On Distilling the Libertarian Worldview
While libertarianism is a broad movement, there are some major misconceptions about our core beliefs that need to be dispelled by a short set of beliefs that unite people across the political spectrum
Dear Friends,
If you were going to write a book summarizing libertarian values for a mass audience, how many beliefs would be sufficient to cover a general outlook?
Getting it down to just one seems difficult.
Be Kind would be the simplest way to put it, a step above respectful to actively caring about the best interest of others. Even the hyperindividualists see their pursuit of their own rational self interest as a form of kindness to others, as described in Ayn Rand’s “The Virtue of Selfishness.”
Matt Kibbe got it down to two core values in his book, “Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff,” which exemplifies the “Live and let live” mindset that is a core founding principle of the United States as well as a succinct statement of libertarian values.
Governor Gary Johnson got it down to “Seven Principles of Good Government” in his book published before his 2012 campaign for President.
Those seven are:
1. Become reality-driven.
2. Tell the truth.
3. Do what is right and fair.
4. Develop a plan to reach that goal, and then act.
5. Make sure that everyone who ought to know knows what you’re doing.
6. Acknowledge mistakes immediately.
7. Find a job you love enough to do what it takes.
Mutual respect is one of the key ones that needs more champions these days. In a society where people have different views on how to live their own lives, giving each other the space to make peaceful errors in judgment, to choose paths that others might not approve of, is necessary to maintain our own freedom to choose.
It is a shallow understanding of libertarian ethics that fights only for the freedom of others to make choices that you agree with. True self-determination needs the space for people to make bad choices. Freedom of conscience and freedom of dissent work best in a society that avoids compulsion in its laws and norms.
One approach that shows promise is focusing effort on libertarian policy changes that benefit the broadest number of people.
There are still thirteen American states that tax groceries, a tax that effects everyone who has to eat food to sustain their life, and taking some of the money that they would spend on sustaining their life and placing it in the trusted pockets of elected government officials to spend on things other than food that sustains life.
It’s regressive, it contributes to food insecurity, and it is fundamentally unjust to take money from people for the privilege of buying food.
At the Libertarian Policy Foundation, we decided to make ending grocery taxes in America one of our key libertarian policy priorities. We are educating people about the cost of grocery taxes, the injustice that grocery taxes continue, and the benefits of having their state catch up to the 37 states where you can buy food for your family without the government taking a cut.
A libertarian policy like this one crosses partisan lines.
Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and independents all overwhelmingly oppose taxing groceries. We have achieved great progress by training candidates how to run for office on this popular kind of policy and they end up getting the policy adopted even in those races where they didn’t prevail at the ballot box.
Being a voice for those people who don’t have your privileges, standing up for the rights of the least among us in society, that is something that unites all people of goodwill.
Maybe it does all come back to “Be Kind,” which naturally leads to working together to uphold the natural right of everyone to self determination, especially those who are less able to stand up for their own rights.
How would you distill your worldview?
Yours truly,
Nick