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Who are the libertarians? Can they save the Constitution?
- Dec 14, 2009 at 11:28 PM
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Who are the libertarians?
Can they save the Constitution?
By John Silveira
Who are the libertarians? What do they stand for? Libertarianism is not a difficult concept to understand, though it's often misrepresented by those who don't want you to look too closely at it. In a nutshell it says you and I should have as much freedom as possible, that we are not allowed to infringe on another's freedoms, and that we are responsible for our actions.
Libertarians believe that each person owns his or her own life, body, and property. We don't believe the fruits of our labors should be confiscated, under threat of punishment, to support the welfare state — whether that confiscation is for individuals or corporations. We're the most fundamentally American of Americans. But you may be, too. What do Libertarians view as the legitimate role of government? We see it as protector of the individual's rights, an adjudicator of contracts between free citizens, a defense against foreign invaders, and not much else. Also, in the words of noted libertarian, David Boaz, "No one has the right to initiate aggression against the person or property of anyone else." This means I can't assault you or take your property. This is even if I'm an agent of the government or if a majority of the people say I can. But, if I do, you are entitled to self-defense to protect you and yours. Protecting you and your property from criminals is also seen as a legitimate function of the state.
I've said for years that, if you want to know what the Libertarian Party platform is, you can pretty much just read the U.S. Constitution. If the Founding Fathers, the men who gave us the Constitution, came back — Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, Franklin, and others — would they be Republicans or Democrats? I'll tell you: They wouldn't be either. They'd be Libertarians.
This may come as a surprise to you, but many Libertarians do not believe in constitutional rights...and neither did the Founding Fathers. Read the Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, and the Anti-Federalist Papers. You'll discover that what the Founders and today's Libertarians believe in are God-given or Natural Rights that predate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They are not granted by either document. They are not granted by our government, either, although politicians, judges, and bureaucrats who are supposed to serve us would like you to think they are the providers of our rights and that they have the power to interpret them or abrogate them. Not true! It's a lie!
What's it take to be a libertarian? You may be registered as a Democrat or Republican, but at heart you may already be one. Wanna find out? You can either take The World's Smallest Political Quiz included in this article or you can take it on line at: www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html
Score it when you're done. The results may surprise you.
Incidentally, there's a difference between Libertarian with a capital "L" and libertarian with a small "l." The former are part of the Libertarian Party, the latter simply believe in libertarianism. You don't have to be a Libertarian to be a libertarian.
Now, let me tell you what Libertarians are not. Critics who fear us have said Libertarianism is a you-can-do-anything philosophy. Some have said we'd even get rid of stop signs and traffic lights since they impede our travel. I've never heard any Libertarian say anything so foolish, though I know of one who said, "We'll install a stop sign every 50 feet, if that's what they want, just so long as they give us back the Constitution of the United States of America."
And that's what it comes back to. Libertarians value the U.S. Constitution and want to see it adhered to. Most of the Democrat and Republican politicians, who when elected take an oath to uphold and defend that document, probably don't even know what the Constitution says.
How do we compare to conservatives and liberals? One astute commentator said:
"Libertarians are frequently characterized as ‘conservative on economic issues and liberal on personal issues' ... I prefer to say, ‘Conservatives are frequently libertarian on economic issues, and liberals are frequently libertarian on personal issues.'"
He's got it right. It's the liberals and conservatives who have strayed from the ideas on which this country was founded. They're the ones who have abandoned the Constitution.
Being a Libertarian doesn't mean you endorse or approve of other people's behavior, but it does mean if the guy next door wants to be an atheist, two women living together down the street want to be lesbians, the guy across the street wants to smoke grass, and I want to sit down and play poker with my friends, it's no one else's business. It also means if the person next to you is a man or a woman, is black, white, yellow, brown, red, purple, or plaid, you don't have to like them, but they have just as many rights as you have. If you can't deal with these things, you're not a Libertarian. In fact, you're probably a danger to a free society.
So, in answer to the second question in the title, "Can Libertarians save the Constitution (and probably save America)?" Yes, but only if enough of us, you included, start thinking, acting, and voting like one, regardless of what political party you belong to.
Article courtesy of Backwoods Home Magazine at: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/silveira120lw.html
Comments:
Thank you Jan! My favorite part of the whole is this:
Being a Libertarian doesn't mean you endorse or approve of other people's behavior, but it does mean if the guy next door wants to be an atheist, two women living together down the street want to be lesbians, the guy across the street wants to smoke grass, and I want to sit down and play poker with my friends, it's no one else's business. It also means if the person next to you is a man or a woman, is black, white, yellow, brown, red, purple, or plaid, you don't have to like them, but they have just as many rights as you have. If you can't deal with these things, you're not a Libertarian. In fact, you're probably a danger to a free society.
Great Journal Jan!
