Cato Institute Launches Libertarianism.org

LIBERTY. It's a simple idea, but it's also the linchpin of a complex system of values and practices: justice, prosperity, responsibility, toleration, cooperation, and peace. Many people believe that liberty is the core political value of modern civilization itself, the one that gives substance and form to all the other values of social life. THEY'RE CALLED LIBERTARIANS.

That's the come on for a new site launched by the Cato Institute. Think of Libertarianism.org as a FAQ for the movement, filled with essays, videos, and you name it that answers questions folks have about basic premises of libertarianism.

Here's a "60 Second Introduction" vid:

Comments

[Pro Libertate]

Good. Get the message out as much as possible.

Noticed that Julian is one of the bloggers at the site.

[Capt. Xamuel Lennox]

Good. Our first catch of the day.

[Darth Vader]

You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.

[I am your furtherer!]

This message has been brought to you by United City Statists of America, where libertarians, conservatives, liberals, and socialists all bootlick the mighty power of the city-State (civilization.)

[k2000k]

Yosemite national park is looking for a white indian to prance and gambol about the forest and fields...

[Anarcho-primitivists...]

...are liars.

[SIV]

Noticed that Julian is one of the bloggers at the site.

Sanchez?

When do they add Wilkinson, Weigel and Howley?

[Pro Libertate]

Yes, him.

[GILMORE]

Libertarianism.org

Hey, don't rush it or anything. You don't know if this internet fad is going to go anywhere or not...

[the INVISIBLE HAND of HayZeus]

"Out in the darkness of sin they are waiting ... Go tell the untold millions over the whole world wide."

"A hundred thousand souls a day are passing one by one away in Christless socialist guilt and gloom. . . . They're passing to their doom."

~Classic missions hymns
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/classics.htm

[KPres]

Says the guy who shamelessly whores out some obscure, primitivist, "we're raping mother earth!" website

[WWNGD]

t-shirts! t-shirts!

[AlmightyJB]

Needs pic of lobster girl

[Montani Semperi Liberi]

Kochtopus!

[Joe M]

No no, they've got videos of Murray Rothbard, and one is on the front page.

[One percenter]

No Ron Paul under famous libertarians???

[?]

Noticed that Julian is one of the bloggers at the site.

MARKET FAILURE

[SIV]

lol

[Joshua Corning]

Are they going to allow comments?

Cato so far has sucked at community building. They even deride others for being good at it (see what they said about the Tea Party when Lindsey was still there) I sure hope they did not fuck up this one as well.

[Pro Libertate]

Looks like they are, though the comments appear to have to come through social media sites like Facebook. No likee.

[free2booze]

Requiring me to use social media does not protect my liberty. I don't need the man eyeballing my comments.

[Dagny T.]

Facebook comments are also where aggressively stupid goes to marinate in its own juices for that intense, concentrated stupid flavor. Check out the comments on anything Reason posts to FB if you don't believe me.

[Pro Libertate]

Well, it's a brand-new blog. If they pay attention, I'm sure they'll provide non-social media alternatives.

[Dagny T.]

Taking a look at some of the blog posts already up there, it looks like it could be good. If they come to their senses and allow non-social media comments, one of the editors is yet another beer geek, so there would be somewhere else we can talk about craft beer/homebrew. I wonder if there are any strong opinions on pizza over at Cato.

[Pro Libertate]

They're in DC. I believe pizza was banned there. Like foie gras in Chicago.

[Stephen Gordon]

As a developer of a lot of sites for non-profits, more and more of our clients are requesting the social-media commenting systems, as it makes it easier to control spam and trolls (some trolls, believe it or not, are less likely to be obnoxious when using their real name and contact info) while linking the site more closely to their main social networking activity. As a matter of fact, I just finished up a non-profit site with the same commenting system a few minutes ago.

It's easy enough to modify on the fly.

One problem they will likely have is a lot of Ron Paul/Mises types who don't mind flooding threads in their own names with words like Stato or Cosmotarian or such.

[One percenter]

Badmouthing the Ron Paul types for badmouthing. Hmmmm. Irony,

[Stephen Gordon]

I'm not at all stating that all Ron Paul types are that way, merely that there are a few rotten apples in the barrel.

[Clich? Bandit]

THE REAL STEVE GORDON! Dude, I miss you running TPW. Talk about a bourd that needed fewer trolls.

[Stephen Gordon]

I kinda miss those days, too -- but managing that site was a nightmare.

