Poison Watch
See other Poison Watch Articles
Title: Let’s Abandon The Term ‘Statist’
Source:
beinglibertarian.com
URL Source: https://beinglibertarian.com/lets-abandon-the-term-statist/
Published: May 31, 2018
Author: Nathan Kreider
Post Date: 2018-06-28 22:11:01 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 4677
Comments: 10
To put it lightly, the liberty movement isn’t the most successful ideological movement in history. Sure, many people are being introduced to libertarianism on a daily basis. But we’re also losing quite a few to other ideological groups, including the alt-right. There are plenty of ways to fix that; the easiest being to abandon the term ‘statist.’ As convenient as it is to refer to every single ideological opponent with a single word, the term has no other use besides insulting anyone that doesn’t agree with you entirely on every issue. In several ways, the term does far more harm than good. Nobody identifies as a statist. At least, not since 1967. To give credit, I first heard this point from liberalist Carl Benjamin in his video Answers for Libertarians. Since nobody actually identifies as a statist, the term can only be an insult (and ‘authoritarian’ works just as well). It’s too broad. ‘Statist’ can refer to anyone that thinks the government should be involved in something in some way, which happens to be just about everyone besides the anarcho-capitalists. Since the term is only used when debating the size of government, it’s already self-evident that one side supports more government intervention than the other. It’s juvenile. Libertarians are trying to portray themselves as deep thinkers and intellectuals. We’re trying to show people that we should be taken seriously. Gary Johnson isn’t helping, and neither are you when you replace a well-argued point with the term ‘statist.’ If you disagree with me, you’re a racist bootlicking cuck. If you’re not already on my side, that last sentence probably didn’t change anything. Ideological groups take the worst thing they can think of and turn it into an insult. For progressives, it used to be the term ‘racist’ (and we’ve all seen how convincing that is). Now, they use ‘white supremacist (as if that’s any better). For the alt-right, it’s the word ‘cuck’ (if you’re not a fan of racial collectivism, see if being called a cuck will change your mind). For Marxists, it’s ‘bootlicker’ (because voluntary trade somehow makes you a slave). For libertarians, it’s ‘statist’. It’s not an argument. People won’t take our arguments seriously if we don’t provide any. ‘Statist’ is not an argument. In fact, it’s does the opposite. When your opponent starts hurling insults at you, you know you’ve won. You used to be a statist. Most likely you were born and raised with conservative or liberal viewpoints. It’s also likely that your path to libertarianism was long and slow. People tend not to go from progressive to anarcho-capitalist overnight. Assume the person you’re talking to might know something you don’t. This is Rule 9 of Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life. Discussion and debate isn’t just about pushing your own ideas. It’s also about constantly critiquing what you think you know and reevaluating your positions. If you’re engaged in honest debate, the desire to throw out the word ‘statist’ should never come up. It’s always possible (however unlikely) that the ‘statist’ might be right. It’s lazy. Expanding the liberty movement is hard work. It requires lots of time and energy invested in researching and learning. It’s also sometimes difficult to introduce people to these ideas and to answer their questions. For some people it’s a futile endeavor, while others will come up with loads of counterarguments that need to be addressed. The lazy option is to deal the statist card and give up. It’s also the counterproductive option. Certain libertarian organizations seem to think it’s a good idea to water down our message to the point where even socialists feel at home in the liberty movement. I reject that plan completely. Instead of watering down our message, why not toss out the more than useless parts, like the word ‘statism,’ and replace them with a strong case for individual liberty.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Gatlin (#0)
You know who always says this? Statists.
As you see here….Nathan Kreider, Author at Being Libertarian and contributor to reason.com is one libertarian who is politically savvy enough to fully realize this opinion phrase cliché is tattered from overuse and betrays a lack of original thought. But then, libertarians are well known for their inability to express original thoughts. Until now, libertarians were simply to ignorant to have fully realize the overuse of the cliché beforehand. They were simply to dumb to get it. This is understandable since their arrogance and ego is always getting in the way of their ability to think and act rationally. But then, that’s nothing new. Now, is it?
You mean the term has been so overused that it has become as useless as words like "liberal" or "conservative" or "moderate" are to precisely describe a politician and their policy positions? I imagine you think this is a profound observation instead of being a hoary recitation that has already been done to death (and in far more refined prose style).
Oh, the irony!
It doesn't really surprise me that you are more concerned with a typo than you are in addressing the truth....so predictable, you are. Yes. “Oh, the irony” of your attempted deflection. You can go now and bury you head back in the sand again ...
Nobody actually identifies as a "large L" Libertarian either, so is that term an insult? Should be.
But ... but ... they want to use the brutal power of government to give people more freedom by removing all conservative opposition to their liberal agenda. See how that works? And if they can't get Congress to pass laws, they use the courts. And if that fails there's always, "Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda cool."
I still won the thread. I'm waiting for my prize in the mail.
It was good. But not that good.
Title: Let’s Abandon The Term ‘Statist’
#2. To: Tooconservative (#1)
Title: Let’s Abandon The Term ‘Statist’
Not anymore.
You know who always says this?
Statists.
#3. To: Gatlin (#2)
...who is politically savvy enough to fully realize this opinion phrase cliché is tattered from overuse and betrays a lack of original thought.
#4. To: Gatlin (#0)
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Trump: My People Should ‘Sit Up in Attention’ Like Kim Jong-un’s Staff.
#5. To: Gatlin (#2)
Until now, libertarians were simply to ignorant...
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Trump: My People Should ‘Sit Up in Attention’ Like Kim Jong-un’s Staff.
#6. To: Deckard (#5)
(Edited)
Oh, the irony!
Once again you continue to display the channeled thinking of a narrow-minded libertarian with yet another “look over here” deflection to concern yourself with a typo instead of responding to a truthful post.
#7. To: Gatlin (#0)
(Edited)
Since nobody actually identifies as a statist, the term can only be an insult
#8. To: Tooconservative (#1)
You know who always says this?
Statists.
#9. To: misterwhite (#8)
#10. To: Tooconservative (#9)
I still won the thread.
I'm waiting for my prize in the mail.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]