4 ms·

Anyone I've ever heard it from was a Libertarian, so it seems fair to use that as a label. I don't know or care if it is a "party plank" shared by "all Libertar

Anyone I've ever heard it from was a Libertarian, so it seems fair to use that as a label. I don't know or care if it is a "party plank" shared by "all Libertarians" or "true Libertarians" or "true Scotsmen", it's not relevant to my point.

WalterBright 4y ago
You're not hearing it from this libertarian. Libertarianism is not code for rude, thoughtless, meanness, uncharitable, stealing, defrauding, enslaving, etc. It's code for people doing what they want to, as long as they don't hurt others. For example, I follow recommendations for making my web sites more usable for people using screen readers. Not because anyone makes me do it - I'm happy to do it.
- WorldMaker 4y ago
  Great. You want a pat on the back for doing the easy things? A lot of accommodations cost money and are supported by taxes. Are you one of the rare Libertarians who doesn't also believe "taxation is theft"? Other accommodations require regulation because incentives (money) alone don't work (and have been repeatedly proven not to). Have you squared your Libertarianism with the need for useful regulations of accommodations? The extreme nihilistic version has deep roots in modern American Libertarianism, I'm glad you anecdotally don't think you subscribe to it. I don't have any cookies to hand out for someone feeling happy to do the low hanging fruit when part of the point is about doing the hard things for equity (not equality) and compassion.
  - WalterBright 4y ago
    You can read my other posts. I've extensively written about Libertarianism. None of it matches what you describe. I'm not asking for cookies. I'm pointing out that you have a misinformed view of Libertarianism, and gave an example.
  - lliamander 4y ago
    "taxation is theft" is compatible with a desire to help the less fortunate. We don't all have to subscribe to your ideology of forcing "conpassionate" behavior to actually help people. There's plenty of reasons that a voluntary approach can (and does) work. Not perfectly, of course, but nothing is perfect. But it arguably works better than the more authoritarian approach you prescribe.
    - LtWorf 4y ago
      > "taxation is theft" is compatible with a desire to help the less fortunate. We don't all have to subscribe to your ideology of forcing "conpassionate" behavior (sic) to actually help people. So you mean saying "oh poor you!" giving a sad look and moving on with your day? I'm sure the less fortunate are really happy about that. Or can you detail what's the plan to help the less fortunate without taxation on the more fortunate?
      - lliamander 4y ago
        > So you mean saying "oh poor you!" giving a sad look and moving on with your day? Oh what a zinger! You got me there! /s Honestly, why should I waste time arguing with you?
        LtWorf 4y ago
        > Honestly, why should I waste time arguing with you? To show good faith… you succeeded at showing you didn't have that.
        lliamander 4y ago
        If you want good faith then don't open with an insult.
        LtWorf 4y ago
        Can you point me exactly where I insulted you? I don't see any insult.
  - jimbokun 4y ago
    The hard things, like making comments calling people out on the internet for not doing exactly what you think they should do?

WalterBright 4y ago

You're not hearing it from this libertarian. Libertarianism is not code for rude, thoughtless, meanness, uncharitable, stealing, defrauding, enslaving, etc. It's code for people doing what they want to, as long as they don't hurt others. For example, I follow recommendations for making my web sites more usable for people using screen readers. Not because anyone makes me do it - I'm happy to do it.

WorldMaker 4y ago
Great. You want a pat on the back for doing the easy things? A lot of accommodations cost money and are supported by taxes. Are you one of the rare Libertarians who doesn't also believe "taxation is theft"? Other accommodations require regulation because incentives (money) alone don't work (and have been repeatedly proven not to). Have you squared your Libertarianism with the need for useful regulations of accommodations? The extreme nihilistic version has deep roots in modern American Libertarianism, I'm glad you anecdotally don't think you subscribe to it. I don't have any cookies to hand out for someone feeling happy to do the low hanging fruit when part of the point is about doing the hard things for equity (not equality) and compassion.
- WalterBright 4y ago
  You can read my other posts. I've extensively written about Libertarianism. None of it matches what you describe. I'm not asking for cookies. I'm pointing out that you have a misinformed view of Libertarianism, and gave an example.
- lliamander 4y ago
  "taxation is theft" is compatible with a desire to help the less fortunate. We don't all have to subscribe to your ideology of forcing "conpassionate" behavior to actually help people. There's plenty of reasons that a voluntary approach can (and does) work. Not perfectly, of course, but nothing is perfect. But it arguably works better than the more authoritarian approach you prescribe.
  - LtWorf 4y ago
    > "taxation is theft" is compatible with a desire to help the less fortunate. We don't all have to subscribe to your ideology of forcing "conpassionate" behavior (sic) to actually help people. So you mean saying "oh poor you!" giving a sad look and moving on with your day? I'm sure the less fortunate are really happy about that. Or can you detail what's the plan to help the less fortunate without taxation on the more fortunate?
    - lliamander 4y ago
      > So you mean saying "oh poor you!" giving a sad look and moving on with your day? Oh what a zinger! You got me there! /s Honestly, why should I waste time arguing with you?
      - LtWorf 4y ago
        > Honestly, why should I waste time arguing with you? To show good faith… you succeeded at showing you didn't have that.
        lliamander 4y ago
        If you want good faith then don't open with an insult.
        LtWorf 4y ago
        Can you point me exactly where I insulted you? I don't see any insult.
- jimbokun 4y ago
  The hard things, like making comments calling people out on the internet for not doing exactly what you think they should do?