Here are some of the Libertarian Party's positions on various social and political issues of our time. Read through them and respond to the questions I've asked at the end of the blog post.
1.0 Personal Liberty
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.
1.1 Expression and Communication
We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.
1.2 Personal Privacy
Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.
1.3 Personal Relationships
Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption,immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.
1.4 Abortion
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.
1.5 Crime and Justice
Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.
1.6 Self-Defense
The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense.
We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
2.0 Economic Liberty
Libertarians want all members of society to have abundant opportunities to achieve economic success. A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute
wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.
2.1 Property and Contract
Property rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights. The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy, their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others. We oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates. We advocate the repeal of all laws banning or restricting the advertising of prices, products, or services. We oppose all violations of the right to private property, liberty of contract, and freedom of trade. The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever. Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.
2.2 Environment
We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses, are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior.
2.3 Energy and Resources
While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.
2.4 Government Finance and Spending
All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.
2.5 Money and Financial Markets
We favor free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies and unconstitutional legal tender laws.
2.6 Monopolies and Corporations
We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies based on voluntary association. We seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals. We oppose government subsidies to business, labor, or any other special interest. Industries should be governed by free markets.
2.7 Labor Markets
We support repeal of all laws which impede the ability of any person to find employment. We oppose government-fostered forced retirement. We support the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions, and an employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a union. We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.
2.8 Education
Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
2.9 Health Care
We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health
insurance across state lines.
2.10 Retirement and Income Security
Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. Libertarians would phase out the current government-sponsored Social Security system and transition to a private voluntary system. The proper and most effective source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals. We believe members of society will become more charitable and civil society will be strengthened as government reduces its activity in this realm.
3.0 Securing Liberty
The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.
3.1 National Defense
We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.
3.2 Internal Security and Individual Rights
The defense of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government's use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law.
3.3 International Affairs
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by
political or revolutionary groups.
3.4 Free Trade and Migration
We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a credible threat to security, health or property.
3.5 Rights and Discrimination
We condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. Government should not deny or abridge any individual's rights based on sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference or sexual orientation. Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs.
3.6 Representative Government
We support electoral systems that are more representative of the electorate at the federal, state and local levels. As private voluntary groups, political parties should be allowed to establish their own rules for nomination procedures, primaries and conventions. We call for an end to any tax-financed subsidies to candidates or parties and the repeal of all laws which restrict voluntary financing of election campaigns. We oppose laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties, deny ballot access, gerrymander districts, or deny the voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives.
3.7 Self-Determination
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.
Take a moment, reflect on, and respond to the questions below:
Which one (or more than one) of these Libertarian positions do you find unacceptable? Why do you find it unacceptable? Or, do you agree with all of them? What about these Libertarian positions do you find agreeable? Why do you like them?
If you find all of these Libertarian positions acceptable, how did you respond to the torture question on the last blog post? Can you justify waterboarding and be a Libertarian? How do you justify the two positions that seem to be at odds? Is there a tension between torturing people for the security of the collective nation and between the libertarian belief in the inherent rights of the individual?
At what point does the security of the national collective become more important than the inherent and Constitutionally affirmed rights of the individual? When does it become legitimate to torture the individual for the security of the collective? Does it ever become legitimate?
I have to disagree with the one on personal relarionships. It says that the government shouldn't have any input on adoption or child custody. I disagree because you need to do the background checks and see if the parents are responsible and loving enough to take care of the kids. On the othere hand I think they should keep out of the business of people and their preference on the sex they like. Its a personal preference that shouldn't effect the outocme of situations. The ones I do agree with is the ones on abortion and health care. The government shouldn't be involved in a persons decision on whether they want to keep their child or not. Although Im against it everyone should have their right to choose. When it comes to health care I agree that we should get free health care because some people can't afford it but desperately need it. Libertarian is nice but there are still things in it that aren't so realistic.
