One of the facets of libertarianism is positioning liberty and freedom as “goals” as opposed to mere “means”. This requires a bigger leap of faith than most realize, and that is indeed why the number of libertarians is even fewer than those who watch Fear Factor. Interestingly, many libertarians adopt a switch tactic, and waylaying the axiom of liberty as a goal; argue instead along the lines of liberty being the best means to achieve happiness.
\nTypically these tend to run weak sometimes.
\n
\nTake seat-belt laws.
\nBefore I was a full-convert, when die-hard libertarians argued passionately against seat-belt laws and the like, using “efficiency” arguments such as unintended consequences et al, I just used to nod placatingly, the way one nods to a rabid rottweiler in the hope it gets placated and would leave you alone.<\/p>\n
For I personally believed that seat belt laws and the like were quite salutary. I believed so due to the deep conviction that most people are idiots. And that they needed to be parentalized and told what to do. And that there was nothing wrong with that if one is looking to maximize happiness in a society. <\/p>\n
I of course no longer believe so.
\nI mean, I still strongly believe that most people are idiots and that there is nothing most humans desire more than to be told what to do. No – that part I still believe in. But as the recent spate of posts have pointed out – happiness is not what human society is all about. And THAT is where the parental socialists’ arguments become moot.<\/p>\n
No, the key facet that converted me was the axiom of liberty as a goal. As the previous posts argued, To be fully human, one has to create, to know, to control. A corollary of this is that liberty – and the responsibility that comes with it – is an essential part of being a human. To make a choice, to live up to its consequences, to learn and improve, these are the things that makes us human, and distinct from that buffalo happily chewing cud in that field.<\/p>\n
And that is why one needs to not have seat belt laws, and not illegalize victimless crimes.
\nNot because it would make us more happy. But because it would make us more human.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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