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Opinions/Editorials Title: Marxism of the Right Free spirits, the ambitious, ex-socialists, drug users, and sexual eccentrics often find an attractive political philosophy in libertarianism, the idea that individual freedom should be the sole rule of ethics and government. Libertarianism offers its believers a clear conscience to do things society presently restrains, like make more money, have more sex, or take more drugs. It promises a consistent formula for ethics, a rigorous framework for policy analysis, a foundation in American history, and the application of capitalist efficiencies to the whole of society. But while it contains substantial grains of truth, as a whole it is a seductive mistake. There are many varieties of libertarianism, from natural-law libertarianism (the least crazy) to anarcho-capitalism (the most), and some varieties avoid some of the criticisms below. But many are still subject to most of them, and some of the more successful varieties—I recently heard a respected pundit insist that classical liberalism is libertarianism—enter a gray area where it is not really clear that they are libertarians at all. But because 95 percent of the libertarianism one encounters at cocktail parties, on editorial pages, and on Capitol Hill is a kind of commonplace “street” libertarianism, I decline to allow libertarians the sophistical trick of using a vulgar libertarianism to agitate for what they want by defending a refined version of their doctrine when challenged philosophically. We’ve seen Marxists pull that before. This is no surprise, as libertarianism is basically the Marxism of the Right. If Marxism is the delusion that one can run society purely on altruism and collectivism, then libertarianism is the mirror-image delusion that one can run it purely on selfishness and individualism... Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 8. Free spirits, the ambitious, ex-socialists, drug users, and sexual eccentrics often find an attractive political philosophy in libertarianism, the idea that individual freedom should be the sole rule of ethics and government. Libertarianism offers its believers a clear conscience to do things society presently restrains, like make more money, have more sex, or take more drugs.... Nice try (and dopey), but using the extreme to discredit ALL of libertarian thought and philosophy is disingenuous and absurd. The notion that libertarian thought requires ONLY "individual freedom" as "the sole rule" is a LIE. 99% of libertarians do understand the necessity of some measure of societal order and restraints. "Free spirits" recognize one thing: Marxists, Commies, and Statists would like nothing better than to squelch ALL remnants of "free spirits," liberty, and individuality.
#6. To: Liberator (#4) Nice try (and dopey), but using the extreme to discredit ALL of libertarian thought and philosophy is disingenuous and absurd. The notion that libertarian thought requires ONLY "individual freedom" as "the sole rule" is a LIE. And Marxism? Couldn't the same be said?
#7. To: lucysmom (#6) And Marxism? Couldn't the same be said? Are you a Marxist?
#8. To: We The People (#7) Are you a Marxist? No. Are you?
Replies to Comment # 8. Are you a Marxist? No, I'm not. Why did you ask that question above...? Nice try (and dopey), but using the extreme to discredit ALL of libertarian thought and philosophy is disingenuous and absurd. The notion that libertarian thought requires ONLY "individual freedom" as "the sole rule" is a LIE. And Marxism? Couldn't the same be said? Are you promoting Marxism? Are you trying to convince others here that socialsim/Marxism isn't so bad? What exactly was your motive for asking that question?
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