Libertarian Fatalism Triumphant; Lou Dobbs Mad as Hell

Reader Mark Noble sends along Lou Dobbs' latest diatribe, this time taking aim at something called "libertarian fatalism":

Libertarian fatalism has infected and afflicted the leaders of both political parties, and none of us should take seriously the partisan posturing from either the Republicans or Democrats….

Both parties are looking upon border security as bargaining leverage in corporate America's quest for cheap labor and amnesty for illegal immigrants. The skyrocketing cost of health care and a college education continues to put undue pressure on the already constrained budgets of most middle-class families. And still there is no national plan for the urgent development of alternative energy, nor even a call from either party for conservation.

More here.

Comments

[Jim Walsh]

Both parties are looking upon border security as bargaining leverage in corporate America's quest for cheap labor and amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Ain't it great when the system works...

[lunchstealer]

Wow, Lou Dobbs really wants to be the next Pat Buchannan.

[Wild Pegasus]

I love how we get blamed even when we can't get a guy elected to dogcatcher.

- Josh

[uncle sam]

You can defame a label merely by using it in the pejorative.

[Pro Libertate]

We've won! Let freedom ring!

Wait a minute. . . .

[thoreau]

So, the President is sending troops to repel illegal aliens and that means libertarians are winning?

Can he tell me what defeat looks like?

[Uncle Lumpy]

Oh, what does it matter, anyway?

[Akira MacKenzie]

Both parties are looking upon border security as bargaining leverage in corporate America's quest for cheap labor and amnesty for illegal immigrants.

So I guess that Lou is perfectly happy paying more for the products that "cheap labor" puts on the market. Of course, being an important, CNN talking-head with a six+ figure salary, he can afford probably afford to shell out more.

Of course, some of us can't afford to pay $10 bucks for a head of lettuce.

[Akira MacKenzie]

Edit: ...he can probably afford...

[Akira MacKenzie]

"[L]ibertarian fatalism?" What the hell is that supposed to mean? Does he mean that libertarianism operates on some inevitable historical dialectic, ala Marxism?

I don't not think it means, what Lou thinks it means.

[Ventifact]

I also don't have a clue what libertarian fatalism would be here... maybe I'm being dense.

[TH]

I think he's trying to say that politicians are using fatalism ("we can't possibly stop all these immigrants from coming, so lets just have a guest worker program") as cover for their libertarian ideals of free exchange.

Not that any immigration reform proposals that have a serious chance of getting through Congress are even remotely libertarian.

[happyjuggler0]

Ok, I'll say it too. What the fuck is libertarian fatalism?

Lou Dobbs starts off his all over the map rant with Libertarian fatalism has infected and afflicted the leaders of both political parties. But then that is the last we hear of it, both in words and reading between the lines.

Just what the hell is John Kerry doing in an article complaining about too much libertarianism, or a fatalistic bent or otherwise? Or John McCain? Or pretty much any of the others who I can't think of at the moment?

Oh yeah, Ted Kennedy, I almost forgot. I used to live in Massachusetts. I used to read and hear about Teddy all the time. I used to hate Ted Kennedy. And Lou Dobbs, I have to tell you, Ted Kennedy is no libertarian.

So again, I axe you, what the fuck is libertarian fatalism? Perhaps it is what those of us who have been libertarians for a long time feel regarding our chances of actually having an effect on public policy. Which is to say, no effect. Nil. Nada. Zilch.

P.S. I still hate Ted Kennedy, but putting that in there ruined my Lloyd Benson immitation. 🙂

[Dogcatcher]

Hammer of Truth wrote about this here...

http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/06/01/lou-dobbs-libertarian-fatalism-fallacy/

[Armed&Hammered]

At least he has reassured us that we can vote for...uh...something.

[scape]

We can only hope and, ultimately, vote.

That's like giving up, uh, twice.

[Warren]

Well that tears it. Lou Dobbs is in more dire need of a blow job than any white man in history.

[Andy]

Lou Dobbs never ceases to amaze me with his sheer lunacy. I stopped watching his show years ago when I was losing my voice yelling at the TV. But the worst part of it is, this guy has a cult following..

[damaged justice]

You guys still watch television?

As the plumber said, "Well, *there's* your problem."

[crimethink]

Slightly off-topic, the ad to the right shows that the LP has apparently chosen yellow as its color (as opposed to red and blue for the Repubs and Dems). Any idea as to why? Gold standard? Being against drug tests? Fear of success?

[visionary]

Yes, Lou Dobbs is an asshole. But if you think about it, you'll realize that if it weren't for assholes, we'd all be full of shit.

[Dave W.]

Can he tell me what defeat looks like?

Surise raids at Tyson Chicken, Wal*Mart's subcontractors and at every downtown construction site. Multi-million dollar fines to follow (to fund more raids, of course).

How would that grab ya, T.?

Things could be a lot worse for a US capitalist.

[mediageek]

Wow.

At this rate, I have to wonder who's going to hit the bottom of the crazy barrel first: Lou Dobbs or Bill O'Reilly?

[Dan]

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[Pro Libertate]

How is it that spammers can post multiple links in a post, but the rest of us are limited to two? The sneaky bastards must know something we don't.

[Ruthless]

Is it fair to call us fatalists when all we're trying to do is tend the eternal flame here in the Temple of the Vestal Virgins?

I'd call us resolute, modest optimists.

[blushing crimethink]

Hmm, still no nanotech porn sites... come on, Dan, get to work on that!!

[Ken]

It's funny how there is pretty much no voice against immigration liberalization in the media (since corporate america pays the bills and they know most americans do not want more immigration, so, like with NAFTA, they have to keep up the relentless onslaught), but when one breaks through everyone starts saying Lou is crazy. Not so crazy when he had the courage to stand up to his own party on several other issues. Lou Dobbs is not the smartest man in the world, but he at least has the courage of his convictions and is not a corporate shill.

"So I guess that Lou is perfectly happy paying more for the products that "cheap labor" puts on the market. Of course, being an important, CNN talking-head with a six+ figure salary, he can afford probably afford to shell out more.

Of course, some of us can't afford to pay $10 bucks for a head of lettuce."

I would glady pay 10 for a head of lettuce if it meant that my nation will not become Mexico 2.0. I've said it on Hit and Run before: do pro-immigration folks like Mexico, its culture and its government that much? Or do you really believe that massive amounts of Mexican immigrants will suddenly leave behind the values and institutions that have produced both back in their homeland. How naive!

[Robert]

Ken's remark -- I would glady pay 10 for a head of lettuce if it meant that my nation will not become Mexico 2.0. I've said it on Hit and Run before: do pro-immigration folks like Mexico, its culture and its government that much? Or do you really believe that massive amounts of Mexican immigrants will suddenly leave behind the values and institutions that have produced both back in their homeland. How naive! -- is indeed an issue that seems to have been swept under the rug by libertarians in the USA other than David Brudnoy and a few others. The trick is, how to gain the benefits of immigration economically and diversity-wise, without taking losses politically. Keeping immigrants from voting or holding office helps, but may not be sufficient, as much policy has cultural roots.

It is fortunate that we get to cream the crop of other countries, as those who are more liberty-minded are the ones who tend to pick up & move. But some of the baggage is still there, inevitably.