[SugarFree]

It's a passive way to set up registration. If CATO has kept an eye on the trainwreck Reason comments have become, they realize that registration is a necessary evil because of the morons out there who just want to ruin for the sake of ruining.

[SugarFree]

Not that facebook log-in keeps you from being a irrelevant asshole:

Aaron Gunn ? San Francisco, California
Nice astroturf site, call me when you get half the content of Mises.org.

[Beloved Rev. Blue Moon]

This is why I say "Love the Paul, Hate the Paultard."

[Pro Libertate]

Jesus. What is the problem with these guys? Cato may not be perfect, but what is? It's definitely more libertarian than not and has has some small influence in DC over the years.

[Brett L]

"Jesus. What is the problem with these guys? It's definitely more libertarian than not and has has some small influence in DC over the years."

This is why libertarians can't have nice things. More importantly, its why the LP is destined to come in just behind the Nutbar party in any election. Too many people who would rather see the world burn than allow Libertarians to choose the least worst option from a bad buffet and gain a measure of influence.

[Dagny T.]

My point precisely. Let people spew their idiocy on Facebook and keep it on Facebook and out of our faces. The casual griefers may be hanging out on FB trollin' all day, but there's a chance they'd be too lazy to login to another site. I hope, at least. Fuck, I am sick of trolls.

[Montani Semperi Liberi]

I noticed there was an ad for a book from LvMI in the latest Reason mag. I guess the hate between the CATO/Reason crowd and the Rockwell crowd isn't as strong as some would believe...at least among those who actually run things.

[Dagny T.]

Seriously, I guarantee FB comments would be just as bad. People will unleash the full stupid on Facebook like that shit's Youtube, without hesitation. My suggestion: they should give registration a try but make it internal to the site and not linked to social media. Then ban when necessary but try not to become as banhappy as the Gawker mods.

[ban when necessary]

Whenever the truth is spoken, most likely.

REGISTERED MINDS, FREE MARKETS ftw!

[City Statism = Statism]

I suppose that truth does ruin your contradiction upon which your whole idiotic philosophy rests.

Can't have the truth spoken here!

REGISTERED MINDS, FREE MARKETS for the lulz

[Joshua Corning]

Looks like they are, though the comments appear to have to come through social media sites like Facebook. No likee.

Just because facebook is not to our tastes, I don't like it either, does not mean it is a bad idea to use it.

In fact avoiding crusty libertarians like us might be an advantage.

Also

Facebook with Cato > Facebook without Cato

Anyway my comments above was in reagrds to Cato@liberty blog and Cato Unbound which has zero comments.

[Flex Nasty B.I.G.]

I am glad to see some organization attempting to clearly explain the basics of libertarianism to the masses. For all of the zillions of resources on Youtube (and the web in general), there is not really any good "basic introduction" video to which I can point interested newcomers. The best so far has been the ISIL Philosophy of Liberty animation. Nothing else has even come close, until the above CATO video came along.

I still think there's room to do better. A 60-second animated Youtube video which answers the question "what is a libertarian?" could convert millions. Maybe Reason.tv could sponsor a short film contest? Maybe I should get some sponsorships on Kickstarter and make it myself?

[Evan]

Glad you liked the video. I've been wanting to do a shorter, updated version of the Philosophy of Liberty for a while- that is in fact what I was aiming at.

I say go for it on Kickstarter if you've got the spare time and the animation skills.

[AlmightyJB]

Well there goes my day.

[Gojira]

Is this a viral marketing campaign for Human Centipede III?

If I follow the "clues" to libertarianism on the site, will it lead me to an ass-to-mouth easter egg?

[City-STATISM's Salvationism!]

PRAISE THE GLORIOUS CITY-STATE (civilization)!!!

...liberty is the core political value of modern civilization itself,...Nobel-laureate F. A. Hayek discusses the evolution of morality and social norms, arguing that they result from unplanned, emergent processes.

What a bunch of shit-fer-brains.

How is it that humans evolved into a "nasty, brutish, short" existence, and salvation from the horrors of paleolithic life was achieved only with the glorious coming of the city-STATE (civilization)?

Riddle me that!

Libertarianism, and all progressivism, is just a slightly varied, secular, version of the Christian salvation story.

And it's still pure bullshit.

[Mike M.]

Me think White Indian smoke'um too much peace pipe.

