On the Two Libertarianisms

Let’s talk about libertarian conservatives for a bit, since David Broder, in Congress Finally Stands Up, mentions the phrase. There are two different kinds of libertarian, not just one. My friends like to joke that libertarians are Republicans who like to smoke pot. We met a few of those in law school.

I call myself a libertarian as well. But I am a social libertarian, not a capitalist libertarian. Libertarians often claim that they have no religion. I beg to differ. They are fundamentalists in the same way that religious conservatives are: they believe in the propaganda of capitalism whole-heartedly, without a clue as to what they are supporting.

Any student of Adam Smith, the so-called father of capitalism, would know that Smith supported public works and the public commons. He spoke of “enlightened” self-interest, not unmitigated greed and avarice, as a satisfactory social order. Paraphrasing Smith, any time you see three businessmen talking together, you can bet they are up to no good.*

The fact is: there are TWO political axes, not just one. There is left and right. Then there is libertarian and authoritarian. You can find out where you place on the grid of political thought by going to http://www.politicalcompass.org and answering a few simple questions.

After you take the test, let’s engage in dialog about what your placement on the grid really means.

*"People of the same trade seldom meet together", Smith writes, "even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick, or some contrivance to raise prices."

On the Divinity of the United States

The United States of America is a very fortunate country indeed. We have no borders we need defend with massed soldiers. Our last foreign invasion before 911 was during the the early 1900s when Pancho Villa roamed Texas.

As we moved westward, we were able to plunder most of what we needed for all necessary domestic production from the people who had custody of it.

We exist largely in a temperate climate zone, which has enabled us to grow our own food for most of our history.

We have a form of government which, derived from the liberal principles conceived by European philosophers, has led to the legal enfranchisement of men without property, women and people of color.

We are not, however, specially blessed by a divine being. Our good fortune should not be used as an excuse to dominate the rest of the world. That would be hubris, not humility and gratitude for all of the natural advantages that we have.

The Constitution was not divinely inspired. If it were, there would have been no provision that slaves were 3/5 of a person for voting purposes.

This is not about race. Most conveniently, the 14th Amendment has been used to protect corporate rights about 95% of the time, and protect the rights of people of color about 5% of the time.

The US, under the control of corporations and under pressure from religious fundamentalists, has become a rapacious plunderer. This is not Godlike behavior. As a matter of fact, it doesn't make us much different than the Taliban or Al Qaeda...except that we have the power to deliver weapons of mass destruction just about anywhere at any time in less than 30 minutes.

Take that, Domino's. We can beat your time any time.

We have 700 military bases in 135 nations. These bases are not protecting Americans from harm. They are protecting corporate plunder operations. We ought to just say no. These plundering operations impoverish and immiserate the regular people in the host countries. These people are just like you and me. They want to earn enough money in a reasonable amount of work hours so that they can raise their families in peace.

For the sake of regular Americans and the regular folk just like us everywhere else, it is our job to stand up and control the prideful monster that the US has become.

God (or the divine or undivine being of your choice) bless and protect us all from corporate domination of government.