Most Libertarian Countries in the World Both Today and Historically

[Danan]

The US probably still is the most libertarian country because of it's constitution, but over the last 10 years it's really lost a lot of ground.

Switzerland is socialistic, but is far better economically than most other European countries.

Government spending as a percentage of GDP:

USA: 38.9%
Switzerland: 32.0%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_spending


Public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP:

USA: 6.9%
Switzerland: 6.7% (and way below the USA in overall healthcare spending, including private spending)

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934554.html

 

[Shane Harris]

Most of Europe during the "so-called" Dark Ages was highly functioning minarchy. It gets short shrift in history books precisely BECAUSE there was very little government, few major wars, etc. No drama so nobody wanted to write about it. Just lots of people going about their business in relative peace and freedom.

This, plus Rothbard uses ancient Celtic Ireland as an example of a functioning stateless society in For a New Liberty. He claims it functioned without a state, while having private law and courts for roughly a thousand years before English conquest in the 17th century.

 

[Christian Liberty]

I know few think of it, but I think ancient Israel was extremely libertarian in quite a few ways.

Well, he's a libertarian leaning Georgist, not really a libertarian as such, but Carl Milsted addresses some of these ideas:
http://www.holisticpolitics.org/

 

[The Northbreather]

Many nations in Central and South America are being flooded by US ex-pats as retirement havens and "bug out" choices, but they have a long history of instability, one morning your servants are cutting your grass, next week they may be cutting your throats as "yanqui oppressors".

So its only bad if you can afford servants?

 

[Danan]

So its only bad if you can afford servants?

Many US citizens who saved some money over the course of their lifes could afford servants in one of those countries.

 

[compromise]

Government spending as a percentage of GDP:

USA: 38.9%
Switzerland: 32.0%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_spending


Public healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP:

USA: 6.9%
Switzerland: 6.7% (and way below the USA in overall healthcare spending, including private spending)

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934554.html

I was responding to this guy and was trying to be favorable towards Switzerland, but thanks for the info anyway:

Switzerland is very good on some things, like treating drug use as a health issue not a criminal matter. Very non-interventionist foreign policy. But the government is still quite socialist and has a very interventionist central bank.

My only real big personal problem with Switzerland is the Swiss direct democracy, I think it magnifies the tyranny of the majority.

 

[fisharmor]

This, plus Rothbard uses ancient Celtic Ireland as an example of a functioning stateless society in For a New Liberty. He claims it functioned without a state, while having private law and courts for roughly a thousand years before English conquest in the 17th century.

I often wonder whether the "thousand years" is due to the fact that 1200 years elapsed between the arrival of Christianity (and, supposedly, record-keeping) and the conquest.
It's entirely possible that "roughly a thousand years" actually extends into prehistory.

 

[The Free Hornet]

Somalia, technically. There's a lot of violence and xenophobia, but they were completely without a government and even banks for a long time.

They are not without force, they are not without a government (our money masters have already acknowledged its existence). There is neither culture nor law that values liberty there. To suggest it is "technically" correct is bullshit. The moon would be closer if only due to both the absense of government and thuggery. Anyway, I find your comment as perpetuating a retarded yet sometimes funny meme.

Without a culture that values freedom and peaceful coexistence, you do not technically have libertarianism.

Very few nations even have what might be identified as a libertarian movement. Europe's - last time I checked - sucks (some continental fake brand).

 

[Danan]

I was responding to this guy and was trying to be favorable towards Switzerland, but thanks for the info anyway:
My only real big personal problem with Switzerland is the Swiss direct democracy, I think it magnifies the tyranny of the majority.

While Switzerland really is too socialistic, there are almost no less socialistic yet equally prosperous countries on the globe, sadly.

 

[Christian Liberty]

You might technically have ANARCHY, but not libertarianism. Huge difference. Sometimes anarchy can be libertarian, but they aren't the same thing.

 

[fisharmor]

You might technically have ANARCHY, but not libertarianism. Huge difference. Sometimes anarchy can be libertarian, but they aren't the same thing.

So enlighten us.