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Title: Why Foreign Policy Trips Up Libertarians
Source:
beinglibertarian.com
URL Source: https://beinglibertarian.com/foreign-policy-trips-libertarians/
Published: Apr 23, 2017
Author: Danny Chabino
Post Date: 2017-04-27 07:49:41 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 3220
Comments: 17
Libertarians have a bad reputation when it comes to foreign policy. In fact, it is one of the chief impediments to many in supporting libertarian thinking, and one of the greatest criticisms of the Libertarian Party (LP). It is typically viewed by non- libertarians that libertarians falter and stumble when it comes to making and supporting foreign policy. However, most typically, when people criticize libertarians for their foreign policy thinking, it has more to do with misunderstanding on the part of the non-libertarian than it has to do with weakness in libertarian philosophy. Understanding various aspects and nuances of libertarian principles and their application is key to understanding why it might appear that libertarians have a difficult time verbalizing consistent foreign policy positions.
The first thing people must understand is a very important distinction – libertarianism (with a small “l”) is a political philosophy that applies to governments of any nation. Often, because Americans are so vocal and get the most coverage of libertarianism, it is assumed that it is a wholly American line of thinking, and people make the mistake of confusing the political philosophy with the American LP, which founds its positions on the political philosophy but only exists in the United States. Small “l” libertarianism is international in scope. If American libertarians look more broadly, we can find far more friends in other nations than we might think. Often, international libertarians are not familiar with the name but still follow the same or similar philosophies.
Because libertarianism has no nation, it has no foreigners. As such, it is impossible for libertarianism to have a foreign policy. There are no foreigners for which it can form a policy. So, the distinction between political parties and philosophy is exceptionally important in breaking through the confusion others hold on libertarian foreign policy.
In terms of American foreign policy, the LP has a tremendous challenge. By the very nature of libertarian philosophy, it’s thinkers are independent – rugged individualists who do not think party first, but rather think of principle first and how it fits into their personal political views. If you have a political party full of people whose positions are formed in such an individualist manner, it is nearly impossible to form political positions for which every member can rally support, or even a vast majority of members. The very best the LP leadership can do is to use the party principles to develop their positions, and to approximate the general consensus of party members as best they can.
Broadly, members of the LP are anti-war. But almost everyone is anti-war. I don’t think anyone truly supports the killing of other people, except when it is an absolute necessity in order to preserve one’s own life, liberty, and property. So, how can Libertarians (with a big “L”) define when war is necessary for these protections? It gets even murkier when alliances become involved. The official platform of the LP states that it prefers trade negotiations to military entanglements. However, it would be naive to think that trade does not necessitate military protections and alliances in order to protect those trade agreements. It is also a bit naive to think that protection of a nation does not also require military alliances that create foreign entanglements.
The LP can attempt to formulate a foreign policy position by spelling it out in terms how its principles apply. However, there will still be vast disagreements even on those grounds. Principles can be easily interpreted differently by different people who are independent thinkers. By the time a policy is written it is usually already obsolete, because the nature and complexity of affairs has already changed.
So, the criticism of both large “L” and small “l” libertarians on foreign policy can only be resolved by better communication. Foreign policy positions are not going to suddenly solidify and unite all members of the LP, nor will it change the fact that libertarianism is an international philosophy. It is incumbent upon libertarians to explain the cause of the confusion and the principles which guide our thinking to explain that what appears to be disjointed, is not disjointed at all, but rather the expression of principle rather than fealty.
Poster Comment:
Libertarians have a bad reputation …Nothing new there.
Why Foreign Policy Trips Up LibertariansHey, Deckard….everything always trips all you of libertarians up….eh?
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I found this article lacking in substance. Someone just threw together an antilibertarian article without putting to much thought in it.
#2. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Someone just threw together an antilibertarian article without putting to much thought in it.
Of course - that's why he posted it.
Flame-bait.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#3. To: A K A Stone (#1)
I found this article lacking in substance. Someone just threw together an antilibertarian article without putting to much thought in it.I can understand that, I surely can.
Libertarians have nothing of substance for someone to write about….it’s only style.
For example, it’s kinda like when Nicole Hemmer wrote about, “Rand Paul's 2016 campaign is libertarian in style, but not substance.”
Ya think?
#4. To: Deckard (#2)
Flame-bait.
Truth hurts you....eh?
#5. To: Gatlin (#0)
Foreign policy trips up the "pure Libertarians" because they don't believe we should have one. They believe in individual anarchy,and are so gullible they don't understand how childish that is or how it only guarantees their own failures and slavery.
Individuals can never negotiate with nations because unlike individuals,nations have military forces and united governments.
The whole "You are not the boss of me!" generation are childish fools.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#6. To: A K A Stone (#1)
Someone just threw together an antilibertarian article without putting to much thought in it.
