/r/Libertarian

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Welcome to /r/Libertarian, a subreddit to discuss libertarianism. We are not a generic politics sub. We are a libertarian sub, about libertarianism. We do not owe you a platform to push anti-libertarian ideologies such as socialism/communism. This sub is explicitly against Communism/Socialism as it is antithetical to libertarianism

Welcome to /r/Libertarian

Welcome to /r/Libertarian, a subreddit to discuss libertarianism. We are NOT a generic politics sub. We are a libertarian sub, about libertarianism.

We do not owe you a platform to push anti-libertarian ideologies such as socialism/communism. This sub is explicitly against Communism/Socialism as it is antithetical to libertarianism. In addition everyone must follow the rules below.

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View the full Moderation Policy here

Most Important Rules:

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1 No promotion of anti-libertarian ideologies (Socialism, Fascism, Communism, etc.). We do not owe you our platform to do such.
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Editing/Deleting your content post-ban will result in a non-appealable permanent ban. Your content cannot be reviewed as it was, so all appeals are denied out of hand on edited/deleted content.


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/r/SecondAmendment

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/r/GunPolitics

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/r/RestoretheFourth

/r/ReinstateArticle8

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/r/WikiLeaks

/r/NSALeaks

/r/EndlessWar

/r/Antiwar

/r/DescentIntoTyranny

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/r/Libertarian

503,406 Subscribers

47

Dave Smith calls out the evil of the COVID tyrants

2 Comments
2024/11/01
15:15 UTC

0

Konstantin Kisin is Verifiably Wrong About Foreign Policy

0 Comments
2024/11/01
15:11 UTC

0

Uniting civil war vs secession - left vs. right perspective

I wonder, from a libertarian perspective that will allow for a less biased response, who is more likely to want, as a group (Dem vs Rep and affiliates), a civil war to decisively take control of the country, as opposed to allow the country to break up into two or several factions with like minded people to form new political federations?

Usually, since the right wing of America contains state nationalists (like Texans) and of course many libertarians, it is thought that the right wing would agree with a split of the country. But short of maybe allowing some of California to split (the coastline, at most), I just don't see how Republicans and conservatives would ever go along with that. The majority of this group absolutely loves America, it's history, culture and even empire, no matter what the minority right wing believes.

Similarly, the left is all about unity and federalism and centralized control, and of course the left already sees themselves as the rightful cultural and economic rulers of the flyover states which they see as backward and incapable, but again I see it as far more likely that the left would agree to a split with negotiations to avoid war, especially since they already hold extremely negative views of half the country.

It seems to me, on average, the extremists on the right who hate the feds and believe states are sovereign are a very small minority within the Republican party, the right wing as a whole believes in America. The left's extreme however is far more mainstream in opinion, it is hard to tell how many left wingers actually dislike America, or believe in the country enough to fight for it.

Of course there is always the foreign interference and help angle, the left may believe they can actually win the conflict and go full in. Both sides would have ideologues who believe they are absolutely in the right.

Just wondering what you guys think?

12 Comments
2024/11/01
14:38 UTC

9

Common leftist talking points and some responses to them.

1. Sweden is socialist and therefore, socialism is successful

This argument is easy to debunk. Sweden used to have a regulated economy but when they added universal healthcare and high taxation, their economy froze and they had to completely deregulate it. Imo if it's actually pretty Libertarian in terms of economics but in terms of government, it's kinda big.

2. Communism only failed because Capitalists sabotaged by not trading with them

Socialist countries are not entitled to the fruits of Capitalism. If you want Capitalists to invest in your country, don't scare them by stealing their property and pretty much making it unprofitable to make business in it. Capitalist countries are not obligated to empower the economies of people who would steal their property, murder them and ruin their nation. Also, most countries want to trade with successful countries, not commie disasters.

3. Soviet Union and China are State Capitalists not Socialists

This talking point is partially true with China. They did have a tiny bit of liberalization but does a tiny bit of freedom completely undermine total control of the economy by the state? Also, the only reason why China has any influence is from the liberalization, their economy was shit before it.

4. McCarthy is evil

This painting of McCarthy as some sort of demonic entity by socialists is in fact, historical revisionism. McCarthy prosecuted Hollywood for communists and.... guess what... he was right... It was filled to the brim with socialists, commies and more of the like. He made them snitch on each other. I think they're trying to make people ignore the fact he was correct and most of the people he prosecuted were in fact, commies and spies. I think it's so that people view commies as victims and ignore their danger.

