Green and Bleeding Heart Libertarians

[I<3Liberty]

Like 95% of the people at my university's libertarian club and YAL chapter are economics-obsessed white guys. The other 5% are economics obsessed white girls. (The 5% used to be higher until I left because YAL interfered with another student org I was involved in.) While there's absolutely nothing wrong with being interested in economics (or white or male ), I feel like us green and/or bleeding heart libertarians are the minority.

While I'm interested in economics, I'm primarily interested in issues related to the environment, social justice, healthcare, and the alike. I call myself a green bleeding heart libertarian despite the connotations it has as a left progressive movement with the LP. Cathy Reisenwitz talks about this type of stuff a lot (she's one of my favorite libertarian bloggers and has her own YouTube Channel where she does The Libertarienne Show.)

Does anyone else associate with the green or BH Libertarians?

 

[SkepticalMetal]

I think defining yourself as a "left-libertarian" is a road to confusion, being that usually people automatically take that as meaning "traditional libertarian" as in anarcho-syndicalist, anarcho-communist, etc. This is why I don't identify with that group (although I highly respect works by Roderick Long and Konkin). However, this doesn't change the fact that I do believe that the libertarian promotion of mutual aid over forced redistribution of wealth for "humanitarian" purposes is critical to the advancement of the cause in order to show the kind of prosperity that a truly free market can provide for the impoverished. This is why I don't take Kropotkin to be such a bad guy, being that I really do think had he lived to actually explore Austrian economics, he would have accepted it (who could blame anyone for misconceptions about capitalism in that day and age).

 

[Natural Citizen]

Does anyone else associate with the green or BH Libertarians?

What's your major?

 

[PaulConventionWV]

Like 95% of the people at my university's libertarian club and YAL chapter are economics-obsessed white guys. The other 5% are economics obsessed white girls. (The 5% used to be higher until I left because YAL interfered with another student org I was involved in.) While there's absolutely nothing wrong with being interested in economics (or white or male ), I feel like us green and/or bleeding heart libertarians are the minority.

While I'm interested in economics, I'm primarily interested in issues related to the environment, social justice, healthcare, and the alike. I call myself a green bleeding heart libertarian despite the connotations it has as a left progressive movement with the LP. Cathy Reisenwitz talks about this type of stuff a lot (she's one of my favorite libertarian bloggers and has her own YouTube Channel where she does The Libertarienne Show.)

Does anyone else associate with the green or BH Libertarians?

Define "social justice".... because I have a feeling it's nothing good.

 

[Antischism]

Just remember that you don't have to pigeonhole yourself into a particular group. If the majority of Libertarians aren't talking about or don't give much importance to things you deem to be important, find a group that does, whether they be left or right leaning. If you can find people like the blogger whose stuff you enjoy reading, even better. You don't have to agree with everything someone says if you can unite behind the issues you do agree with and get things done.

My primary focus is foreign policy, so I have just as much in common with the anti-war left as Libertarians, so both sides are allies. I also care about the environment, so most of the time, I find more common ground with the Green Party than conservatives. I'm pro-choice as well, so I would be more in line with Rothbard and anarchists on that issue. I'm agnostic, so while many may damn my soul to hell and not agree with me, I know Libertarians are for freedom of/from religion, so I'm comfortable. I believe in protecting our right to bear arms, so I have more in common with conservatives and Libertarians there.

Economics will always be a key issue for Libertarians since forced wealth redistribution for example, flies in the face of liberty.

My best advice is to just fight for the causes you agree with, regardless of what side of the fence is fighting for it.

 

[I<3Liberty]

What's your major?

I am majoring in both biology and psychology, and minoring in bioethics.

Almost everyone in my YAL chapter is a political science, business, and/or econ major, so it's understandable that they want to focus on the econ side of things.

 

[VoluntaryAmerican]

I think there are those that find liberty based on economics, history, etc -- seeing the big picture.

And then there are those who were born feeling a strong need for liberty... and stumble upon libertarianism.

I'm part of the later group.

 

[jtstellar]

i'm not exactly sure where you've taken an interest in the health care topic,

but if you ask me if there's a way for forcing through government an individual to buy health care and force another to pay for it, while at the same time be a libertarian, i would say no. not even obsessed with the libertarian label one bit, cus it's full of empty talkers, but no, not even in the broadest sense.

 

[sailingaway]

you can absolutely be a bleeding heart libertarian. With your own money. Organize charities. Knock on doors and ask for money. Put on fundraisers.

Just don't use coercion.

 

[NoOneButPaul]

Frankly it's because the economics are the most important part of the entire movement... everything else you want can fall into place with a decentralization of power and that's only made possible by the economics.

 

[SkepticalMetal]

i'm not exactly sure where you've taken an interest in the health care topic,

but if you ask me if there's a way for forcing through government an individual to buy health care and force another to pay for it, while at the same time be a libertarian, i would say no. not even obsessed with the libertarian label one bit, cus it's full of empty talkers, but no, not even in the broadest sense.

To this I say what sailingaway said - Bleeding Heart Libertarians (the kind that I<3Liberty is) do not believe in state coercion when it comes to health care.

