Why aren't more people libertarians?

[juliusaugustus]

Libertarianism is always seen as this strange or crazy idea. MY parents even call it anti-social. Why do people feel the need to attack libertarianism? what exactly about is flawed. I want to know what libertarians think about it.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Allow me a shameless cross post to answer:


And we keep coming back to this.

But here's the fundamental problem: people understand, they understand perfectly what is going on, for the most part.

We think, that all we need to do is "educate" enough people, and a point of critical mass will be reached, and we'll turn this whole thing around.

We are dead wrong.

People do not want freedom.

They never have wanted freedom.

They want what people since the beginning of time have wanted: to be fed, entertained and exercise petty power over their fellow man.

We are the minority, and always will be the minority, and the only time that freedom briefly flourishes, are the times when we have asserted our right to be free and dragged the rest of wretched humanity along for the ride, kicking and screaming the whole time.

This is the only point that I disagree with Ron Paul: freedom is not popular.

It must be seized, and vigorously protected, by force, to last.

A remnant that lacks the will to do that will almost certainly be subjected to slavery and oppression.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Liberty is difficult. Slavery is easy. Average people tend to prefer the easy route, especially when they've had an easy life.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Allow me a shameless cross psot to answer:


And we keep coming back to this.

But here's the fundamental problem: people understand, they understand perfectly what is going on, for the most part.

We think, that all we need to do is "educate" enough people, and a point of critical mass will be reached, and we'll turn this whole thing around.

We are dead wrong.

People do not want freedom.

They never have wanted freedom.

They want what people since the beginning of time have wanted: to be fed, entertained and exercise petty power over their fellow man.

We are the minority, and always will be the minority, and the only time that freedom briefly flourishes, are the times when we have asserted our right to be free and dragged the rest of wretched humanity along for the ride, kicking and screaming the whole time.

This is the only point that I disagree with Ron Paul: freedom is not popular.

It must be seized, and vigorously protected, by force, to last.

A remnant that lacks the will to do that will almost certainly be subjected to slavery and oppression.

This is also an excellent answer^^

 

[farreri]

Personally because I think a lot of Libertarians do a piss-poor job of explaining it. That's just my opinion.

 

[libertyfanatic]

Most people have never even heard of libertarianism.

 

[Travlyr]

But here's the fundamental problem: people understand, they understand perfectly what is going on, for the most part.

Sorry, but I just can't buy this line. I did not know what was going on until 2007 and I was looking for correct information. When I learned about Ron Paul, I started reading and researching everything he wrote and talked about. In "The Revolution: A Manifesto" I learned about Murray Rothbard's "A Mystery of Banking" I read "A Mystery of Banking" and my eyes were opened wide. I learned what sound money is and I learned that sound money is the key to limiting big government expansion. Then I read Eustace Mullins "The Secrets of the Federal Reserve" and I started reading Dr. Edwin Vieira Jr. and have not turned my back on sound monetary principles since.

IMO, the reason more people are not libertarians is because they do not teach libertarian philosophy or sound monetary policy in government schools, or in the media, or ... really not anywhere. Most people do not like to do their own research, so they go with the flow. "Follow The Leader" They go with the government propaganda promoted in school, media, games, Hollywood, and the church.

 

[TheTexan]

Personally because I think a lot of Libertarians do a piss-poor job of explaining it. That's just my opinion.

Even if you explain it well, they will nod their head in agreement, say "oh yes I agree completely", then 2 seconds later "oh look a squirrel!" and they forgot everything you just said.

They don't want to understand it. They will ignore you as best as they can, and if they accidentally start to make sense of what you're saying, and they start to see their chains, their instant reaction is to either get offended or change the subject.

 

[dbill27]

Libertarianism is the philosophy of the individual. Man evolved as collectivists, tribal societies that worshipped altruism. Libertarians are ahead of the curve, we are the enlightened.

 

[farreri]

Even if you explain it well, they will nod their head in agreement, say "oh yes I agree completely", then 2 seconds later "oh look a squirrel!" and they forgot everything you just said.

They don't want to understand it. They will ignore you as best as they can, and if they accidentally start to make sense of what you're saying, and they start to see their chains, their instant reaction is to either get offended or change the subject.

