Today's Libertarian Moment of Zen
Katherine Mangu-Ward | January 31, 2008, 10:38pm
"If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement, we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised, to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey, and permits none to escape without a tribute….
"The amazing and still increasing expenses with which old governments are conducted, the numerous wars they engage in or provoke, the embarrassments they throw in the way of universal civilization and commerce, and the oppression and usurpation they act at home, have wearied out the patience, and exhausted the property of the world."
Some words of wisdom from Thomas Paine, the anti-Christian, pro-booze, logorrheic Christopher Hitchens of the Founders. Today's Libertarian Moment of Zen was brought to you by Liberty Fund, on whose dime I am currently attending a conference on the author of Common Sense, The Crisis, and the words above, from Rights of Man.
Me on Tom Paine here.
UPDATE: Greatest. Comment. Ever.
From a Finnish reason reader: "When I went to look Paine up in the university library catalogue. Ironically, right below him in the author index was Paineastialainsäädäntötoimikunta, the beautiful 32-letter Finnish word roughly translating to "The Committee for the Regulation of and Legislation on Pressurized Vessels". It is unclear if this means pressure cookers or submarines or what, but I'm sure they have come with ingenious ways to tax air pressure."
Richard | February 1, 2008, 4:32pm | #
First, my apologies to the departed Thomas Paine, whose name I misspelled twice.
Second, thanks to you,
Mr. Nice Guy (hence the screen name), for elaborating on socialism, libertarianism, et al. The point that large disparities in wealth can threaten the stability of society is well-taken. However, I think the flip side is that such programs entail usurpation of our rights to the extent that social programs require regulation.
Another problem is that the term
libertarianism has several definitions today. Before Ron Paul, I understood it as:
1. Applying the law equally to everyone.
2. Allowing people to do what they like as long as they are not harming others (with the exception of clear-cut matters of public safety).
3. In light of 1 and 2, holding people responsible for their own actions (
the underlying principle any form of libertarianism, I think).
No. 3 is where problems with social programs arise. To be less abstract, for example, to what extent should the rest of society be responsible for the children of poor people with high birth rates? Having children is a matter of choice. And choosing to have children you can’t feed, clothe, educate or socialize properly is irresponsible and a burden on everyone else. So would requiring proof of financial responsibility in order to receive a license to have a child be libertarian (making people responsible for their own actions) or anti-libertarian (telling people how many children they can have)? This is more than an academic question, by the way, since I think that as the population of a society increases so do the regulations required to keep it orderly -- to guarantee that people are able to enjoy their rights.
Boy, this is complicated!
