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Title: Getting Butthurt in Debates Shouldn’t Prevent Libertarians From Working Together
Source:
Being Libertarian
URL Source: https://beinglibertarian.com/category/philosophy/
Published: Jul 9, 2017
Author: Luke Henderson
Post Date: 2017-07-10 05:26:51 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 5369
Comments: 26
There’s already plenty of articles about how libertarians shouldn’t be as divided as we are and how the infighting will prevent us from making progress, but there’s a specific item that I wanted to address in regards to this division between different factions of libertarians. It has been highlighted to me most recently by the current dispute between some Anarchyball editor, and Jared Howe, and recent debates between anarchists and minarchists. These debates always seem to be end in hurt feelings, or plain ad hominem attacks. Open borders supporters call closed border supporters fascists, while the latter calls the former communists. Anarchists claim that minarchists need to open their eyes and stop being sheep, while minarchists claim that anarchists are idealists with no real answers. These are great topics for debate, but libertarians can’t let these differences in ideas stop them from the ultimate goal: liberty that consists of individualism, natural rights and property rights. So, allow me to ask some questions: Is society at the point yet where it matters if our ideologies lean towards some form of state, or none at all? Is the welfare state small enough where debating between open or closed borders is relevant? Are property rights even remotely existent in today’s society? By asking these questions, I am not saying that libertarians shouldn’t be having these debates, but it shouldn’t become a point of division. Discussions in the theoretical realm of each person’s perfect libertarian society can assist in bettering the ideals and maybe converting some to other factions within libertarianism, but the butthurt and shunning needs to cease. The goals of liberty lovers are so overlapping at this point, because of the massive, intrusive government currently in place, that we should be working together to strip away the power of the state in general. An anarchist society, minarchist society, or a constitutionalist society will not happen overnight. Libertarians need to think of the long-game, which currently should be about decreasing the amount of regulations, eliminating victimless crime laws, and chipping away at the statist mindset of the general population. So, let’s all fight to end silly regulations within our communities. Let’s fight to have marijuana legalized nationwide. Let’s fight to create or fund alternatives to government services to demonstrate the inefficiency of the state. Let us fight for these things and not fight with each other. Until the time comes when it truly matters to debate the amount of government society should have, we should unite. Thomas Jefferson once said, “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend,” and while I may sincerely disagree with anarchists, classical liberals and conservatarians, I still consider each of these liberty-minded individuals a companion and a comrade (and not in the Stalin sense). The end goal is liberty, and while everyone is going to have a different definition of it, the current predicament in the country should be enough for libertarians to put their differences aside to make some change.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
#1. To: All (#0)
Working as a shadow party within a party is essentially a system that is unviable. The libertarian obstructionists in Congress who insist on their way or no way need to have a come to Jesus moment to face the truth of the matter with a sudden intuitive insight into the reality of reassessing priorities. Those acting like spoiled kids need to realize that are still ways to work within the system and handle the politics without constantly trying to upend a system that has on balance worked pretty well for over 200 years.
Good grief! You really believe that shit? "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." This was originally written in 1996 - it's getting closer to the day when the only recourse left is to shoot (or hang) the bastards. The police state is becoming more entrenched by the day, and quislings like you cheer the tyranny.
Good grief! You really believe that? That concept is so simplistically true that even a libertarian idiot should understand it. Why does understanding it give you so much trouble? With all the political correctness that has now invoked silence on so called slang, pejorative and hateful words even some of the finest citizens have been caught up to say they hate cops….that they’re corrupt, lazy, pompous and stupid. Oh some are, probably 1 percent. But does the action of that 1 percent call for unleashing such a vendetta against cops? Hardly not? So, there must be other reasons. Why don’t you state your reasons? When events happen, even those that can be deemed normal or neutral, the police are not allowed to narrate or explain the event. The public is only allowed to hear one side. There is no “Al Sharpton” to step out and speak on behalf of the police. All we get to see is partial raw videos that never show the beginning cause and listen to angry relatives and biased activists. It is always bad news for the cops with never a police perspective….is it? You “hate cops” assholes are constant Internet trumpets with your clarion blaring discordant presence. A simple “Google” will bring up endless amounts of random noise rants and more importantly it brings up organized hate movements such as those your promote. You fail to realize the seeds of hate you sow when your antagonistic and divisive rhetoric spreads to become contagious and eventually jeopardizes cops safety on the streets. There is never a focus on “Positive Policing.” Why is that? Telling success stories about the good actions of cops on forums and social media can help balance negative stories to place everything into a proper perspective. But some don’t want a proper perspective….all they want is to spread HATE.
#8. To: Gatlin (#6)
Oh geesh! Not this shit again.
You really like making shit up, don't you? Careful with the Panic: Violent Crime and Gun Crime Are Both Dropping Today, the national crime rate is about half of what it was at its height in 1991. Violent crime has fallen by 51 percent since 1991, and property crime by 43 percent. In 2013 the violent crime rate was the lowest since 1970. And this holds true for unreported crimes as well. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, since 1993 the rate of violent crime has declined from 79.8 to 23.2 victimizations per 1,000 people. Here’s the trend since 1960. As you will see, the lines go up and then the lines go down. This is A Good Thing. Do Americans know this? Apparently not, no: Government statistics show that, except for some small blips, serious crime has decreased almost every year from 1994 through 2013. For over a decade Gallup has found that the majority of Americans polled believe crime is up, contrary to the fact that crime rates have plummeted in almost every small and large city since the 1990s. This is not to say that all cities and areas are experiencing decreases in violent crime year after year, but the overall rate of violent crime is significantly lower than historic levels.Brookings. The same trend is evident in the realm of “gun crime.” Per a Pew analysis of DOJ statistics: Compared with 1993, the peak of U.S. gun homicides, the firearm homicide rate was 49% lower in 2010, and there were fewer deaths, even though the nation’s population grew. The victimization rate for other violent crimes with a firearm—assaults, robberies and sex crimes—was 75% lower in 2011 than in 1993. Violent non-fatal crime victimization overall (with or without a firearm) also is down markedly (72%) over two decades.
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The author is of course speaking about libertarians working with other libertarians. However that should not be the primary concern for libertarians at this time. What is of the utmost most importance now is those who wish to call themselves in libertarians currently serving in Congress should stop being despicable temperamental assholes with an inflated view of their own talent trying to show their importance and begin working within the system. They need stop running in little circles like dogs chasing their tails….constantly going around and around while going nowhere.
#2. To: Gatlin (#1)
...need to realize that are still ways to work within the system...
#6. To: Deckard (#2)
...need to realize that are still ways to work within the system...
Of course I believe that. You have been verbalizing for how long now about making changes from “outside” the system. How has that been working out for you? Dalai Lama once said: “A genuine change must first come from within the individual, only then can he or she attempt to make a significant contribution to humanity.”
The Dalai Lama is correct. The only way to make a genuine change is to work “within” the system for change. The police state is becoming more entrenched by the day, and quislings like you cheer the tyranny.
Nope! It is violent crime that is becoming more entrenched by the day. I recall a 2015 report revealed there was an increase in violent crimes in the United States. So, what you are seeing is an increase in police activity to counter the increase in violent crimes and it is libertarian assholes like you along with anarchists, activists, attorneys, academicians and arrested person’s relatives in subcultures of crime and conflict who act as bleeding hearts to promote “hating the cops” who are doing thei jobs.
Replies to Comment # 6. jeopardizes cops safety on the streets.
#11. To: Gatlin (#6)
It is violent crime that is becoming more entrenched by the day. I recall a 2015 report revealed there was an increase in violent crimes in the United States.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 6.
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