Katieannpc - I was going to say the same thing! lol
Hopefully this will make a few intrigued enough to find out more.
I'm confused about a lot of things about Libertarianism and have heard many conflicting things.
Do you think people should be allowed to do what they want without consequences? Do you think Government should not have the right to make laws to keep order and keep people safe? Do you think religion should be taught and be mandatory in schools? Should we not have to pay taxes and if not, where does the money to fund such things as roads, transportation and public school come from? Should people have the right to shoot first and ask questions later regarding protecting their property?
(I am posting some of these answers from the LP website):
Do you think people should be allowed to do what they want without consequences?
1.0 Personal Liberty
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.
Do you think Government should not have the right to make laws to keep order and keep people safe?
1.5 Crime and Justice
Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.
Do you think religion should be taught and be mandatory in schools?
2.8 Education
Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
(Note: as far as religion being taught, since we don't believe that education should be controlled by the government, we don't believe there should be a mandate to teach it. Generally, if the education belongs to a free market, then you will likely have schools that offer religions classes, and those that do not. And the people decided what is best for their children. )
Should we not have to pay taxes and if not, where does the money to fund such things as roads, transportation and public school come from?
2.4 Government Finance and Spending
All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.
(Note: You should take note that the federal income taxes you pay do not pay for those services you mentioned. Generally libertarians are not opposed to paying taxes, they are opposed to how they are collected, and when you cannot withhold paying your taxes as a means of protesting unconstitutional government action. Local taxes tend to be a much different matter, but should be left to the local governments, not the federal government)
Should people have the right to shoot first and ask questions later regarding protecting their property?
1.6 Self-Defense
The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
Hmmm... I agree with some but not all. I have a problem with the education part and the right to bear arms, but totally agree with the taxes part. I guess I'm not a Libertarian.
IhartU ... Thanks for the great questions and therefore the opportunity to discuss Libertarianism further. And I hope you will take a minute to explain what aspects of the platform regarding education and the right to keep and bear arms you disagree with.
Eilish ... thanks for citing the Libertarian stand on the issues in question as offered via the Libertarian Party Platform
In addition to the platform I would like to add the following:
Libertarians are advocates of individual freedom AND personal responsibility and as such Libertarians absolutely understand that actions have consequences and individuals should be held accountable for their actions and suffer the consequences (or reap the benefits) of their actions.
Libertarians believe that the government has the powers given to it be the Constitution which would include passing legislation/laws that are in accordance with the Constitution --- but not outside those limitations.
Regarding education and what should or should not be taught is in fact best answered by the Libertarian Platform (And for the record, I think you'll find most Libertarians cringe at the word/concept of mandatory ;-)(see: 2.8 Education above)
Regarding taxes, there are many taxes (besides income tax) that cover the aspects you mention such as property tax, gas tax, sales tax, etc ... but again a closer look at the LP Platform gives an insight to the Libertarian view on taxes: (See section 2.4 Government Finance and Spending above)
And regarding your last question ... answered in a nutshell, Libertarians do not believe in the initiation of force or fraud!
To read the platform in its entirety, visit: http://www.lp.org/platform
I hope you'll give it another look thru. As the original article stated there is a Big-L and little l when it comes to libertarians.
I personally consider myself more of an Independant with libertarian leanings; as there are some issues I view slightly differently than the whole. Perhaps over time my views will change or not; but I'm accepted either way.
Using education as an example; for me I feel the Fed gov't should have a 'bare minimum' requirement that all children are required to learn; in order to preserve the country as a whole for the future. Now; that being said each state/school district is free to (and I hope they would) go above and beyond such minimum's; and that parents should have the choice as to what school their child attends or not (homeschool) as the case may be.
But that one opinion doesn't take away from the other libertarian ideals I do agree with; etc...
Just some food for thought =)
See, I don't believe in State's rights. I think the Government should control public schools with the same rules and funding across the board so everyone has the same opportunities to learn no matter the State, city or neighborhood. I don't think laws should vary from State to state about anything; it makes us the opposite of United.
I don't believe private citizens should be allowed to carry fire arms of any kind- use a bow and arrow, use a baseball bat or learn to throw knives. If you need to hunt, again, use a bow or set traps. I understand people think they need guns in case they have to overthrow our terrible, evil Government, but I don't. We need to learn to use our VOICE and not reach for weapons.
I like rules, laws and guidelinesand without them it becomes anarchy IMO. As for something being in 'accordance' of the Constitution, it all comes down to interpretation. Not everyone interprets the Constitution in the same way, so who's to say who is right and who is wrong? Time progresses and things change. Old laws and ways of thinking become outdated and new laws need to be implemented- what if those changes that need to be made are not Constituational? You would rather have our Country go downhill than to change it?
great journal jan!
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A most brilliant synopsis! Thanks Jan! Voted popular!
- Eilish
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