Misplaced Patriot

Via Hullabaloo, a query for a definition of libertarianism from a liberal.

Ideologically, libertarianism tries to start from first principals and definitions to define an ideally "free" society. One of the peculiar definitions at the heart of libertarianism is that the things a person owns are essentially considered parts of the self, and threats against property are essentially threats to the self. (An alternative view is to consider the self as part of the person's property - a strict libertarian believes a person should be free to sell herself into slavery.)

Libertarians believe that any government intervention into our lives is the moral equivalent of physical coercion. Strict libertarians will say "taxation is theft."

However, while railing against government intervention, libertarians often take the side of corporations and investors rather than realizing the way that government creates corporations and investment. For example, if I invest my money in a corporation, and that corporation goes broke and bankrupt, I lose my investment, but I am not liable for any of the debts of that corporation. That limited liability is a government protection, not a natural result on libertarian ideals. Yet investment pretty much would not exist if it weren't for the limited liability of investors.

Libertarians often have two arguments to make. One is that it is a morally superior system, since it is based on freedom of person and property. Another is that it is an efficient and effective system. The problem when they make efficiency and effectiveness arguments is that absolutely free markets are not always the most efficient and effective, so it is dangerous for libertarians to move from their moral certitude to arguments about effectiveness and efficiancy. The fact that libertarian ideals lead to unfortunate outcomes that some of us would call "immoral" is not a consideration for libertarians because the outcome springs from their ideal moral system, so, while unfortunate, it is moral. (There is quite a lot of economic research, for example, which shows that racism is a stable economic order, in that those in a racially divided society who stray out of their racial circle will be economically punished.)

Now, what I'm talking about is the ideal of libertarianism. Many people who call themselves libertarians are actually quite fine with state power to restrict personal liberty, they just believe that the state shouldn't get involved in the economy.