Libertarianism flawed, lacks basic ethics
Michael McDonald
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Opinion
The name libertarian is rather ironic seeing as how libertarians have denounced the cause of liberty multiple times throughout their history. Their ideology is deeply flawed, denouncing American "imperialism" while claiming that murderous regimes have a moral right to exist.
It wasn't just pot smoking hippie liberals marching on the streets in the 1960s protesting the Vietnam War; it was also pot smoking hippie libertarians. Both hated the U.S. government and often supported communists in their fights against America.
Libertarians cheered when the U.S. finally withdrew from Vietnam, completely ignoring the millions that were slaughtered and oppressed under the communist regimes of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
"The United States is the biggest threat to world peace," said U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) in 2006. That sounds very similar to a quote by Murray Rothbard, one of the founders of the Libertarian Party.
He said, "Taking the 20th century as a whole, the single most warlike, most interventionist, most imperialist government has been the United States."
Given thate quote, I think it's a fair assessment to say Libertarians lack strong morals. Rather than blame the Soviet Union, a murderous regime which purposefully slaughtered millions of its own people, Rothbard chooses to blame the United States which has deliberately killed zero innocent people in the 20th century.
The fundamental flaw with libertarianism is that it has a subjective view of ethics and morality. For an example of this, one only needs to look at how libertarians view the conflict in Israel. Most libertarians believe that Israel took over Palestinian land and the radical Muslims have every right to kick them out.
Palestinians want to set up a government that is diametrically opposed to the thing that libertarians supposedly believe so strongly in - liberty!
If all the Jews were to simply leave, what do libertarians think will be the result? A peaceful Muslim nation where everyone is given the right to life, liberty and property? I'll believe that when I see one example of a country run by Muslims where the people are not brutally oppressed.
It wasn't just pot smoking hippie liberals marching on the streets in the 1960s protesting the Vietnam War; it was also pot smoking hippie libertarians. Both hated the U.S. government and often supported communists in their fights against America.
Libertarians cheered when the U.S. finally withdrew from Vietnam, completely ignoring the millions that were slaughtered and oppressed under the communist regimes of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
"The United States is the biggest threat to world peace," said U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) in 2006. That sounds very similar to a quote by Murray Rothbard, one of the founders of the Libertarian Party.
He said, "Taking the 20th century as a whole, the single most warlike, most interventionist, most imperialist government has been the United States."
Given thate quote, I think it's a fair assessment to say Libertarians lack strong morals. Rather than blame the Soviet Union, a murderous regime which purposefully slaughtered millions of its own people, Rothbard chooses to blame the United States which has deliberately killed zero innocent people in the 20th century.
The fundamental flaw with libertarianism is that it has a subjective view of ethics and morality. For an example of this, one only needs to look at how libertarians view the conflict in Israel. Most libertarians believe that Israel took over Palestinian land and the radical Muslims have every right to kick them out.
Palestinians want to set up a government that is diametrically opposed to the thing that libertarians supposedly believe so strongly in - liberty!
If all the Jews were to simply leave, what do libertarians think will be the result? A peaceful Muslim nation where everyone is given the right to life, liberty and property? I'll believe that when I see one example of a country run by Muslims where the people are not brutally oppressed.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Beav
posted 9/17/09 @ 7:14 PM EST
Mr. McDonald,
I just want to point out that when you learned about logical fallacies like straw man, false dilemma, and guilt by association in Freshman Rhetoric and the Great Books, those are examples of how not to think. (Continued…)
Sam Pauken
posted 10/01/09 @ 2:46 PM EST
See you on the 6th Michael. Please do your research because if it's anything like this article, it will be another gross misrepresentation/misunderstanding. (Continued…)
Isaac Yonemoto
posted 10/17/09 @ 2:23 PM EST
This is a fundamental misunderstanding of libertarianism. Libertarianism is an attitude about government. Period. The idea is for government to not take ethical or moral stances beyond those outlined in its social contract, and then, with strong reservation with respect to individual liberty. (Continued…)
Phil McDowell
posted 10/21/09 @ 9:43 PM EST
Libertarianism is flawed only in that true Libertarianism would have no government. That means true liberty for all, right, wrong, or otherwise. In a word, anarchy. (Continued…)
Nick Tabor
posted 10/22/09 @ 11:10 AM EST
Ron Paul: "They attacked us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for ten years. We've been in the Middle East intervening."
That's not a justification, buddy. (Continued…)
Stew Rock
posted 10/27/09 @ 10:59 AM EST
Is this actually written by a student? I've got no problem with an opinion, even one that is wrong, but I do expect a little bit of research.
The massive errors almost start immediately. (Continued…)
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