3 ms·

> These are not libertarian policies. The Iraq war had significant buy-in from (some now mainstream) libertarian writers and thinkers. For example, Megan McArd

> These are not libertarian policies. The Iraq war had significant buy-in from (some now mainstream) libertarian writers and thinkers. For example, Megan McArdle, under the name "Jane Galt", wrote feverishly in favor of the war on terror and mocked those who opposed it. The libertarian argument was that by toppling dictatorships and theocracies, these "liberated" middle-eastern democracies would all have liberalized economies. I don't want to single out libertarians here though, I just want to point out interventionist policies have widespread support in the United States across the political spectrum (after all "even the liberal New Republic" supported it) and I don't see that trend reversing any time soon.

ForRealsies 8y ago
So you're saying many libertarians got caught up in the Neo-Con fervor of the early 2000s. I don't think anyone will disagree. Trends are trends. Those who booed Ron Paul in 2008 started agreeing that Iraq was a mistake in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8qtZ3I5AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8qtZ3I5AM
AnthonyMouse 8y ago
> The Iraq war had significant buy-in from (some now mainstream) libertarian writers and thinkers. Identifying someone who claims to support an idea and then makes an argument inconsistent with that idea is a valid criticism of the person and their bad argument, not of the original idea. > I don't want to single out libertarians here though, I just want to point out interventionist policies have widespread support in the United States across the political spectrum (after all "even the liberal New Republic" supported it) Sure, right after 9/11 when everybody was angry. Angry makes for irrational. Maybe it's time to revisit a lot of that stuff and roll it back. > and I don't see that trend reversing any time soon. The public is made up of people. Things change when somebody changes them.

ForRealsies 8y ago

So you're saying many libertarians got caught up in the Neo-Con fervor of the early 2000s. I don't think anyone will disagree. Trends are trends. Those who booed Ron Paul in 2008 started agreeing that Iraq was a mistake in 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8qtZ3I5AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v8qtZ3I5AM

AnthonyMouse 8y ago

> The Iraq war had significant buy-in from (some now mainstream) libertarian writers and thinkers. Identifying someone who claims to support an idea and then makes an argument inconsistent with that idea is a valid criticism of the person and their bad argument, not of the original idea. > I don't want to single out libertarians here though, I just want to point out interventionist policies have widespread support in the United States across the political spectrum (after all "even the liberal New Republic" supported it) Sure, right after 9/11 when everybody was angry. Angry makes for irrational. Maybe it's time to revisit a lot of that stuff and roll it back. > and I don't see that trend reversing any time soon. The public is made up of people. Things change when somebody changes them.