15 Comments
2024/11/01
13:02 UTC

0

If you had to be a single-issue voter, what policy would you base your vote on?

^

10 Comments
2024/11/01
01:52 UTC

4

Any groups that meet semi regularly in Hudson wi area?

Looking to possibly meeting up with a group of people that I can talk to about things that align with my beliefs so dm me if there is a group or delete this if not allowed

2 Comments
2024/11/01
09:45 UTC

15

Creating a Youtube channel to educate people on libertarian ideas, doubling as a third political party to actually get real libertarians elected.

I've already started attempting this, not here to promote the channel either. Genuinely curious if y'all think its plausible. Feels better than sitting around whining and just voting right because at least it's not left. Would probably take an absurd number of subscribers to have any effect on the current power balance but hey it's better than nothing.

14 Comments
2024/11/01
06:41 UTC

0

How do I explain to people that tariffs are bad

So basically my entire family is in the MAGA cult and they're just like "oh yeah tariffs great yeah" and it's keep trying to explain that tariffs create worse products for higher prices under the guise of nationalism and if American companies had to compete internationally they would actually have to make good products for cheap but they just keep calling me a liberal like that's an insult or something.

60 Comments
2024/11/01
05:27 UTC

0

Used A.I. to help me write a letter to the U.S.

My Fellow Americans,

As we look toward our nation’s future, we are called to reaffirm the principles that have long been our guiding light: liberty, peace, and the protection of each individual’s right to live free from interference.

These values are not just ideals but are the very foundation upon which our Republic stands. Today, they are more vital than ever as we face a world increasingly marred by division, conflict, and an ever-expanding state.

Our Constitution grants the federal government clear, limited duties: to protect our borders, safeguard our liberty, uphold justice, and promote peace. It does not grant the power to police the world, to engage in endless conflicts that risk our prosperity and security, nor to impose heavy economic burdens that stifle individual potential. These actions betray our values and threaten the very freedoms we seek to preserve.

In the pursuit of a secure nation, we must remember that strength lies not in the forceful extension of power but in the quiet resilience of freedom. The path forward must be one of de-escalation, where our nation leads by example rather than by force, fostering diplomacy over dominance and allowing peace to flourish as we withdraw from foreign entanglements that do not serve our people. A true defense of freedom requires respect for the sovereignty of other nations, just as we would demand respect for our own.

Economic freedom is the cornerstone of true liberty. By adhering to principles of Austrian economics—sound money, free markets, and individual enterprise—we empower every person to realize their potential, free from the chains of debt and inflation imposed by reckless policies. A prosperous nation is one that respects the right of each citizen to keep what they earn, to save and invest according to their own judgment, without interference from a government that continues to print and spend at the expense of future generations.

Government intervention in the market disrupts the natural balance, creating dependency and stifling innovation. We must move toward an economy that values production over consumption, savings over debt, and genuine wealth over artificial stimulus. Let us be reminded of Ludwig von Mises’s wisdom: “Government is essentially the negation of liberty.” Our federal government was never meant to micromanage our lives or our markets; its role is to protect the environment in which freedom can thrive, not to dictate or control.

The path to unity is found in peace, not through aggression , and the strength of our nation is found in the dignity of each individual who seeks to live freely, responsibly, and harmoniously. By reducing the state’s footprint in our lives, we make room for communities to grow, for individuals to take responsibility for their own destinies, and for a society that respects the diversity of thought, choice, and ambition.

Let us be clear: our government exists to protect liberty, not to infringe upon it. To uphold justice, not to exercise power beyond the people’s will. To ensure peace, not to impose control. When government knows its place, true freedom and prosperity can flourish. In every action we take, let us strive to create a future where we need not fear the hand of the state, but instead cherish the unity of a people free to pursue their dreams, guided by principles of peace, personal responsibility, and mutual respect.

The future is ours to shape. Let us choose the path of freedom, of prosperity born from genuine economic liberty, and of peace that honors the sovereignty of all. May we have the courage to restore our nation to its constitutional foundations, to lead not by force but by the example of a people who believe in their own strength and dignity.

In unity and in liberty,

BlueStarSpecial

Edited to separate paragraphs.

3 Comments
2024/11/01
00:09 UTC

902

“BuT MiLei CaUsEs pOvErTy” says every economically illiterate, cocktail-socialist

69 Comments
2024/10/31
23:28 UTC

139

“Stable money” is when the poor & middle class aren’t punished with inflation

3 Comments
2024/10/31
21:25 UTC

8

Michael Malice | Part Of The Problem 1187

0 Comments
2024/10/31
15:25 UTC

546

The bigger the government, the lower your purchasing power.