[Episiarch]

GOLLY MISS RECTAL YOU SURE LOOK PURTY TODAY DID YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY NEW HAT? I MADE IT FROM A BEAVER I FOUND DEAD IN THE SWAMP! IT WAS A BIG BEAVER AND I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER TO MAKE YOU ONE IF YOU'D FANCY THAT!

[If you don't join, it's Trail]

...of Tears for the savage sinners!!!

All to Jesus City I surrender,
All to Him State I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him civilization,
In His presence Story daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

[WI is a Reprobate Sinner...]

...who hasn't accepted city-STATISM into his heart.

The true believers are very angry.

[Anarcho-primitivists...]

...are liars.

[Warty]

MISS RECTAL I FOUND YOU THIS BROKEN SCREWDRIVER IN THE ROAD BUT ILL FIX IT UP AND ANYWAY I WANT U TO HAVE IT SEEIN HOW U HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSCREWING THINGS AND WHATNOT. AND ANYWAY YOU AHVE A NICE DAY MISS RECTAL

[cw]

I wonder if you've convinced anyone here of anything, other than your relentlessness.

[2 dog-catchers are convincing]

I wonder if you've convinced anyone here of anything, other than your relentlessness.

Any day now, Libertarian Missionaries will save the heathen to the GLORIOUS CITY-STATE (civilization) and the LORD of the invisible hand will bring HEAVENLY markets to his chosen ones.

[cw]

You're the only one who talks of salvation.

[Steve Forbes Plan of Salvation]

How Capitalism Will SAVE US
Steve Forbes
Crown Business

Cleanse your heart, sinners! Salvation is at hand!

[Episiarch]

HEY MISS RECTAL I WAS THINKIN' OF GOING TO THE LASER LIGHT SHOW TONIGHT THEY'RE PLAYING EMERSON LAKE AND PALMER WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO WITH ME?

[cw]

As usual, context doesn't mean anything to you. But just keep parroting your BS. It's entertaining.

[Libertarian = Creationist....]

...strength retorts, used by fundamentalist missionaries everywhere.

Context!!!!!!
236,505 views
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o

[Proprietist]

Libertarians support your freedom to run around in a loincloth with a bow and arrow or gun and forage or hunt for food on your own property, or on someone else's property with their permission, or on public/unclaimed property, unlike those actually in power. Libertarians support your right to live in or withdraw from industrial/agricultural society, and believe property rights are essential to allowing everyone access to live the life they desire unmolested, unlike those actually in power. Libertarians support secession and complete national independence, if desired, for the Indian nations, unlike those actually in power.

Libertarians are inherently diametrically opposed to any of the oppressive government policies throughout history you decry like forced relocation, slavery, mandatory internment in reservations and racial exclusion from property rights, all done by the parties in power. None of us alive today were even around during the Trail of Tears. Our core governmental philosophy has rarely if ever been the basis of any government, much less the governments that have abused or permitted/enabled the abuse of the Native Americans, African-Americans, gays, etc. We can't apologize for the retrograde beliefs and actions of other people.

So why are you trolling here, and not on some Team Red or Team Blue website where people still believe in authoritarian policies, and still vote for the unprincipled parties that have oppressed the Native Americans?

And what actual policy or philosophical changes do you want us to accept? You haven't articulated anything but primitivist Luddism, which is not inherently contradictory to libertarianism; if you decide to live that lifestyle, we wouldn't stop you ? as long as you don't violate our rights to live in our modern urban squalor dining on processed junk food and resigned to wage slavery, which most of us seem to find preferable to dying of frostbite and starvation at age 34 out in the wilderness, assuming you survive childbirth.

Until you clearly answer these two questions, I'm going to continue to ask them every time you post here.

[rts]

Until you clearly answer these two questions, I'm going to continue to ask them every time you post here.

Please don't; if you ignore it, it will go away.

[Beloved Rev. Blue Moon]

I thought that, but that does not seem to be working. Bring out the banhammer.

[rts]

that does not seem to be working

If this is ignoring, I'd hate to see what paying attention is like.

Don't insult it; don't spoof it; don't engage it in any way. It will go away. It has Paul Anka's guarantee!

[cw]

I don't think he ever will. He just enjoys calling libertarians creationists, using made-up evidence. He calls every source I use that disagrees with his sources to be "liars," and even when I (and others) show where he's wrong, he just repeats this "LIARSLIARS" meme.

The guy seems more like the religious nutcase: There was this "original affluent society" (like the Garden of Eden), and then along came agriculture, which created all the evils of mankind.

