Ask a Libertarian: "Is there an example of libertarianism at its best?"

Welcome to Ask a Libertarian with Reason's Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch. They are the authors of the new book The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America.

Go to http://declaration2011.com to purchase, read reviews, find event dates, and more.

On June 15, 2011 Gillespie and Welch used short, rapid-fire videos to answer dozens of reader questions submitted via email, Twitter, Facebook, and Reason.com. In this episode, they answer the question:

"Is there a modern example of libertarianism at its best?"

For the complete series, go to http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/10/ask-a-libertarian and Reason.tv's YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/reasontv

Produced by Meredith Bragg, Jim Epstein, Josh Swain, with help from Katie Hooks, Kyle Blaine and Jack Gillespie.

Comments

[Kristen]

SOMALIA!!11!1eleventy!!1

[Mike M.]

I thought it was Pakistan.

[Abdul]

I was thinking of a Somalia/New Hampshire/Sealand hybrid.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Modern, real world example of libertarianism at its best? That's easy. The movie Armageddon. Private sector solution to a problem that couldn't be solved by the state.

[AlmightyJB]

Just like Death Wish

[Hugh Akston]

The fact that that movie was made, not to mention that people paid money to see it, disproves anything anyone ever said about the market allocating resources in beneficial ways.

[Episiarch]

A NASA mission to space using some drilling lunkheads is a private sector solution?

Someone needs to watch less Baysplosions.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Your mindless hatred of Michael Bay disqualifies you from this discussion.

[Episiarch]

Are you admitting to not hating Michael Bay? And you're correct; I do hate Bay's mindless movies.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Are you admitting to not hating Michael Bay?

I don't hate an artist because of his creation. I don't paint my cultural tastes with a single broad brush. And I consider anyone who makes such blanket statements to be contemptible, without exception.

Also, Armageddon had the same president as The Rock. That is genius filmmaking.

Disqualified.

[Episiarch]

You just called Bay an artist. You just disqualified yourself from any discussion involving people who aren't insane or criminally tasteless.

[Kristen]

BTW, are y'all gonna fix that there youtubez link, or just keep copypasting all day long?

[AlmightyJB]

What's a Libertarian's favorite position?

[Spiny Norman]

Whatever the market will bear.

[Sean]

Doggy style

[Number 2]

Sorry for the hijacking this thread but...Obama's crack legal team has announced that the War Powers Act does not apply to Libya because what is going on there does not constitute "hostilities." Really.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06.....owers.html

[AlmightyJB]

If you smile while you do it it's not hostile.

[Ska]

What's the problem JB? It's nothing but a few friendly bombs being dropped.

[Hugh Akston]

It's not hostile as long as its their guys getting blown up.

[Jerry]

"This isn't torture, it's giving people a taste of water."

[Sir Roderick Glossop]

why I was just removing a blood clot by plunging this knife into his chest. Ten times.

[SugarFree]

Seriously, they all have smiley faces on them.

[Somali Pirate]

If you smile while you do it it's not hostile.

That's what I keep telling you!

[Joe M]

This is par for the course. Just like the health care mandate is a tax, a fee, neither, and both.

[Joe M]

"We are not saying the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional or should be scrapped, or that we can refuse to consult Congress. We are saying the limited nature of this particular mission is not the kind of 'hostilities' envisioned by the War Powers Resolution."

It's a living resolution!

[CrackertyAssCracker]

When do we get to impeach him?

[Mike M.]

This horse's ass doesn't think ANY law applies to him. Why would this particular law be any different from all the others?

[CE]

Obama's crack legal team has announced that the War Powers Act does not apply to Libya because what is going on there does not constitute "hostilities."

That's funny, because the War Powers Act itself defines "hostilities", and flying combat aircraft over another country's airspace is included in that definition.

[hazeeran]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.co.....055068970c

"I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action."

[Snowbee]

Obama is clearly an intellectual, for none but an intellectual could be so intellectually dishonest.

[hazeeran]

"Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them." -Orwell

[Joe M]

Did anyone see Colbert making fun of Pawlenty's Google Test? Guess what the first thing he looked up? ROADS!!

[GILMORE]

"Is there an example of libertarianism at its best?"

... let me guess = Weed Farmers?

[Jersey Patriot]

This is a weird question, because it can be taken two different ways:

1. Is there an example of political libertarianism achieving some worthwhile goal or outcome?

or

2. Is there an example of people behaving in ways libertarians predict or endorse, even if they don't subscribe to libertarian politics?

Because libertarians have little political power, the answer to #1 is probably "no". As for #2, there are plenty of recent examples of spontaneous solutions to pressing problems.

[Kristen]

#1 - Did you watch the previous video? FCOL.

[John the Deformed Motherfucker]

Example of libertarianism at its best? That feeling you get after taking a huge dump? The government hasn't ruined that yet!

[Mike M.]

Wait until quality toilet paper gets banned for environmental reasons.

[Brett L]

They've already tried with low-flow toilets.

[rather]

The idea of a society of non-coercion seems unlikely. People will always struggle to have the most power, and the most say over another person; it is man's history

[Hugh Akston]

So is living in trees, but we've largely evolved beyond that.

[rather]

yes, we evolved from living in trees, to forming groups, to government, to autocracy, and now the despotism continues. Are you suggesting a reverse Darwinism?

[Trespassers W]

I like it when you try to say stuff like that.

[Mad Scientist]

Thus the constitutional republic, explicitly limiting the amount of power the goons are allowed to wield. Unfortunately, some people just can't comprehend plain English phrases such as "Congress shall make no law."

[CE]

How about private individuals offering their boats, bringing drinking water, and donating to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, while the government wouldn't let people leave, wouldn't let people return to their homes soon enough to save them, handcuffed innocent people and took their guns away, and gave them toxic trailers to live in?

Or a better example, the miracle of credit cards. A group of private agencies vouch for you, give you thousands of dollars at a moment's notice, cover you for purchases of bad merchandise or fraudulent use (up to a point), and actually pay you bonuses if you pay your bill on time every month.

[Trivial Ends]

Libertarian - Micromanaging anti-authoritarian style.

ptth. Just fodder for republicans.

[TheOtherSomeGuy]

As recently as Feb 2011, Belgium had operated "without a government" (they didn't have a workable coalition so the government was effectively halted) for 8 months without descending into blood thirsty anarchy, thus proving the keystone libertarian principle that most people will self govern successfully.

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[[e-mail]]

Unfortunately, some people just can't comprehend plain English phrases such as Congress shall make no law.