ReplyDeleteKatelyn SIne 100.04
At first glance all of these seem to be good and helpful. I however dissagree with the idea of not government regulated schooling, with out a regulated schooling people would have to pay and thus leave the less fortunate to lower education. This would lead to class struggle and would eventually get rid of the middle class. Another part i dont like is the part about health care. for the same reason as education, some people cannot pay for themselves and if it is all private they would not be able to pay for it. This seems like the perfect idea of government, but i feel as though it is a fantasy.
ReplyDeleteColin Springer PSCI 100.03
I think that are certain things that the government should and shouldnt be apart of in Americans lives. The government should definitly be part of the schooling and education system. Without it citizens wouldnt get a good education because they would have no one to help pay for it. I do beleive the government should stay out of parents choices of they want to adopt children or not,but with a simple background check to make sure they are capable of taking care of kids. I strongly beleive that everyone that is a citizen in the US should all have free health care because if someone if poor and cant take care of their family that they should die for that reason, I think is very wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above post that government should and should not be part of our lives. There are certain aspects, such as finances, defense systems and education that would almost be impossible to function without a set system. It would be absolute chaos without any type of government, but when it gets to the point of the way a totalitarian government is run and the people have no say without realizing they dont have a say and they are so brain washed they dont even know why they are doing what they are doing thats when i dont agree with the way that type of government is run. Its like in class when we were going over traits that make up a totalitarian government and the traits that make up an authoritarian government the simple traits almost make a totalitarian government look more functional, like the corruption in a totalitarian government are low where as in a authoritiarian gov. they are high but thats because there are more individuals. Overall there just needs to be a balance between liberitarian and totalitarian to have a functioning society that is not brainwashed.
ReplyDeleteCasie Mand
100.03
A totalitarian government seems so impossible to exist. It is overwhelmingly oppressive, managing everyone’s lives and dictating it down to the finest detail. Yet the amazing thing is how the North Koreans accept it. They live everyday scrutinized, indoctrinated, and handicapped by the very leader they come love and praise. It is interesting what the human mind can come to accept as normal. I however believe everyone has a right to personal freedom and therefore think that that form of government is terrible. The comparison between North and South Korea in their economic development gives support to my belief and shows how the totalitarian government crippled itself through its own regulations.
ReplyDeleteDavid Hickerson 100.04
Most of the positions of the Libritarian party seem great on paper but may not in practice so much. Still even in concept I have to disagree with their stand Education becase I believe everyone should have equal chance of going to school and that wouldn't happen if the families were poor. The security of the national collective a becomes more important that the rights of the individual when every individual of the country is at personal risk of harm. If everyone is at risk for harm shouldn't everyone want to protect thier rights? Torture of an individual is never legitimate for the security of the collective. Their is no excuse for the sometimes irreversable mental and physical harm that is torture. In a libritrian view that would be violating the individual's rights, which hold above eveything else that is happening.
ReplyDeleteI don't think a total libertarian government is realistic nor would it be efficient. I do not see a big difference betwen libertarianisnm and anarchism. Both systems want to do away with government interferrence;the difference seems to be that libertarians still want to be afforded the privelege of government security from those outside our borders. Like my classmates, I think the government should play a part in education. If education was left to the free market not only would some people go without, but the curriculum would vary immensly from one neighborhood to the next. This would cause alot of problems when trying to continue ones education at another school or even when trying to get a job. Many private schools I know of do have higher standards but they also come with a huge price tag. A friend of mine pays 850.00/ month for her 6th grader to get an education. This is not realistic for most. Schools regulated by the government could increase their standards and the quality of education if they allocated the money for it and if parents remembered their role in childrens education. I also believe government should provide security of the nation. However defending from attack is way different from sticking our noses into the business of other countries, which I believe it does under the guise of protecting human rights when in reality it may be more about protecting the financial interests of a few. People should have a right to their own body, whether that is the right to an abortion or the right to fill it with drugs; each individual then suffers the consequences of their decisions. But if another's decision infringes upon the welfare of another then there needs to be government intervention. For example if someone wants to get high in their home it should be ok, but laws need to be in place restricting driving under the influence since this jepordizes the lives of other people. Things left to the free market without regulation are not always the best. In West Virginia the standards of building a home are not as regulated as in other states and home inspections were optional when I bought my house. Many saftey features then are not up to "code" and quality suffers as a result of builders trying to save a buck. I think government provides a level of quality assurance and personally I would rather pay taxes to have them maintain roads than rely on independent parties to decide what is good enough to get by.