9 Comments
2024/10/31
14:41 UTC

0

Thoughts on multi tier price system based on income?

Joe, who is from high income country, goes to a low income country for travel. A meal costs $2 which appears very cheap for him. But for a local, $2 is still expensive but manageable. If you let the free market take its course, the equilibrium will probably be around $5.

$5 is way expensive for the locals now. They will be priced out to buy a meal.

What are some economic implications of having multi tier price system? In this hypothetical scenario, a tourist pays $10 for a meal and a local pays $2.

I am not saying one is better than the other, but just wanted to entertain this thought experiment.

19 Comments
2024/10/31
02:30 UTC

111

So what percentage are we getting this year?

Johnson/Weld (2016) - 3.3% (we could have hit 4 were it not for Aleppo, imho)

Jorgensen/Cohen (2020) - 1.2%

Oliver/ ter Maat (2024)- I predict .5%.

This was an embarrassing year for LP. I have less hope for 2028.

113 Comments
2024/10/30
20:44 UTC

14

Karl Popper's Paradox of Tolerance: The Justification for Censorship

I almost exclusively see the Paradox of Tolerance used across all of social media as the primary justification for either censorship or other aggressive behavior against those with opposing views. It seems rather unfortunate that Popper's passage is today likely used primarily in opposition to all the values Popper espoused.

I'm not sure I have ever seen it brought up in the context of suggesting we should have better debates and more dialogue. It is virtually never used in the defense of speech, but rather to suppress speech.

So, how did something come to mean the opposite of what it stands for? Popper's passage certainly isn't written in a way that best articulates the principle without significant ambiguity. It was only a footnote, and certainly not intended to be the primary text shared across the world as a guiding principle for civilization.

The primary arguments for censorship come from these lines of Popper:

We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.

Due to the ambiguities in the Paradox of Tolerance, many have written defenses of the passage to explain its meaning, often stating that if you had just read all of Popper, you would certainly know censorship is not what he meant. However, there lies the problem. It is not an effective rebuttal on social media to ask someone to go read hundreds of pages of Popper. Nobody is going to do that. It is difficult to even get someone to read one of the summarized defenses, of which this may be one of the best I have come across "The Limits of Toleration".

However, in the end, I can't help but perceive the passage as flawed. If it requires such defenses to be written, it doesn't serve its purpose as intended. We must remove the ambiguities and have more narrow and precise definitions of the terms. Foremost is "tolerance," which is never defined. Without clarity on exactly what tolerance and intolerance are, the passage is open to any interpretation.

The nature of the paradox can mostly be overcome with a narrow definition of tolerance. I have suggested something of the nature:

Tolerance is the restraint from using force to silence or remove others from society for their philosophy, political alignment, or any other criteria that attempts to represent their culture or their ideas.

And for clarity, we should express what is not tolerance. Tolerance is not acceptance. It does not require that you submit to the ideas of others. It doesn't require you to be silent amongst others with differing views. You are allowed to advocate for your own beliefs, even if they are in opposition to others around you. Furthermore, censorship itself is intolerance, as it violates what we defined as tolerance above.

A tolerant society is one in which everyone is equally uncomfortable with opposing ideas and beliefs, but none is willing to use force against the other. Contrary to common thought, tolerance is not defined by kindness, but rather by the willingness to refrain from aggression when others are not kind.

If we hold to these concepts, then a tolerant society is allowed to defend its beliefs. Tolerance does not prevent the advocacy of the ideals of a free society. Tolerance doesn't require you not to offend anyone. Much of the free society has fallen victim to the false idea of "tolerance" that is equated with submission.

If you are further interested, I have broken down in much more detail the lines of Popper's passage, their problematic interpretations and the proposal for resolving the paradox.

10 Comments
2024/10/30
15:36 UTC

130

Dave Smith explains the problems with entangling alliances

18 Comments
2024/10/30
13:40 UTC

19

Everything below ground belongs to the State

Hello guys. I live in Brazil, and here everything below ground belongs to the State. That is, if you find gold on your land, you cannot extract it, under risk of fine and imprisonment. How it works in your country?

18 Comments
2024/10/30
02:14 UTC

1,871

Property tax is theft. Change my mind.

466 Comments
2024/10/29
21:38 UTC

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