Five More Stupid Things About Libertarianism

As voted by my Patreon patrons, here are five more stupid things about the ideology held by the folks you hope you never wind up talking politics with at a party: libertarianism.

Watch the original "Five Stupid Things About Libertarianism" here:

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[Troubleshooter]

A poser for those who would promote libertarianism: how do you, to cite the constitution, "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, " et cetera WITHOUT some kind of contribution (taxes!) from the populace said government is supposed to serve?!?

And PLEASE don't tell me we're supposed to self-regulate.  I'm an engineer, not a sociologist, but even I know what a pipe dream that is!

[gothatfunk]

once i declared my political philosophy as _Socialist Libertarianism_.
many viewers went into apoplexy.
i was once asked how i could be in favour of socialised healthcare and consider myself in any sense Libertarian. i replied "because people are more important than ideology" this simple statement seems to go right over the  heads of some of them.

no political philosophy is sound if it favours only one segment of society.

[garethspotfur]

libertarians are the ones who think dickens "a christmas carol" has a bad ending.

[visigoda]

Afghanistan by definition has a very small government because their public expenditure is very small. So they would technically fit the small government paradigm of libertarianism. However, because their public expenditure is so small another institution (Taliban) became a de facto new government. Libertarians can't never explain this; in a libertarian or anarcho-capitalist society, what's stopping a business or a religion entity from becoming a de facto government?

[BrandonDavis]

Another stupid thing is how they preach about the free market, but if the employees of a company decide to assemble together to form a union and collectively bargain their own wage they will do anything within their power to stop it.

[ElectricUnicycleCrew]

For a liberal video, this was alright. I implore you to look into left-wing libertarianism, which has historically rejected market economics and recognises not just government tyranny but also the tyranny of capitalism, racism, sexism, etc. Also, left-wing libertarians have struggled for many important social reforms that liberals often unduly take credit for - the 8-hour day, child labour laws, the weekend, etc.

[lemonwedge]

I don't know what is more entertaining...this video (well done) or the incessant howling of Libertarian defenders in your comments. They are truly the flat-earthers of economics.

[Quintinohthree]

I'd say number 3 sums it all up. If libertarianism is the idea that having more freedom is better, it's wrong because a freedom you cannot enjoy is worthless.

[bryan]

About #4: The Austrian view on economics is not empirical because they view economics as qualitative rather than quantitative. It's rooted in the idea of subjective value, that value can't be quantified. The axioms, such as the action axioms, are said to be logically self-justifying. It's not simply them rationalizing their own selfishness, as you put it. It's a claim about the nature of value and the economy itself.

[mjr]

"Shane Killian doesn't speak for me. I'm pretty sure he's insane." -Adam Smith

[PsychoholicSlag]

Came here for the Star Trek content, then I stumbled upon these videos... and all I can say now is that I fucking love you, man. My country is about to elect a libertarian president, a fucking delusional Austrian school scollar, and all I can see ahead is the road to the cyberpunk dystopia

[BountyFlamor]

Maybe Ron Paul should run for president in Somalia instead.

[INLF]

Yeah we Austrians are great in exporting our worst ideas like national socialism and Austrian school of economics in to the world...
As an Austrian I'm deeply sorry and ashamed for that...

[Bill_Garthright]

Nice job, Steve. I know several atheists who are libertarians, which always surprises me, since libertarianism is so entirely faith-based.

Communists, too, tend to be atheists, while communism is also faith-based. Funny, isn't it? Communists recognize that libertarianism is faith-based, while libertarians recognize that communism is faith-based, but neither have a problem with the complete lack of evidence backing up their OWN beloved ideology. They just have faith.

I guess that's just human nature, but I still find it bizarre. We need evidence-based thinking in all fields of endeavor, but even those who are rational when it comes to some issues can't always separate their fondest wishes from reality when it comes to others.

[zachgilm]

Best part about Libertarianism is watching them complain when their own ideas screw them over. Like when that one bakery shut down after discriminating against a gay couple. Suddenly they stopped caring about the free market, and were so concerned about needing freedom of speech and what not.

[geoffreysorkin]

Eh, Somalia is a Libertarian nation and its a wonderful country, right??

[CaptainMikul]

Couple more things I've noticed. 

1. Libertarians who aren't the "free market fetishist" types are really pissed that people view their name in this way. Liberatarian encompasses a load of basically unrelated schools of thought, some of which focus on personal liberties and to hell with the economics, others are obsessed with economics, etc. 

2. I was talking with a right-Libertarian, who had been to conferences in Chicago and had basically had a "Libertarian Camp" experience, and his system of government basically fell back to "4 well meaning judges of contract violations" who aren't democratically elected but "Really, really support the values of libertarianism". I don't want to say that's all right libertarians though. 

3. At the intersection of MRAs and Libertarians, you have people complaining about totally legitimate men's rights issues, then wanting to take away the one thing that could help make it better.

[VendettatheGreat]

I identify as a libertarian and found this video not infuriating, but amusing. It also provides some voice of argument to the fundamental concepts we believe in. And for that reason, I appreciate your criticism of our ideals. That being said, I still believe in a mixed/mostly free market, lower taxes, and greater protection of civil liberties simply because it helps me sleep at night.

[scagooch]

Endless service fees from banks good. Taxes for roads and services are theft.

[apinakapina]

I'm not sure what's up with "internet libertarians". I've discussed with a few of them, and those took their argument to some kind of frivolous extreme. "Taxes are theft" is a good example, but it goes way deeper than that. The point about disregarding all we know about human behaviour and relying on some kind of ideal is a good one. It's hard to have a discussion when the other party seems to live in completely different reality.