 

[jtstellar]

To this I say what sailingaway said - Bleeding Heart Libertarians (the kind that I<3Liberty is) do not believe in state coercion when it comes to health care.

it's a little confusing since there are self described 'left-libertarians' who eagerly agree with the socialized medicine concept,

used to see them all the time at daily kos, where glenn greenwald crowd used to hang out. if they even call themselves libertarians still these days-- goes to show how useless the label is altogether--for me anyway. but point taken.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I am majoring in both biology and psychology, and minoring in bioethics.

Almost everyone in my YAL chapter is a political science, business, and/or econ major, so it's understandable that they want to focus on the econ side of things.

Very good. You're not a minority though. You're the first wave. Congratulations.

 

[SkepticalMetal]

it's a little confusing since there are self described 'left-libertarians' who eagerly agree with the socialized medicine concept,

used to see them all the time at daily kos, where glenn greenwald crowd used to hang out. if they even call themselves libertarians still these days-- goes to show how useless the label is altogether--for me anyway. but point taken.

Yeah, that's the point I was making earlier. I think that using any sort of left-libertarian title is always pretty open to interpretation, and I never have understood why referring to yourself as a "left" libertarian if you're a Rothbardian is necessary, as it's more of an externality and is separate from the neutrality of the Rothbardian justice system.

 

[Warlord]

Come to Nangarhar and spout your leftist nonsense and I'll show you a leather whip we use for those unruly street beggars!

 

[bolil]

Like 95% of the people at my university's libertarian club and YAL chapter are economics-obsessed white guys. The other 5% are economics obsessed white girls. (The 5% used to be higher until I left because YAL interfered with another student org I was involved in.) While there's absolutely nothing wrong with being interested in economics (or white or male ), I feel like us green and/or bleeding heart libertarians are the minority.

While I'm interested in economics, I'm primarily interested in issues related to the environment, social justice, healthcare, and the alike. I call myself a green bleeding heart libertarian despite the connotations it has as a left progressive movement with the LP. Cathy Reisenwitz talks about this type of stuff a lot (she's one of my favorite libertarian bloggers and has her own YouTube Channel where she does The Libertarienne Show.)

Does anyone else associate with the green or BH Libertarians?

Absolutely. Then again, I see all the facets as mutually dependent. I am an emotivist, as Rothbard described it, which is why I don't generally attempt to convert people.

But if I were seeking followers, I would seek naughts.

 

[bolil]

it's a little confusing since there are self described 'left-libertarians' who eagerly agree with the socialized medicine concept,

used to see them all the time at daily kos, where glenn greenwald crowd used to hang out. if they even call themselves libertarians still these days-- goes to show how useless the label is altogether--for me anyway. but point taken.

Yeah, but if it grunts like a pig it isn't a duck. Glenn Beck calls himself a libertarian, I guess that is his right. I call myself a break dancer, which is my right. Neither of which are true.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Something that I don't think many traditional libertarians (or any political leaning brood) quite grasp is that many of the youth who have views or leanings like the op don't particularly set out to politicize these natural sciences or the vision that they help to develop in those young minds as much as they would rather see them put to applicable use. Applicable, meaning that they have a grasp on the relevance, during times of technological/scientific (thus relevant economic) change that apply to infrastructure itself more so than political indoctrination and conformity.

Is why I spend so much time griping about the fact that the board is essentially anti-science/anti scientific discussion relative to it's influence to the change that is coming and the change that no politico will stop. I don't think any of these young people with modern education should adapt to historical political leanings as much as those whom historically lean ppolitically should adapt and accept them. If you don't then move out of the way or get run over. May sting a bit but is true in every sense of the word. This is the generation who will produce change in it's truest form. Libertarians aren't imune to a wake up call a much as many of them like to think that they are. Change will pass many of them right by, in fact, if they don't start to pay attention to their rear view mirror. Or in this case, turn on the headlights. Rear view is becoming a non factor...quickly.

 

[XNavyNuke]

I studied URP and Env. Science. Its even worse trying to operate in that field as someone who believes in individual liberty. I understand your confusion. Most who espouse free market economics cannot seem to separate themselves from corporatism. Until you have become personally involved in the process its hard to really imagine how environmental justice is skewed towards big money neo-merchantilists. On the other side you'll find yourself in the pits with people that will consider you a provocateur just because you don't subscribe to anthropogenic global warming. They can't fathom how you can stand with a union while being okay with right-to-work.

Its hard to walk your own path. However, your path is always in your own best interest. Good luck!
XNN

 

[PierzStyx]

Frankly it's because the economics are the most important part of the entire movement... everything else you want can fall into place with a decentralization of power and that's only made possible by the economics.

Exactly. Keynes, in one of his few lucid moments, got it exactly right when he said,

"The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.”

You can't have social justice in a socialist system, you can only have true social justice in a capitalist free market system. As Ron Paul often says the free market has the strictest regulations for pollution ever because you don't have the right to pollute anyone else' land ever and you can't just payoff the government through "regulations and fines" to let you do so in the free market.