Private Property Initiates Force

The cornerstone of radical libertarian thinking is the idea that private property does not initiate force. Consequently, the radical libertarian believes that he or she can simultaneously believe in private property while opposing the initiation of force. But since private property does in fact initiate force, radical libertarianism must either be rejected or at least be grounded on some other principle.

Are Libertarian Ideas Popular?

Most Libertarian Party members are populists. A populist is a person who believes that his ideas are popular - the masses agree with him. I have never been able to figure out why an LP member believes this, and why LP members believe this to be important. But it appears to be a critical article of faith in the LP. If you express doubt or disagreement with it, you are labeled unprincipled or "not a libertarian". But the fact is, most people do not agree with libertarian ideas. In my opinion, it would be better if libertarians would accept the fact that their ideas are unpopular, and design their strategy accordingly.

The Socialist Party: Mission Accomplished?

Sometimes libertarians say that it is necessary for the LP to remain radical, since the Socialist Party of Eugene Debs remained radical, thus forcing the mainstream elected officials to adopt its policies, and once its policies had been adopted it could disband, mission accomplished. This is an urban myth. It was the Progressives, who were selective interventionists and single-issue activists, not the socialists, who more than likely influenced the political debate. But even the Progressives were joined by many other people who advocated change. And the Socialists favored government ownership, and not merely government regulation, of industry, something that did not come about. I kindly request that people stop insulting my intelligence by continuing to spread this urban myth.

The Paradox of Radical Libertarianism

The radical libertarianism favored by may LP members bears an eerie similarity to . . . Communism! Remember, Communism was, in theory, a society of unanimity where the state had “withered away”; this is precisely what many LP members favor. And the fact that there was to be no private property in the Communist society is of no consequence, since the failure of any individual to establish a claim to property is in no way at variance with libertarian teaching. And the fact that Communism in practice varied greatly with Communism in theory is also of no consequence; idealism in practice frequently deviates from idealism in theory. Which makes one wonder whether a type of “pure” libertarianism in practice would result in the same type of repression as what occurred under Communism.

Increasing the Minimum Wage

The State of Illinois recently raised its minimum wage. I submitted the following comment to my local newspaper: "Unless there is also imposed a maximum wage, then an increase in the minimum wage will bid up all other wages, and there will then be no net benefit for the minimum wage earners. Unless the government can prevent prices for goods and services from rising, then an increase in the minimum wage will bid up prices for goods and services, and there will then be no net benefit for the minimum wage earners." An increase in the minimum wage is therefore nothing more than empty symbolism. No one attempted to rebut my contention.