I'd observe that things tend to get horrible when taken to extremes, like anarchy, Socialism, Fascism, religious cults, doomsday cults (like the global warming cult pushing renewable energy), the anti-nuclear movement, alternative medicine etc. To the extent that libertarianism reacts against the push to extremes I think it a good thing. Defeating the Voice and opposing the misinformation bill are current examples of libertarianism.

There are certainly a lot of libertarians around - one is now president of Argentina, unlikely as that might have seemed even a couple of years ago. And he has started to turn things around. Removing rent caps for example caused rents to fall 20% as rental properties came back on the market.

If you are in Queensland you might be interested in one of Australia's more prominent libertarians, Ron Manners, who is launching his latest book - The Impatient Libertarian. The link to book is http://impatient_libertarian.eventbrite.com.au. And if you think Libertarianism, or classical liberalism, is crap, you'd be even more welcome to come and try your lines out.

Hi Random,

Do Libertarians still exist?

I don't know of many. David Leyonhjelm comes to mind as
possibly so does James Paterson.

I'm not sure how well Libertarianism is acceptable in
Australia. I don't think it's for everyone. Most
politicians I think are unable to get away from their
impulse to rule other people's lives.

In any case for society to work there must be enforced
minimum standards of behavior and co-operation.

As someone pointed out on the web:

"We don't allow people to set up toxic waste dumps (or asbestos)
in suburban neighbourhoods. W put fences at the tops of cliffs
rather than station ambulances at the bottom." It's also
safer and cheaper.

I like this quote:

"Libertarianism assumes that everybody will be nice and
reasonable. Communism assumes that everyone will be nice and
share. Neither can be counted upon."

We all basically want safety nets. If you're poor - you
don't want to die in the street. And if you can't afford
vital medication - you want the government's help to save
your life.

"I think the most stable description of Libertarianism centres around the theme of anarchism."

Libertarianism isn't anarchism. Libertarians don't want to do away with government, just reduce it to its core functions.

Its important to note that there is no such thing as an overriding definition of libertarianism. There is a spectrum, a wide spectrum. Indeed since the core value of the libertarian is individualism, it might be said there are as many different versions of libertarianism as there are libertarians.

Fester is right in that libertarianism abhors extremism. But not as a political enemy but simply because individuals, left to their own devices and conscience, will gravitate away from extremism. Extremist movements are indeed movements - groups of people predisposed to follow others and orders who fall in with a cadre of driven leaders.

Of course, not everything is great questions of civilisation and state. Relative minor issues divide the libertarian from the rest. We saw in the great pandemic panic that large numbers of Australians were anxious to be lead to safety by others making decisions for them and then seeking to force others to do likewise. This is anathema to the true libertarian.

Random is the bloke who thinks that everyone who doesn't think the way he does hasn't been to university and is 'blue collar'. They are also 'white men', of course, and he isn't aware that the ALP spells Labor without the "u".

He has also described OLO as a "crap" site.

Posted by ttbn, Thursday, 9 May 2024 7:36:40 AM

This software is the worst I have ever encountered, no doubt about it. The content is ... well, lets say that if the software was upgraded and the old threads lost, Australia would be the better for it.

It is true that most Right Wing Nut Jobs (RWNJ's) did not finish high school. Make of that what you will. They always old white men, coloured versions have more empathy, look it up, it has something to do with consideration of others.

consideration of others.
Random,
I have yet to meet a Leftist who has the mentality to understand that. It'd be a miracle if one did out of the myriad of me, me entitlement mutts !