As a minarchist, which “minimal government” would you pick? Only things such as government fire protection, government policing, military, government-controlled roads, and government courts? Other minarchists might have other preferences. Some would include “securing the borders” or other Big Government welfare programs.
Author: Kent McManigal
Market Always Superior to Government
With a market business, if I don’t like their service I can choose to not use them. I can use a competitor or do without. They know you have a choice, so If they want to stay in business they can’t poison their customers.
Aim Small, Miss Small (or Maybe Don’t Miss at All)
The world will always try to fight against your aim. If you have a crosswind you have to take it into account, but still with the intention of hitting the target. By the same token, if you allow statism to push you in the direction it is blowing, you’ll never hit the target of individual liberty.
The Socialist Century (-ies?)
The 20th Century should be known as the Socialist Century. My hope would be that it would be a singular mistake, not repeated in the 21st Century. But I’m not optimistic. Judging by current trends, we may be entering Socialist Century 2.0. And it may end up being even worse than the previous century before it’s over and done.
Cooperation is Libertarian
Recently someone kept trying to say that I was against cooperation; that cooperation is against libertarian principles, so I have to be against it. Even after I explicitly said several times that I think cooperation is a great thing, and I’m completely in favor of it.
There’s No Way to Know Everything
It’s enough to know when something violates other people’s rights and liberty; to understand I have no right to violate others even if I can’t know with certainty how things would go if no one violates them.
Uninformed, Misinformed, Brainwashed Statists
Any bland “news” story about the “arrest” of a drug dealer, and the drugs, cash, and guns confiscated from him, is a nest of lies– opinions, if I were to be nice about it. It will assume statism. It will assume the legitimacy of prohibition, “taxation”, government police, “gun control” [sic], “laws”, the “justice system”, and a hundred other things which shouldn’t be assumed.
Past Racism is The Ugly Past
In the midst of my racism, I had a really good “black” friend. He always called me a “nigger” and I called him a “honkey”– the most common racist slurs used by ignorant people against each group at that place and time. When we were hanging out I would “talk black” and he would “talk white”. We switched roles in every way we could think of.
“Less Emotional; More Reasoned”
The first time I encountered social psychologist Jonathan Haidt I had a kind of visceral dislike for him. I don’t even know why. However, I have since listened to more of his interviews and lectures and found some pearls there– the instinctive dislike I felt at first has largely faded.
Taking The Bait; Abandoning The High Ground
If something is necessary, it can’t be unethical, and if something is unethical it can’t be a necessity. Maybe you can’t see another way, but it’s there. It is never necessary to rape a baby, in other words.