That's true,but it's also true that there is no real thought required to refute pure Libertarianism . It is politics on the mental and emotional level of a 3 year old having a temper tantrum.
Libertarian-LEANING voters and politicians are necessary to save and strengthen our Republic and the American Way of LIfe,though.
When it comes to politics,there is no such thing as "purity of thought". You can be a dictator within your own family,but not as an elected official of a free country where people have a wide variety of desires and beliefs.
For example,YOU have no more authority to demand that I attend religious services and claim to be a believer,than I do to demand that YOU stop going to church services and believing. If either of us can dominate the other with laws to enforce our personal POV's,we are no longer a free nation any more than North Korean is a free nation. We both have to maintain a bit of a Libertarian streak in order for both of us and our other fellow citizens to remain free.
BUT.....,like everything else in life,there are no absolutes,and this means there is no such thing as an absolute freedom within any society because pretty much everything you say or do impacts on the freedoms and the lives of others. If your religion doesn't believe in educating children,taking baths,or that others have a right to follow the religious dictates of their choice,your ability to practice your religion according to your beliefs can and SHOULD be limited in order to benefit the greater good.
Which is the prime reason why devout Muslims must NEVER be allowed to immigrate to this country or hold public office.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#7. To: Deckard, AKA Stone, Gatlin (#2)
Someone just threw together an antilibertarian article without putting to much thought in it.Of course - that's why he posted it.
Flame-bait.
Ok,fair enough. Define a sound Libertarian foreign policy.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#8. To: A K A Stone (#1) (Edited)
Self Delete ...
#9. To: sneakypete (#7)
Define a sound Libertarian foreign policy.
Non-interventionism.
No money to Israel or any other countries.
Fix the problems at home not the problems of the rest of the world.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#10. To: Deckard (#9)
Define a sound Libertarian foreign policy.Non-interventionism.
No money to Israel or any other countries.
Uh,huh.
SOOOO,we shut down foreign trade. How is that going to help Americans when you consider all the jobs that will be lost because we won't be able to import or export anything?
Fix the problems at home not the problems of the rest of the world.
I hate to be the one to break this to you,but America ain't a planet floating around alone in a galaxy. A lot of the things we do affect the peoples of other countries,and a lot of the things that other countries do affect the people of America.
Isolationism doesn't work and has been proven to not work. Look at the formerly communist countries for proof of this.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#11. To: sneakypete (#10)
SOOOO,we shut down foreign trade
Foreign AID not Foreign TRADE.
Isolationism doesn't work
Non-interventionism is NOT isolationism.
“America... goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.” ― John Quincy Adams.
"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations to have as little political connection as possible... Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalships, interest, humor, or caprice?... It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world." - George Washington.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#12. To: Deckard (#11)
Non-interventionism is NOT isolationism.
Un,huh.
Pull my finger.
In the entire history of the world,the only nations that had to build walls to keep their own citizens from leaving were those with leftist governments.
#13. To: Deckard (#9) (Edited)
"Define a sound Libertarian foreign policy."Non-interventionism.
No money to Israel or any other countries.
Fix the problems at home not the problems of the rest of the world.
Libertarians are crazy. We are not supposed to be isolating ourselves from the world. The Bible says just the opposite. The US (together with the other 23 Christian nations in NATO) are supposed to be ruling the world, all of it. And Trump, more so than any other president, is making that happen, and all Christians should get on board with him and support him. And all libertarians should be booted out of office, and all the nations in NATO not wearing a wedding garment (i.e., all non-Christian nations) also should be, and soon will be, booted out. You can take that to the bank.
#14. To: interpreter (#13)
Libertarians are crazy. We are not supposed to be isolating ourselves from the world. The Bible says just the opposite. The US (together with the other 23 Christian nations in NATO) are supposed to be ruling the world. And Trump, more so than any other president, is making that happen, and all Christians should get on board with him and support him. And all libertarians should be booted out office.
I want to be the first to say: you are a complete idiot with comments above. I know, I know .... you regard yourself sent by GOD.
Geesh.
#15. To: buckeroo (#14)
I want to be the first to say: you are a complete idiot with comments above. I know, I know .... you regard yourself sent by GOD.Geesh.
Be careful, very careful. I only repeat what God says, so you are calling God an idiot, not me.
#16. To: interpreter (#15)
You are a well known bullshitter; in fact, you are so well known about spewing BULLSHIT, there just may be a place in HELL for you.
#17. To: buckeroo (#16)
You are a well known bullshitter; in fact, you are so well known about spewing BULLSHIT, there just may be a place in HELL for you.
And now you are calling God a bullshitter, so I know which one of us is probably going to hell. It certainly isn't me because I can give you the chapter and verse for everything I say. I speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
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