to help individuals defend themselves from force and fraud.

They say “we believe that individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only from freedom can peace and prosperity be realized. No person should initiate the use of force against another person.

All libertarian thought flow logically from this. For instance, taxation is undesirable since it is backed by the coercive force of the state.

Further, “ since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals.” In other words, libertarians oppose all interference by government in the areas of government enforcing relations among individuals.

Those are the key parts of libertarian philosophy. Most of it makes perfect sense, that is, until one looks at it from a practical point of view in today’s times.

The following is a specific instance where philosophy comes into conflict with policy. It was not more than a month ago that Rand Paul, who won the Republican primary in Tennessee, went on record for defending property owner’s rights to limit access to their business establishments, thus putting a big foot in his mouth as appearing in opposition to the Civil Rights Act. Now think of Paul’s position from a libertarian point of view. According to their “credo,” they oppose any government attempt to regulate private discrimination, including choices and preferences, in employment, housing, and privately owned businesses. The right to trade includes the right not to trade—for any reasons whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to associate, for exercise of the right depends upon mutual consent.

It was over 45 years ago that Congress approved the Civil Rights Act. It has not been overturned to the best of my knowledge. Yet here is a libertarian point of view that is in exact opposition to the mandates of a constitutionally elected Congress that passed legislation banning discrimination in public places. It is said that libertarians can never admit even one instance of government intervention doing good overall for society as opposed to the effects of the market. That may be an exaggeration, or a statement that reflects the extreme position of libertarian thought. But such a philosophical conflict is but one among many.

The reality is that we do not live in an ideological or philosophical world. We live in real times, and confront real challenges to societal well being, peace and prosperity. This is particularly so in light of the economic turmoil we have experienced over the past four years.

If libertarian thought hold that free markets should be left on their own and that any government involvement is out of bounds,