The only thing he doesn't do religiously is offer up some plan or alternative. He refuses to acknowledge the good things of civilization or the bad things of pre-agricultural societies.

He's the real fundamentalist.

[KOCH OIL is so reasonable...]

It is difficult to address questions framed in lies.

Libertarian Lie #1: Libertarians support your freedom

No, they do not. They support regulating the land with artificial borders to restrict freedom of movement.

Officer, am I free to gambol?

Libertarian Lie #2: Libertarians are inherently diametrically opposed to any of the oppressive government policies

No, they are not. Minarchist say "WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS. By that, they mean the "right" to aggressively enforce artificial borders that restrict the free movement of people.

Officer, am I free to gambol?

Libertarian Lie #3: None of us alive today

City-Statists alive today continue the city-STATIST occupation and use threat of force to prevent living a Non-State society's lifeway. They use the aggression of government to collect rents. Libertarians are city-Statists.

Officer, am I free to gambol?

Libertarian Lies #4: Libertarian Lie You haven't articulated anything but primitivist Luddism

Government administration is a technology, by definition. I'm not much for it. If I'm I Luddite, have at it, city-Statist. Most technologies developed in the city-STATE help goverment administration. If you like that, have at it, city-Statist.

Go ahead, call me Luddite.

Libertarian Lie #5: Team Red or Team Blue website where people still believe in authoritarian policies

Libertarians are just as much progressivists (believing in the city-state (civilization) as an improvement to human life) and thus just as much authoritiarian as the red and blue teams.

Frankly, I can't tell the difference in Reason's apology of the city-State as salvation for the strange biological riddle of evolutionarily dystopian natural humans.

You're no different from the Christian religion that promotes Jesus, instead of the Invisible Hand, as Man's salvation, while studiously ignoring why so many humans feel they need salvation.

The reason why: The city-STATE (civilization) is not progress, but tyranny.

[1/16 Cherokee Proprietist]

Primitivist Lies 1 & 2: "They support regulating the land with artificial borders to restrict freedom of movement."

I support solely taxing people on the right to exclude others from land use, and equitably returning excess revenues after basic government functions are covered. Not all libertarians agree on implementaion of a minimal government, or if one is even necessary.

By the way, did Native tribes allow their enemy tribes to gambol and hunt freely within their territory?

Primitivist Lie #3: "They use the aggression of government to collect rents. Libertarians are city-Statists."

Miniarchists argue that minimal, strictly limited government is still preferable to tribal warfare and government by mob. Are you an anarchist or a statist? You seem conflicted.

Primitivist Lie #4: "Most technologies developed in the city-STATE help goverment administration."

Libertarians don't support abusive use of technology by government. And technology can just as easily be used to control and monitor the government. See also: YouTube.

Primitivist Lie #5: "Libertarians are just as much progressivists (believing in the city-state (civilization) as an improvement to human life) and thus just as much authoritiarian as the red and blue teams."

Libertarians believe you can live how you like, as long as you don't violate the rights of others. Period. We don't care if you live in a voluntary commune, or you hunt and forage and live in a tee pee, or you live out in a cabin in the boonies, or you live in the midst of an urban industrial wasteland. Live how you like to the best of your abilities. Nothing explicitly endorses the city-state - that is just how society generally chose to organize itself.

Can you stop lying and being effusive and just clearly state what you want us to change about our own philosophy that so frustrates you? The burden is on YOU to prove that the primitivists would be forbidden their lifestyle in a libertarian society. Frankly you can't make that assertion without severely distorting what libertarians believe.

Or are you trying to force us to relocate from our homes and give up the life we love to live the life you'd prefer us to live? Didn't the US government do something like that to some people back in the 1800s? Who is the statist now?

[Proprietist]

This response (silence) is typical of both WI and Tony. Psuedo-intellectual idiots hate getting pwned by reality.

[Anarcho-primitivists...]

...can't back their shit up.

[IceTrey]

I don't think humanity moved away from a "nasty, brutish, short" existence until the industrial revolution and the germ theory of disease around 1800.

[Joshua Corning]

I don't think humanity moved away from a "nasty, brutish, short" existence until the industrial revolution and the germ theory of disease around 1800.

The Renaissance, the Enlightenment and abundance of colonial America disagree with you.

500 BC Athens has a point or two of contention as well.

[Holy Cow]

Well, I hope this new website proclaims the twin True Libertarian benefits of a completely weakened military along with a complete aversion to enforcing borders.

