I have a confession to make.
There are many topics related to libertarian theory, application of
theory, and state aggressions that I have written little, if anything,
about. It seems to be a grave
shortcoming on my part.
Let’s run through a list; consider these as potential titles
for these non-existent posts:
·
Drug Laws: This One Should be Easy
·
The Age of Majority: Drinking Alcohol
·
Is Second-Hand Cigarette Smoke a Violation of
the Non-Aggression Principle?
·
Filing for a Tax refund? Is This Theft?
·
Can a Deed Restriction Exist in a Libertarian
World?
·
Is Torture Ever Justified?
·
To Spank or Not to Spank; That is the Question
·
If Ayn Rand is Wrong, Do I Want to be Right?
·
Privatized roads: a Path to Extortion?
·
Minimum Wage: a Living Wage or a Dying Wage?
·
“Anything Peaceful.” Is That Really all the NAP has to Offer?
·
Without Free Will, is Man Truly Free?
·
How Far Below the Surface and in the Sky Do my
Property Rights Extend?
·
Is Homesteading the Only Legitimate way to Claim
Property?
·
Corporations and the NAP? Discuss
·
The Benefits of Free Trade: DUH.
·
Getting Groped by State Actors, Pros and Cons
·
Environmental Regulation: a Detailed Examination
·
If I Blast My Outdoor Stereo Really Loud only
for REALLY GOOD MUSIC, is it an NAP Violation?
·
All I Need to Know About the NAP: “Get Off My
Lawn!”
·
Does the NAP Extend to Non-human Mammals?
·
“Papers,
Please.”
·
My Neighbor has a Smoker. Can I Hate Him for an NAP Violation, or only Because
He Never Invites Me Over to his Parties?
·
Can one Hate the State and Still Walk on
Sidewalks?
·
School Choice?
I Thought Everything with the Word “Choice” was Libertarian!
·
“Fiscally Conservative, Socially Liberal” – the
Slogan of Every American Politician since…well, Forever.
·
If I Prevent Someone from Committing Suicide, Am
I Now Obligated to Care for Him for the Rest of His Life?
·
What is the Proper Way for a Libertarian to
Punish His Child?
·
24601
(aka Jean Valjean) Stole a Little Bread for his dying Nephew; Was Nineteen
Years in Prison Enough? A Libertarian
Speaks Out
·
He Said Mean Things to Me; Can I Put Him in the
Libertopia Hoosegow?
·
A Private Market for Organs: Is this Off-Key?
Well, that’s enough for now.
I am sure even this list is only scratching the surface.
You see, it isn’t that I don’t have a view on many of these
things. In some cases, I find these topics
rather trivial – how-many-libertarian-angels-can-dance-on-the-head-of-a-mosquito
kind of thing. In other cases, there are
people far more qualified than I am to write on these; the topic is already
fully covered.
Mostly, the reason I don’t write about such things is
because I choose to write only about things that interest me – I am not writing
for an audience although I am tremendously and truly grateful that others find
value in my work. Some may view my
choices as not very important, or might view that I ignore the truly important. You are free to hold that view; I am free to
ignore you. Because I really don’t care
what you think about my choice of topics.
Anyway, I hope this addresses the issue.
Neighbor's smoke from smoker into my property and no invites?
ReplyDeleteTrivial?
Obviously the only solution is to take his brisket.
It is brisket, right?
Definitely not trivial in Texas.
Brisket for sure, although there is always room for some sausage!
Delete"Because I really don’t care what you think about my choice of topics."
ReplyDeleteGood for you. You should write about what interests you at the time you write a post. I do. I write when I have time and when I am motivated enough to do so. It gets more difficult as time goes on.
Keep at it. Do what you want. :-)
Thank you. I really enjoy this.
DeleteThe Benefits of Free Trade: DUH
ReplyDeleteI will borrow one of your titles. [Is this a violation of NAP?]
My problem with this is the definition of Free Trade. The standard definition is that Free Trade is trade with no tariffs, quotas or other government restrictions. But this means that trade being carried out by government is called Free Trade. The biggest example of this is Chinese Communist Party Owned Industries which together would make the Communist Party of China the biggest “free trader” in the world
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_government-owned_companies_of_China.
A extreme but not hard to believe example of the definition would declare that if the Chinese secret police were to execute a political prisoner and then sell their body parts to the Cuban medical system then this is an example of free trade as long as there were no quotas or tariffs involved
My definition of Free Trade is trade between free people.
