On some of the principles of libertarianism (this isn’t the Star Wars essay)
The idea for this post/column/essay came to me while driving, and I was thinking about the seatbelt law — the whole “Click It or Ticket” campaign or whatever in California. I was thinking of some sort of argument against those libertarians who say that seatbelts shouldn’t be enforced by the law because it’s my own business and it won’t harm anyone but me. And I was trying to come up with an argument, not because I’m fair-minded and I want to think both sides through, but to rationalize and articulate my gut feeling that such a law is absolutely a good thing, and just as valid and justifiable as laws protecting people from hurting each other.
And it’s really as simple as that. Those laws (against murder, rape, robbery, that kind of thing) are designed to protect the citizens of America from harm — no matter if they consented to it or not. So wouldn’t it be logical to pass a law protecting Americans from their own stupidity in not wearing a seatbelt? Aren’t people — human beings, with lives and drives and passions and thoughts and feelings — valuable to the government of the United States? That, after all, is why murder is outlawed to begin with.
So, with the principles of libertarianism going just a bit farther, perhaps we should decriminalize murder between two consenting adults. Oh wait, we’re already doing that with assisted suicide and the like. Clint Eastwood did it heroically in “Million Dollar Baby,” why can’t we do it just as heroically in real life?
And then, why does it have to be between two consenting adults? What business is it of the government if one person wants to harm another, or take someone else’s property? (Or is the government getting ready to be in that business relatively soon anyway, granted Hillary wins thirteen months from now?) Why should the government interfere with the people’s private lives? They’re private! They’re personal! They’re none of the government’s business!
I’m not telling you how to think. I’m merely pointing out some logical flaws via sarcasm.
Good night, and good luck.
And it’s really as simple as that. Those laws (against murder, rape, robbery, that kind of thing) are designed to protect the citizens of America from harm — no matter if they consented to it or not. So wouldn’t it be logical to pass a law protecting Americans from their own stupidity in not wearing a seatbelt? Aren’t people — human beings, with lives and drives and passions and thoughts and feelings — valuable to the government of the United States? That, after all, is why murder is outlawed to begin with.
So, with the principles of libertarianism going just a bit farther, perhaps we should decriminalize murder between two consenting adults. Oh wait, we’re already doing that with assisted suicide and the like. Clint Eastwood did it heroically in “Million Dollar Baby,” why can’t we do it just as heroically in real life?
And then, why does it have to be between two consenting adults? What business is it of the government if one person wants to harm another, or take someone else’s property? (Or is the government getting ready to be in that business relatively soon anyway, granted Hillary wins thirteen months from now?) Why should the government interfere with the people’s private lives? They’re private! They’re personal! They’re none of the government’s business!
I’m not telling you how to think. I’m merely pointing out some logical flaws via sarcasm.
Good night, and good luck.
posted by Neal at
10:27 PM
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