Because as we all know, freedom never needs defending and allowing anyone (regardless of where they actually live) to vote is a surefire recipe for liberty.

[Episiarch]

Do you enjoy being retarded?

[Epitard]

Got your helmet?

[Episiarch]

HI MISS RECTAL HAVE YOU DECIDED WHETHER YOU WANT TO SHARE MY FROG LEGS WITH ME TONIGHT? I'D BE PLEASED AS PUNCH IF YOU'D JOIN ME!

[cw]

This is what turned me away from American conservatism: government is generally bad, but we can never, ever cut defense spending, EVER!!! Because that will usher in the apocalypse, or something.

[dw]

This is what turned me away from American libertarianism: government is generally bad, but we can never, ever cut Land enTitlement regulations, EVER!!! Because that will usher in the apocalypse, or something.

[cw]

Yep. Because private property and defense spending are like the same thing! Thanks, White Indian! You really cleared that one up for me!

[Both big goverment programs]

You're welcome.

[Are we clear now?]

Both are big government programs.

You're welcome.

[cw]

Dishonest as always. I really don't care what you have to say anymore.

[Arcaster]

Man, you're smart. Do you maybe have a newsletter I could subscribe to?

[Warty]

"Libertarianism" and "FAQ" just makes me think of that shitty Critiques of Libertarianism site. Is that still around?

[Beloved Rev. Blue Moon]

You betcha.

[Dagny T.]

Yup, "shitty" is about the only word I've got for that site. 16 years and your HTML skills haven't improved at all?

[Haunted Taint]

People had Huben's question-begging concern troll act figured out in '92. But, y'know, I'm sure he's just waiting for a really great response to his anti-libertarian FAQ to change his mind.

[cw]

Um, where has CATO said no defense whatsoever?

Look folks, another straw man!

[cw]

Goddammit, that was meant as a reply to holy cow.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Cato Institute, are you coming on to me?

Of course, I also wholeheartedly agree that government should strictly limit itself to the endeavor of securing life, liberty and property. And also to making sure gays don't gay the country up.

[Gojira]

That's a strange position to hold for someone with the word "Fist" in their handle. Just sayin'...

[Fist of Etiquette]

NOT EVERYTHING HAS A SEXUAL COMPONENT. Perverts. Also, it doesn't have to be a same-sex activity. Perverts.

[Lost_In_Translation]

NTTAWWT

[IceTrey]

But in this case is does, right? LOL. I said "but".

[Brett L]

I first read this as "making sure gays don't country up". I was going to have to deliver you some bad news about gays and denim.

[GradyF]

I thought even the most naive voters knew by now that "Cato" is, as it were, an anagram of "Koch."
And that "Koch" is an anagram of...

[cw]

Hock?
Chok?

[Pro Libertate]

It's "Koch brothers." Thus, "throb shocker."

Cato Institute, of course, can be read as the Taco Institute, which explains the WoD position. Or A Nice Tits Tout.

[Zuo]

a cut on titties?

[Brian D]

A tie, count tits

[Zuo]

Taco?

Cato are trying to Mexify Ammmurika!

[KPres]

Don't you have some racist newsletters to write, Lew Rockwell, *cough*, I mean GradyF?

[aix42]

ROADS!

Hopefully they can redirect pinheads to anarchy.org through some choose your own assumptions pathways.

[GradyF]

It's sad to see Reason losing its way like this. It's been clear for some time that Cato = Koch, and that Koch does-not-equal liberty for anyone but the Kochs.
To put the question bluntly, what reason is there to assume that liberty is better off in the hands of robber barons than of bureaucrats? Both are the obvious enemies of all that could legitimately be termed liberty. It's downright embarrassing to see this publication groveling to so dismal a pair of oligarchs straight out of the Gilded Age.

[Montani Semperi Liberi]

I can't tell if this is sarcasm. Someone help me out.

[cw]

Doesn't look like it.

[DrDick]

Reason "losing its way"? Reason is pretty much run by the Kochs for the Kochs. A bunch of Kochsuckers, if you will.

[cw]

You've convinced me! Just say "Koch" a few more times for good measure.

[have a koch]

and a smile

[cw]

There you go! Doesn't that feel good?

[R C Dean]

Kochsuckers

Clever. Thought that up yourself, did you?

[Pro Libertate]

Kocksuchers would've been better.

[Beloved Rev. Blue Moon]

I FUCKING LOVE KOCHAINE!!!