So my definition would exclude anything owned by the Communist Party of China, it would exclude anything supported by selective cheap loans provided by the US Federal Reserve or World Bank etc etc, So anything supported or financed or owned by government is out.
But that is not how government defines Free Trade when it is imposing its definition of free trade on the world.
Rant Off, I will now retire back to my troll cave.
"Because I really don’t care what you think about my choice of topics."
ReplyDeleteI take umbrage at this. (Not upset, really. Just running a bit low on umbrage.)
I hope wherever you take umbrage, the two of you enjoy yourselves!
Delete:-)
It's never fun. Umbrage always takes things the wrong way.
DeleteYou didn't even mention the NMAP (The non micro aggression principle). :)
ReplyDeleteI feel unsafe now.
No one ever said that this site is a safe space!
DeleteNot exactly related to the subject, but I thought I should pass this on. I occasionally eat at Boston Market. Not a huge fan, but sometimes want something different. I ate at one in the Phoenix area last night, and I used their wifi to check email, etc. I thought you might find it interesting that their wifi network prohibited me from connecting to your website, labeling it as a scam website. This was not true of similar saved sites on my phone like lewrockwell.com, targetliberty.com, etc. fwiw
ReplyDeleteAt least I finally made someone's "list." I was feeling left out....
DeleteI may have read everything you've written since Lew Rockwell started posting your blog, and it's the only site where I try to read all of the comments..
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm aware, you're the only writer that completely grasps the NAP(and can count angels if you want to) knows it's limitations, and is actively writing about it!
I read everything you write because of this this unique perspective.
Not that you care but I would love to read what you think about Ayn Rand. I started out with her and I thought she had "the answer" but I think she failed where all variants of libertarianism fail, providing meaning and purpose.
“…I think she failed where all variants of libertarianism fail, providing meaning and purpose.”
DeleteI believe there are people who have written more authoritatively on this distinction of Rand vs. libertarianism than can I, but your statement offers the context for my view…
Both libertarian theory and objectivism fail to provide “meaning and purpose.” The difference between the two is that Rand insists (and the word “insists” grossly understates her attitude on this) that there is no meaning or purpose outside of individual self-interest guided by reason alone. Objectivism offers, it seems to me, the logical extreme extension of the Enlightenment.
Libertarian theory does not make a claim that it provides “meaning and purpose.” Libertarianism does not claim to be a philosophy of life. Libertarian theory leaves room for humans to be human in the best sense of the term. In perhaps the most distinct difference, libertarianism leaves room for God (or whatever religion / deity you might choose). Many of the more thoughtful and mature libertarian thinkers make this clear in their writing and speaking.
Try bringing up God in Rand’s living room in New York – you will become instantly a pariah.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Libertarian theory does not make a claim that it provides “meaning and purpose.” Libertarianism does not claim to be a philosophy of life. Libertarian theory leaves room for humans to be human in the best sense of the term. In perhaps the most distinct difference, libertarianism leaves room for God (or whatever religion / deity you might choose)."
ReplyDeleteI see this now, but it's basically a secret to people on the outside. Many libertarians use/market it as a form of self actualization. Much like Objectivism.
"Many of the more thoughtful and mature libertarian thinkers make this clear in their writing and speaking."
You're one of the first writers I've read stressing this. Also, "Irrepressible Rothbard" has been a huge eye opener! Its as if he is writing right now, on current events.....mind blowing
Surprise, surprise!
ReplyDeleteTrump is slowly (well not so slowly after all) flip flopping on his campaign promises. Hello! They were campaign promises in order to get elected, just like with all candidates that preceded him. But Americans have such short memories that they keep falling for them every four years.
Flip flopping is one of the thousands of inherent consequences of a system the banned mandatory biblical qualifications for civil leaders in Article 6 and that's based upon man-made capricious Enlightenment and Masonic traditions instead of the Bible's immutable/unchanging moral standards.
For more regarding these two polar opposite forms of government, For more, see online Chapter 3 "The Preamble: WE THE PEOPLE vs. YAHWEH" of "Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective" at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/BlvcOnline/biblelaw-constitutionalism-pt3.html.
See also the 4-part blog series "Donald J. Trump: Cyrus or Nimrod? Letting Trump Speak for Himself: Biblically Examining Trump's Inaugural Speech," beginning at http://www.constitutionmythbusters.org/donald-j-trump-cyrus-or-nimrod-letting-trump-speak-for-himself-biblically-examining-trumps-inaugural-speech-pt-1/.
Part 1 of a 2-part audio series by the same title can be found at the bottom of our Audio Messages page.