Libertarianism as Method of Analysis

[Jenny A]

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee was booed at the Liberarian convention because he thinks drivers licenses are a good idea.      Which means the nominee is more of a little "l" libertarian than a capital "L" libertarian,  even if he is the nominee of the libertarian party.

What do I mean by little "l" libertarian? I'll begin with what I don't mean. I do not mean people who propose that there be no government---that's anarchism, not libertarianism.  I do not mean people who believe that the military,  the police and the courts are the only legitimate government and that violent crimes, theft, and right of contract are the only legitimate governmental concerns. 

What I mean is people who seriously question each and every grant of power to the government both as to whether it's a power it is safe to give the government  and whether the government is capable of doing the thing the power is granted for.

Keith White of Popehat, https://popehat.com/2016/06/02/libertari...n-answers/ lists a number of questions that should be asked before any law is passed or power granted.  His last question is always one of my first questions:

"Is there any evidence the government is any good at this?"
 It's a serious question.  There as some problems the government is really ineffective at dealing with. If it is a problem we have repeatedly tried and failed to solve with laws, regulations, or agencies, perhaps we shouldn't restrict people's liberty and waste money by trying to solve the problem with government.  I have an additional question of my own, has this particular method been tried and failed to solve the problem?


"Are we acting out of fear, anger, or self-promotion?" Laws passed immediately after a terrorist attack,  or a notorious crime should always be suspect.

"Does this power represent the government putting its thumb on the scales to prefer some competitors over others, perhaps based on their relative power and influence?"

"What would your worst enemy do with this power?"
Sequestration, stop and search, licence to march?

"Does this power make a choice about morals, ethics, or risk that individuals ought to make?" think abortion, helmet laws, anti drug laws.


In other words by small "l" I mean think ten times and wait six months before enacting a legislative solution.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Another question I ask: "Does this power erode our rights any further?"

[Minimalist]

Libertarians always remind me of this joke.

Imagine a thick jewish accent:

Mrs. Schwartz walks into Katz' Kosher Meat Market and says :  "How much for your kosher chickens?"

Katz replies amicably "$1.99 a pound."

Mrs. Schwartz scoffs " I could get them from Rosenberg's Butcher for $.89 a pound."

Katz, still amicable, says "So go buy them from Rosenberg."

Mrs Schwartz says "He doesn't have any more."

Katz, less amicably, "If I didn't have any I could sell them for .89 cents a pound, too."


Libertarians never have to deliver on the kosher chickens they don't have.

[Jenny A]

Libertarians always remind me of this joke.

Imagine a thick jewish accent:

Mrs. Schwartz walks into Katz' Kosher Meat Market and says :  "How much for your kosher chickens?"

Katz replies amicably "$1.99 a pound."

Mrs. Schwartz scoffs " I could get them from Rosenberg's Butcher for $.89 a pound."

Katz, still amicable, says "So go buy them from Rosenberg."

Mrs Schwartz says "He doesn't have any more."

Katz, less amicably, "If I didn't have any I could sell them for .89 cents a pound, too."


Libertarians never have to deliver on the kosher chickens they don't have.

Ado that makes them differ from capitalists and socialist how?