Well when you grow up being conditioned that you need government to protect you, it's hard to be conditioned out of that belief. Took me a couple of years.

 

[TheTexan]

Sorry, but I just can't buy this line. I did not know what was going on until 2007 and I was looking for correct information. When I learned about Ron Paul, I started reading and researching everything he wrote and talked about. In "The Revolution: A Manifesto" I learned about Murray Rothbard's "A Mystery of Banking" I read "A Mystery of Banking" and my eyes were opened wide. I learned what sound money is and I learned that sound money is the key to limiting big government expansion. Then I read Eustace Mullins "The Secrets of the Federal Reserve" and I started reading Dr. Edwin Vieira Jr. and have not turned my back on sound monetary principles since.

A desire for liberty is something a person either has, or doesn't. It's sometimes buried deep, but most people don't have it at all.

IMO, the reason more people are not libertarians is because they do not teach libertarian philosophy or sound monetary policy in government schools, or in the media, or ... really not anywhere. Most people do not like to do their own research, so they go with the flow. "Follow The Leader" They go with the government propaganda promoted in school, media, games, Hollywood, and the church.

You're half right. Part of it is how they were raised. Schools and so forth. At least I hope so. Regarding nature vs nurture... if it's nurture, at least maybe our great grandchildren have hope. If it's nature... humanity is fucked. Will destroy itself within the next 200 years.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Sorry, but I just can't buy this line. I did not know what was going on until 2007 and I was looking for correct information. When I learned about Ron Paul, I started reading and researching everything he wrote and talked about. In "The Revolution: A Manifesto" I learned about Murray Rothbard's "A Mystery of Banking" I read "A Mystery of Banking" and my eyes were opened wide. I learned what sound money is and I learned that sound money is the key to limiting big government expansion. Then I read Eustace Mullins "The Secrets of the Federal Reserve" and I started reading Dr. Edwin Vieira Jr. and have not turned my back on sound monetary principles since.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see if the education efforts take hold then.

My review of humanity's history suggests otherwise to me.

IMO, the reason more people are not libertarians is because they do not teach libertarian philosophy or sound monetary policy in government schools, or in the media, or ... really not anywhere. Most people do not like to do their own research, so they go with the flow. "Follow The Leader" They go with the government propaganda promoted in school, media, games, Hollywood, and the church.

You'll get no argument from me on that score.

Compulsory government schools were designed and implemented for that exact purpose: fealty and loyalty to the state and the established norms.

 

[dbill27]

Bill Maher and Glenn Beck are libertarians. Maybe there's more of them than we realize.

 

[TheTexan]

Bill Maher and Glenn Beck are libertarians. Maybe there's more of them than we realize.

Ha, ha. Sigh

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

I'd say the main reason is that they've been brainwashed by the state. They're too propagandized to realize how beneficial the libertarian reforms would be. To make matters worse, the state has also bought off much of the public with stolen money.

 

[presence]

Most people already practice libertarianism. A few are selected from time to time and battered to keep the movement underground.

MY parents even call it anti-social.

Next time they're driving over the speed limit; tell them to stop being so damn anti-social. That'll start a brush fire.

 

[Czolgosz]

Allow me a shameless cross post to answer:


And we keep coming back to this.

But here's the fundamental problem: people understand, they understand perfectly what is going on, for the most part.

We think, that all we need to do is "educate" enough people, and a point of critical mass will be reached, and we'll turn this whole thing around.

We are dead wrong.

People do not want freedom.

They never have wanted freedom.

They want what people since the beginning of time have wanted: to be fed, entertained and exercise petty power over their fellow man.

We are the minority, and always will be the minority, and the only time that freedom briefly flourishes, are the times when we have asserted our right to be free and dragged the rest of wretched humanity along for the ride, kicking and screaming the whole time.

This is the only point that I disagree with Ron Paul: freedom is not popular.

It must be seized, and vigorously protected, by force, to last.

A remnant that lacks the will to do that will almost certainly be subjected to slavery and oppression.

+7.62x39 (again)

 

[farreri]

And it doesn't help when you got LINO groups (like the Republican Party) preaching "small government," but then outspending the Democrats after being elected.

 

[Anti Federalist]

 

[cjm]

Why aren't more people libertarians?

Television.