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Category Archives: Libertarianism

[155] Gary Johnson’s Libertarianism, WHCD: Journalism in Decline, Classified US History – Video

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[155] Gary Johnson #39;s Libertarianism, WHCD: Journalism in Decline, Classified US History
Abby Martin Breaks the Set on Libertarianism with Gov. Gary Johnson, US #39; Classified History, and the Decline of Journalism LIKE Breaking the Set @ http://fb....

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[155] Gary Johnson's Libertarianism, WHCD: Journalism in Decline, Classified US History - Video

WSJ Columnist Goes Bonkers On Rand Paul For ‘Loathsome,’ ‘Liberationist’ Streak Of Libertarianism

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If the last week has made anything clear about the Wall Street Journal editorial board, its that they sure do not like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and his libertarian-leaning views on civil liberties.

Last Monday, the paper ran an editorial column lashing Sen. Paul and other libertarian-ish legislators who keep insisting that the U.S. homeland is not part of the terror battlefield in the wake of the Boston bombings. The editorial board asserted that Paul, several GOP colleagues, and anti-antiterror types on the left were making the U.S. more vulnerable by defending the bombing suspects right to due process and to be tried as a citizen of the United States.

And then this Saturday, Journal editorial writer Dorothy Rabinowitz took to the papers web show to offer up what can only be described as a trashing of the Kentucky senator.

Discussing the recent question du jour of whether Paul contradicted himself by suggesting in the wake of the Boston attacks that hed be fine with police using domestic drones to defuse active shooter situations, Rabinowitz opted for a wholly cynical analysis over a simple yes or no:

What hes for is himself and his changes in the presidential sweepstake. But if you roll back the tape to that filibuster, that extraordinary performance where he is Mr. Smith goes to Washington [in a mock Southern drawl] Im just a po boy chewin ma Snickers bar here and remember that he draped himself in the Constitution and he kept presenting this utterly false picture of people being cut down by their swimming pools by American drones. Can this happen? None of this could conceivably ever happen. But its that slippery slope that people like Rand Paul and their liberationist, anti-government frenzy like to paint.

So, she believes, he changed his position after Boston because he realized hed better be on the side of protection and surveillance.

The host then changed the subject to fire off a loaded question about whether Sen. Paul and others who believe in this theory of libertarianism that we have to give [domestic terrorists] every protection are engaging in a dangerous point of view.

Surprise! Rabinowitz agreed. Not only is the view that the younger Tsarnaev brother shouldnt be tried as an enemy combatant dangerous, it is also loathsome, she said. Loathsome because it represents the streak of libertarianism that Rand Paul represents one that she fears will push him into contention.

The two then engaged in a little banter about how Rand Pauls immigration policy puts him at odds with libertarianism, willfully (and disdainfully) neglecting the fact that Rand Paul himself has shrugged the libertarian label. It really shouldnt surprise anyone that the senator is more of what wed call a conservatarian, given his socially conservative views on multiple issues, and the fact that, indeed, he is not for a much less restrictive immigration system like most libertarians are.

But, putting facts aside, this becomes a little bit of a punching-bag situation for the two WSJ talkers. Because Rand Paul doesnt conform 100-percent to what they believe is libertarianism, he is an opportunist and a hypocrite not just, you know, a politician who never once professed to be purely libertarian.

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WSJ Columnist Goes Bonkers On Rand Paul For ‘Loathsome,’ ‘Liberationist’ Streak Of Libertarianism

Walter Block defining Libertarianism and Austrian Economics (Relate4ever Publishing interview) – Video

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Walter Block defining Libertarianism and Austrian Economics (Relate4ever Publishing interview)
Walter Block earned his PhD in Economics at Columbia University. He is an author, editor, and co-editor of many books which include Defending the Undefendabl...

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Walter Block defining Libertarianism and Austrian Economics (Relate4ever Publishing interview) - Video

Libertarianism challenges the old left-right divide

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U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in Lexington, Ky., in a file photo from Oct. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

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In a recent article in Politico, reporter James Hohmann says that libertarianism, long considered a radical movement stereotyped as pro-pot, pro-porn and pro-pacifism, is moving into the mainstream.

Led by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., he writes, libertarians hope to become a dominant wing of the Republican Party by tapping into a potent mix of war weariness, economic anxiety and frustration with federal overreach in the fifth year of Barack Obama's presidency.

