I was a Libertarian activist for many years of my life. I was dedicated, I put many, many hours at county fairs, getting petitions signed for anti-tax initiatives, and signing up voters, as well as putting up signs, etc.
It has only been in the past few months I have come to the realization that Libertarianism is a pipe dream, because it shares the same fatal flaw as communism. It relies on the innate goodness of man, and the supposed reactions of man to situations.
I no longer believe man will act in his best economic interest. If that were the case, then nobody would be obese, or smoke, or drink. The side effects on health are too catastrophic. Man would not gamble, because the odds were against him. Man also is not going to save his money for a rainy day. You stop forcing him to put money away for retirement or injury, and when the day inevitably comes, he will be in a shelter or under some kind of help program for the rest of his life, or on the street. I'd guess maybe 10% of the world actually thinks about and prepares for their future. The rest leave it up to the experts, or don't even give it second thought.
There is only one thing you can rely on man to do, and that is attempt to fulfill his own narcissistic desires. That is it.
I still come here, because this board has great insights on economics and power, and is at least awake to the tremendous evil facing the world right now. But i have to say, I have recently gave up on the idea of a Libertarian utopia, or freedom, or anything else in that vein. I do not believe our political system is any better than any other political system in the world, I do not believe a paper making a game of government with 3's and 5's and 7's and 435's is going to change how people actually treat each other. I love the Bill of rights, but I also recognize there is a portion of the United States that has never even really fallen under its protection.
I will also say, Although I like Peter Schiff, and Ron Paul and Rand Paul, that even if they were to get elected, it would be too little, too late. Downfall of America is inevitable, and I do believe that we will have to go through some serious fascism/socialism/communism/corporatism/totalitarianism/statism before we meet a revolution worthy of the name revolution. Unfortunately, I will be too old by then to physically participate, but I would still do my best to help, because of that little shred of worthless and misguided hope in me that man can be civilized and live in a free society.
I know, for a fact, there will NEVER be a Libertartian utopia. There will never be anything but the corruption of utopian images, because man is innately corrupt.
Communism's flaw was that it thought that people were good, and would work together for the sake of nation and brotherhood. That mutual respect was all that was needed to make men work for a better world. It was a great, optimistic idea, but fatally flawed as well. Men are inherently selfish, ergo evil. The vast majority will always make a moral judgment call that benefits them. They think of themselves first, then their family and friends, then perhaps country, or church, or other confessional loyalty. Communists believed a shorter work week would leave men more time to participate and educate themselves about politics. For the most part, it was spent drinking and looking for love and raising and enjoying their families. But seriously, who can actually say with a straight face that Russia would have been better off under the Tsar? I believe the Bolshevik revolution was a good thing, if not for the same reason the French Revolution was good... because it made those in power understand, if only for a short time, that they only rule through paper and tradition.
Evil men, in a Libertarian society, would be kids in a Candy store. They would abuse every freedom, and use their money every chance they had to keep all competition down. I mean does anyone actually believe we would be better off with the Rockefellers still maintaining their massive monopoly?
Well, I don't care to get involved in defending my ideas. I am putting them out there, so yes, if any of you flame warriors want to try and pin me down, and call me a traitor to the cause, here it is, loud and clear. Don't assume I am with you, just know I am against them.
