Well, I'm technically a libertarian (SPLINTER! etc.) and I think I've been clear and open about that on here. (And can't speak for the "movement" or "family" as too many of them are exactly as Van and others describe them, which is basically all political groups especially online*.) And Ron Paul isn't my guy, he's my second guy after Gary Johnson if I waste time to vote in the primaries. (I vote third party in general for ballot status. And don't ever vote Libertarian.)
However, to really simplify my perspective, and I don't necessarily want to argue it extensively even though I could and would, but because I like you guys and would rather be laid back, snark at the stupidity of the 2012 Rethuglicans and talk horse race crap than get into long-winded fights about ideology that won't convince either side and just annoy everyone. But I would be more than happy to answer any questions about us outliers who also control everything and cause all the problems of the world through our Kochs.
I guess I'll start with this quote:
Imagine: any problem that has ever existed - we can solve it together.
What is the alternative? That we must use force, jailing or murdering some segment of people to force them to "solve the problem"? If we cannot voluntarily choose to work together to meet all our demands as best we can, then why should some be allowed to enslave others, no matter how partial, to service only the demands of a few?
Essentially I would argue that central planning doesn't work, no matter how "small" because of lack of price signals and other information, and that an expansive, complex and increasingly arbitrary regulatory state only serves to increase costs and consolidate private actors into large firms, and this all assists cronyism and corruption and that ultimately it necessitates an even larger correction within the market.
The market is all of us trading voluntarily to try and meet each others demands. Central planning replaces actual demands with political incentives which distort prices and lead to misallocation of resources.
And I do get the other perspectives, I am especially bombarded with it constantly, I even understand your quite green metaphor, I just don't buy that explanation or the others along similar lines. The logic doesn't work for me. I don't think "most of us would be better off" instead it would just throw greater and greater power and capability to the elite.
Don't worry though, none of us in the libertarian family matter. We're just here to either rub it in your face when we're right and the hellscape happens or enjoy the paradise when we're wrong.
We do pop out of the monster closets and pull the levers that derail the otherwise functioning system though. I had this duty last weekend and while you get all the mint juleps you want. That's all you get.
I apologize if people are annoyed with this type of stuff or any discussions of the irrelevant ideological family.
Please instead watch Mitt Romney angrily cross his legs above.
And make sure to purchase 11-15 copies of the Ron Paul Family Cookbook at a special discount.
spoiler (click to show/hide)
* I put this here just incase anyone actually wonders. But I have personally witnessed "libertarians" who feel we need to militarize the borders and invade Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, etc. slaughtering as many citizens as possible. And others who have advocated to round up hispanics until we check each one for legal status. Actually, most of these, especially the former, are Objectivists. And I think we can all agree, everyone in the world, that Objectivists are the worst people of all.
But there is this one guy who posts everywhere that I can't think of his site now but is convinced to be a "true libertarian" you support increased defense spending and invasions, increased Medicare, no immigration, 500% tariffs on all foreign goods and slaughter brown people until they submit to American will. And that voting for Ron Paul over Rick Perry will destroy the country.
So that's fun.
This is a bad post.
