Comments on: Curing libertarian political impotence – a prescription for Electile Dysfunction http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:53:41 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-373480 DosPeros Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:13:11 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-373480 mw - I'll give you Huxley and, with prior written consent, James Ballard and Malcom Muggeridge on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I too am libertarian leaning, particular on economic matters, in which I credit libertarianism with general adherence to the Austrian school and a general repulsion with Keynes. On social issues, I am pretty much of a traditionalist and a federalist. This is were I run into some disagreement with libertarianism. "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan -- we can share the Gipper. mw – I’ll give you Huxley and, with prior written consent, James Ballard and Malcom Muggeridge on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I too am libertarian leaning, particular on economic matters, in which I credit libertarianism with general adherence to the Austrian school and a general repulsion with Keynes. On social issues, I am pretty much of a traditionalist and a federalist. This is were I run into some disagreement with libertarianism.

“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” – Ronald Reagan — we can share the Gipper.

]]> By: mw http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-373435 mw Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:10:53 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-373435 TwoPears ( or is it <i>tTwoButs</i>?), Sorry to step on your area of responsibility. I'll limit my Orwell references in the future. I am still not understanding your perspective here. You agreed with Jim S statement, but seem to be saying libertarianism and communism are polar opposites, which is of course true. I guess the confusion is in this use of a "mirror" as a metaphor. Is the reflection the same or the opposite? Jim S is clearly dismissing libertarians by saying the are the same as communists, which is nonsense. You are saying they are the opposite (inverted), yet "you agree'... perhaps we should also agree to no more mirror metaphors. FWIW, I am neither a Libertarian nor an Objectivist. My political views <i>are</i> "libertarian leaning", which means I have to do some <a href="http://donklephant.com/2007/06/23/i-change-my-underwear-political-party-affiliation/" rel="nofollow">party hopping</a> on an issue by issue basis to get any electoral satisfaction. TwoPears ( or is it tTwoButs?),
Sorry to step on your area of responsibility. I’ll limit my Orwell references in the future. I am still not understanding your perspective here. You agreed with Jim S statement, but seem to be saying libertarianism and communism are polar opposites, which is of course true.

I guess the confusion is in this use of a “mirror” as a metaphor. Is the reflection the same or the opposite? Jim S is clearly dismissing libertarians by saying the are the same as communists, which is nonsense. You are saying they are the opposite (inverted), yet “you agree’… perhaps we should also agree to no more mirror metaphors.

FWIW, I am neither a Libertarian nor an Objectivist. My political views are “libertarian leaning”, which means I have to do some party hopping on an issue by issue basis to get any electoral satisfaction.

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-373029 DosPeros Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:50:39 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-373029 mw - it is my job and my job alone to reference Orwell around here. My quote was that Ayn Rand was a "inverted marxists" which is to say that pure Objectivism (the philosophical creature of Rand. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)) is inverted marxism - to the extent that it rejects any external source of morality or transcendence or God and relies entirely on a schema of self-interested rationalism. Marxism, of course, does the same, but instead of relying on self-interested rationalism, goes after modes of production and class. So it is not a perfect argument, but it is there. mw – it is my job and my job alone to reference Orwell around here. My quote was that Ayn Rand was a “inverted marxists” which is to say that pure Objectivism (the philosophical creature of Rand. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objectivism_(Ayn_Rand)) is inverted marxism – to the extent that it rejects any external source of morality or transcendence or God and relies entirely on a schema of self-interested rationalism. Marxism, of course, does the same, but instead of relying on self-interested rationalism, goes after modes of production and class. So it is not a perfect argument, but it is there.

]]> By: mw http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-372929 mw Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:46:18 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-372929 <i>“Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror.� </i> I guess I have to agree . This is absolutely true, in the same sense that: "Left is just Right in the mirror" "Freedom is just Slavery in the mirror" "War is just Peace in the mirror" "Ignorance is just Strength in the mirror" The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four" rel="nofollow"> Ministry of Truth</a> has a job for you guys. “Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror.�

I guess I have to agree . This is absolutely true, in the same sense that:

“Left is just Right in the mirror”
“Freedom is just Slavery in the mirror”
“War is just Peace in the mirror”
“Ignorance is just Strength in the mirror”

The Ministry of Truth has a job for you guys.

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-372384 DosPeros Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:44:00 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-372384 "Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror." I agree and so did Russell Kirk. He considered Ayn Rand an "inverted marxist." My father was involved heavily in the conservative movement in the 1950's-60's in academia. Brian Doherty gives a fascinating and impassioned talk about the libertarianism/conservative divergence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFDYqFzGVA "We will never end wars until we understand why the garage service should be removed from the police force. That is government." Words of infinite wisdom. “Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror.” I agree and so did Russell Kirk. He considered Ayn Rand an “inverted marxist.” My father was involved heavily in the conservative movement in the 1950’s-60’s in academia.

Brian Doherty gives a fascinating and impassioned talk about the libertarianism/conservative divergence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiFDYqFzGVA

“We will never end wars until we understand why the garage service should be removed from the police force. That is government.” Words of infinite wisdom.

]]> By: Jim S http://donklephant.com/2007/07/16/curing-libertarian-political-impotence-a-prescription-for-electile-dysfunction/comment-page-1/#comment-371675 Jim S Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:53:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3765#comment-371675 There cannot be a real place in the political center for a radical movement that's completely out of touch with modern reality. Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror. There cannot be a real place in the political center for a radical movement that’s completely out of touch with modern reality. Libertarianism is just communism in the mirror.

]]>