User:Silver Sloth/Libertarian principles critique

Preamble
I got involved in a series of debates about Libertarianism (or I'm all right Jackism as I prefer to call it so don't expect a NPOV). After a while it became apparent that the debate was a complete waste of time. I felt that my points were being ignored or misunderstood and I guess my opponent felt the same way. What should have been lively debate quickly degenerated into an abusive shouting match. However, it did prompt me to want to formally state why I dislike Libertarianism so.

The main complaints made against me were ignorance and misunderstanding. It was assumed that anyone who fully knew and understood the Libertarian way would be an instant convert. To research I therefore went on the Libertarian website and followed a few links to this statement of Libertarian Principles which was adopted in their 2008 Denver convention. It should therefore be representative of the current official Libertarian line.

The first thing I notice is that it's all about rights, with nothing about duties or responsibilities. Ask not what you can do for your country, ask rather what your country can do for you, as a former president did not put it.

Here's a side-by-side of the various principles with my woolly, Guardian reading, muesli eating, sandals with socks wearing response.

The paragraph numbering is mine but I follow the same order and have neither added nor deleted anything from the original.

Conclusions
Whilst at first glance Libertarianism appears very attractive it fast reveals itself as a policy for the haves, a Gordon Gekko Greed Is Good viewpoint where those who cannot compete are 'inefficient'. There are plenty of precedents to show where such policies lead. Surely the greatest experiment in free market laissez faire economics was in Britain in the latter half of the 19th century, a time when incredible fortunes were made by the rich as the poor suffered in the slums. I am glad that we have moved beyond those times and would do whatever I could to prevent their return.

Personally I feel that the mark of a civilisation is how it looks after it's weaker members and, for the Libertarian, the answer is that it doesn't. I therefore reject it.