The retirement of Paul's father, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, long a libertarian icon but considered slightly goofy, is allowing the movement to try to rebrand itself as a reasonable and serious element of the GOP.

In a rebuttal to the Politico article, though, Reason.com says the movement is trendy because Ron Paul's ideas received an airing during his two presidential campaigns, not because of any efforts by the younger Paul.

According to NPR, Rand Paul himself may have aspirations toward a 2016 presidential run, which would likely raise questions about what many consider the mixed legacy of his father.

When it comes to actually winning elections, however, the movement faces steep challenges: Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who ran as the Libertarian Party candidate in 2012, received 1.2 million votes, or 1 percent.

THE TAKEAWAY: Rand Paul's filibuster was a paradigm buster.

"Rand Paul is a very canny politician," Matt Welch, the editor of Reason, told host Tom Weber. "His filibuster [against U.S. drone policy] was a pretty epic moment in American politics ... partly because of the way it completely scrambled the usual left-right paradigm. You had Code Pink and Van Jones giving him a high-five, and you had Bill Kristol denouncing him, and Lindsey Graham and John McCain calling him wacko bird, and this kind of thing. And it really sheds light on the fact that our traditional left-right paradigm isn't always the best way to look at things. Sometimes it's better to look at things in terms of 'Do you favor government intervention,' or 'Do you favor more individual autonomy and control over your life?'

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Libertarianism challenges the old left-right divide

Anarchism, Socialism

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Anarchism, Socialism Libertarianism Summit - Alternatives for Peace
Russia Today hosted libertarian Austin Petersen, anarchist Scott Crow and socialist Eugene Puryear for a discussion featuring alternative viewpoints. Discussed were civil liberties, economics,...

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Libertarianism goes mainstream

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Stereotyped for decades as pro-pot, pro-porn and pro-pacifism, libertarians are becoming mainstream.

Fair or not, Ron Paul epitomized to a swath of voters the caricature of a goofy grandpa who invests in gold, stockpiles guns, sees black helicopters whirling overhead and quotes Friedrich Hayek.

His ride into the sunset combined with an evolving electoratess move away from hot-button social issues gives a new libertarian guard the opportunity to rebrand their governing philosophy as more reasonable, serious and compatible with the Republican Party.

Led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), libertarians hope to become a dominant wing of the GOP by tapping into a potent mix of war weariness, economic anxiety and frustration with federal overreach in the fifth year of Barack Obamas presidency.

(Also on POLITICO: 12 GOP senators back Paul on gun filibuster)

The countrys continuing fixation on fiscal issues, especially spending and debt, allows them to emphasize areas of agreement with conservative allies who are looking for ways to connect with Republicans who arent passionate about abortion or same-sex marriage. A Democratic administration ensures consensus on the right that states should get as much power as possible.

Ron Paul, who has been speaking at college campuses since retiring from the House to Texas at the end of the year, feels that more Republicans are either engaging or co-opting the ideas he spent a career espousing on monetary policy, foreign policy and civil liberties.

(PHOTOS: Libertarianism goes mainstream)

The viewpoint of the libertarian is weve been doing the wrong thing for a long time, he said in an interview. The group thats in Washington now is going to have tremendous opportunity because theres a lot more disenchantment.

Its better late than never, he added.

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Libertarianism goes mainstream

Bill Maher Goes After Libertarianism on ‘Real Time’ (Video)

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With Libertarianism beginning to get an increased amount of media coverage over the past few weeks, comedian Bill Maher decided to tackle the ideology and its growing popularity during his New Rule segment on this weeks Real Time.

Insisting that he at one point identified with Libertarians, Maher noted that the philosophy had been corrupted and ruined by people obsessed with Ayn Rand. He essentially reiterated what many Libertarians have been saying ever since Rand Paul became the rights newest star: that while true Libertarianism has many appealing qualities, the conservative Republicans currently masquerading as something other than that (like Paul) do little more than muddy up peoples understanding of what Libertarianism truly is.

"To everyone who keeps trying to shame me about abandoning my Libertarian moorings, my message is this: I didn't go nuts, this movement did. Like when you see a stop light, your reaction should be 'Great, an easy way to ensure we don't all crash into each other,' not, 'How dare the government tell me when I can and cannot go," he said.

You can check out Mahers entire rant in the video below.

Sources: Huffington Post, Inquisitr

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Bill Maher Goes After Libertarianism on ‘Real Time’ (Video)


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