Thursday, July 07, 2005

Some thoughts on Libertarianism

Here are some thoughts on Libertarianism, provoked by a Fark post that quoted The Daily Kos:

Foreign Policy: Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.

Executing Minors: the ethical opinion is all over the place, but most would go with the cheapest alternative, which would be incarceration.

Dissention: Who cares, as long as my rights are respected.

Self-image: People are free to believe, consider, argue against, or ignore another's viewpoint. Their personal belief in their own infallibility is irrelevent as long as they don't impose their views on other people.

God: Irrelevent in political discourse, though as a matter of observation, he tends to be on the side with the biggest guns.

Stem Cell Research: Private companies can do whatever research they like.

Leaders: As much as possible, people should govern themselves, and if a leader is necessary he or she should be freely chosen by the people. God doesn't get a vote.

Use of Force: As the most efficient means to protect the lives and/or rights of citizens.

Bush's War in Iraq: Too expensive in lives and money, very little expected return.

Press: Freedom of the Press (even more so than Liberals like Catharine MacKinnon)

Free Speech: It doesn't matter if someone disagrees with me or not, I'm free to argue or ignore them as I wish.

Individuals: People should be free to act as they wish as long as they allow others the same right, but they are under no obligation to "celebrate" or "embrace" anyone.

Cooperation: People are free to band together in common cause or act as individuals.

Tolerance: Do what you want, but with your own money.

Conscience: Personal choice

Origins: Anything involving "creationism" is best left up to whatever church you attend. Publicly-funded schools should teach science without religious bias.

Fear: Fear is your body telling you that you are doing something stupid before Darwin does.

Women: Women should have the same rights and responsibilities as men under law.

Marriage: The definition of marriage should be left to individual's conscience, not government edict. Government should get out of the marriage business, and be concerned only with enforcing contracts.

/Other Libertarians are free to expand, edit, or argue as you wish.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home