What is Libertarianism

by Via Populi

January 7, 2015

If you’re from USA, chances are quite high that you are wrong on this one.

The current ‘Libertarianism’ concept in USA political mainstream seems to be a form of ‘no government’ and ‘total private freedom’ with no bounds on private property.

Which is contradictory, you see, for as you have noticed before, where there is unbounded private property, there is unbounded private power. Therefore, it would not be possible to have both unbounded private property, and yet still have freedom. Someone bigger than you would be able to enforce his will over you through the might of his property. And no – if you have bigger wealth and resources than 150 countries in the world, you don’t have to oblige by any morals or rights – even property rights of others.

Refer back to the situation we pictured earlier – an environment in which there is no state, no standing army, law, police, and instead everyone being free to do whatever they want with their ‘private property’. Who is going to enforce the property rights of someone ? Himself.

Which means that, the owners of Walmart or Halliburton or Exxon have to enforce their own property rights themselves.

Meaning, private armies.

But, what is going to stop them from enforcing their ‘rights’ on an area larger than their private property ? You and your small firearm ? Against the tanks, aircraft, and helicopters of military corporations ?

See the problem.

You must collectively come together and organize yourself and have a standing martial power in order to prevent anyone from establishing themselves as an overlord over you. Which is the exact problem with Anarchism. But, at least, Anarchism does not readily allow accruing unbounded private property, which would set up immediate feudal lords even from the start.

But the current logic of ‘Libertarianism’ in mainstream in USA, does.

But in reality, Libertarianism is totally different from what is being trumpeted by some right wing segments in usa.

Libertarianism seeks ultimate freedom of the individual, and therefore in many respects overlaps with Anarchism. So much that both are cross-referenced inside their own long explanations. While some versions of Libertarianism allows private property of individuals outside their own self (external things), it is not inherent in the ultimate definition of the concept. Therefore it is nothing like what is mistakenly construed in USA.

The problems which plague Anarchism also plague Libertarianism. Therefore their problems are similar in general.

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In short, Libertarianism is a system which seeks ultimate freedom for the individual, with a lot of its aspects overlapping with Anarchism.