[KPres]

Kochaine is a hell of a drug?

[Government for me...]

but not for thee.

[Episiarch]

HEY MISS RECTAL I HAVE THIS RASH ON MY BOY PARTS AND I'M KINDA WORRIED ABOUT IT! DO YOU THINK I SHOULD GO TO MY COUSIN HE'S A VET NOT A DOCTOR BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND HE'S A SMART GUY?

[Walking Dead]

something wrong w a vet ?

[o2]

to be fair grady, these libtiodz are really corporatists including, but not exclusive to, the kochtopus.

in fact, their corporatism is soo deep, they cannot recognise financial crime, negoiated due processes, nor that corporate rights /= civil rights.

[02]

POOPY IN MY PANTIES! POOPY IN MY PANTIES! POOPY IN MY PANTIES!

[teh rael o2]

poppy is a flower mr spoofer.

it must triez moar harder...

[Kool]

That's some weak sauce right there.

[Joshua Corning]

Hey the left wing mass media is now openly mocking the OWS crowd and Reason (whom the Kochs have donated too) still covers them so they come here with their crazy bullshit.

Good times.

By the way GradyF when Obama loses to who ever the republicans vomit up are you still going to protest for more government?

Idiot.

[Shorter GradyF]

KOCHTOPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrDick]

How much money did the Kochs spend on this?

[Beloved Rev. Blue Moon]

How is that in any way relevant?

[KPres]

The new science:

In order to be disproven, an idea has to either a)be internally contradictory, b)have evidence contrary to its predictions, or c)receive funding from a corporation.

[KFuzz]

What about government funding?

LOLOLOL

[H man]

.org hmph libertarians don't do organization.
Good luck herding the cats. Hours until this turns into a true Scotsman contest.

[H Man not a TRUE libertard]

Now give me my Scotch.

[aix42]

free association. Jazz or the club?

[REGISTERED MINDS FREAK MARKETS]

Can we go to registered accounts here? This free mind shit is really difficult.

Because I want to be a City-STATIST without being a Statist.

People shouldn't call other people statist, unless I'm the people calling other people statist.

[Anarcho-primitivists...]

...are liars.

[Invest now! in Canadian Oil...]

....Stocks! Poised for a pop. Oil from the Northern Wild recovered by real wildcatters.

[1/16 Cherokee Proprietist]

Leading Anarchoprimitivist thinker John Zerzan admits that primitivist ideals are difficult even for the convinced to put into practice: "It's a huge challenge. You've got these great grandiose ideas, but the rubber has to hit the road somewhere, and we know that. I don't know how that's going to work.? [W]e are a long way from connecting with that reality and we have to face that...We don't have blueprints as to what people should do."

So the leading intellectual in your movement admits there's no way forward for you, no way to convert principles to praxis, no political policies you can advocate to kill off modern civilization without resorting to brutish socialism. I mean, I guess there's the Unabomber option, but he's not exactly the kind of role model rational people should have. Not that I'm accusing you of being rational.

[White Indian Neutered By Tribe]

Hey, fellow tribe members, hope you don't mind if I sit out this raid. I don't believe in violence.

[Mike Laursen]

Great. Maybe they can host the definitive Standard Libertarian Disclaimer list.

[Jamie Kelly]

Anyone else see the irony of using an image of a space shuttle launch to promote libertarianism? They should have put a Coca-Cola ad on the side of it.

[Pro Libertate]

Years ago, I thought that NASA should fund a manned Mars mission entirely through marketing and advertising. Sell the side of the ship. Sell the ship naming rights to a sponsor. Sell add time during the landing. Whatever.

What's funny is that many people would be offended and object to the commercialization of the mission. So what? If we did such things, we'd be on Mars.

[Proprietist]

Even better idea: put the Kardashians, Octomom, Paris Hilton, Justin Bieber, Simon Cowell, Kate plus eight, the "Leave Britney alone" guy and the Jersey Shore folks on the Mars spaceship and stream the cabin fever live 24-7, with ad breaks. Guest starring Steve Smith as the stowaway serial rapist. It would likely be pay for itself several times over. And if something goes horrifically wrong, we won't be too sad to see them go. Ok, I'll cry for Steve Smith.

[Troy]

I want Steve Smith to live. He left me his penis in his will.

[Xerxes]

Libertarianism is also apparently, the freedom to hire a cruddy motion graphics designer to ape trendy commercials and completely mangle typography.