ReplyDeletepsci 100.04
I disagree with Libertarian governments standing on Internal Security and individual rights. I think that if a person wants to be secure and safe there are certain situations that can impose temporarily on a person's civil rights. The Patriot Act may temporarily affect a person's civil rights but to protect the entire country. To limit the government from acting on something because it violates on person's civil rights. There are different aspects of the type of government that could be beneficial to certain societies but with that little interference of government could be dangerous in different situations.
ReplyDeleteLaura Bright
Political Science 100.05
I agree with my classmates in that a libertarian government looks great listed out in an orderly fashion but isn't as realistic when applied to a real live country. Libertarian views on Education stuck out to me especially. The idea of a locally operated education system where parents take it upon themselves to ensure their kids receive an excellent education would be great if it was realistic to expect that from the parent of every child. There are parents who would be willing to go above and beyond to ensure top notch education would be offered to their children but in most cases this is very unlikely. People have jobs that they must be devoted to in order to provide for their children that usually do not allow for much free time to regulate an education system.
ReplyDeleteIn a libertarian regime, those jobs would be even more important considering government forced retirement and social security benefits would be eliminated. In my opinion, forced retirement accompanied by social security benefits is one of the most important aspects of our society. With the technological booms that have taken over this century the value of the elderly has unfortunately gone down. Forced retirement and the like is one of the only ways to ensure senior citizens receive the benefits they've worked for their entire lives. Some would say that the elderly should be saving their entire lives but there's always the case of natural occurrences such as fire, floods, tornadoes, etc.
The Libertarian approach towards national security and international affairs is also questionable. Libertarians seem to be extremely concerned over the well being of the individual and not concerned at all with the others surrounding the country. Complete isolation from other countries in my opinion, is not the smartest thing to do. More often than not, allied countries can be very useful when it comes to foreign invasion or national distress. Libertarianism claims to be extremely peace oriented but when everyone is concerned with the individual and the individual's concerns, peace between individuals is usually the last thing on anyone's mind.
Sheridan Webb
PSCI 100.05
Many of these position favor my vote. They are for individualism and emphasize freedom. You live your life how you want to thinking and doing what you think is best for yourself. There were a few I did find unacceptable though. One of them, deals with the money and financial market. I believe the competition between the two and between each other can benefit the people as well as it may hurt some. The competition will bring in business. It will make people have to chose where to place their money and the best things the money holders have to offer. With the competition, one company may be able to carry a 3% interest rate and another one 1%. This can help people save their money and have it grow as best they can and without the competition, I don't think that process could even happen. Another position I don't agree with is the education. Many parents send their child to public school to let someone else give their child a fair shot at an education. Just because their child goes to school doesn't mean that the parents life now has to revolve around the child. Although the child is the parent's responsibility, the government provided sources to teach the children so the school systems we have today work well and we don't need to rely on parents. As for the national defense. I HIGHLY agree with this one. I am aware that the US has debts and treaties and such things with other countries and we must stay true to those, but there is only so much one country could do for another. The US could save it self so much money just for slowly cutting off their help they so freely supply. "Entangling alliances" will only hurt the people, tax payers, soldiers, and every single person in the US just as much as when the US tries to "police." Other countries cannot be babied and will need to learn how to deal themselves and govern their country. The US just needs to start to keep out.
ReplyDelete100.4
I think abortion is unacceptable. I know mistakes happen but it's unfair to that unborn child to lose his/ her life over someone else's mistakes. I don't necessarily agree with homosexual relationships- if they're into the same sex that's fine by me, but I don't agree with those couples being able to adopt children, it's not right to me. Boys and girls both need a mother and father figure, it's not right to have two mother or two father figures. Other than that I agree with all the other Libertarian positions. I still find water boarding 100% unacceptable- if torturing is not allowed in the US we shouldn't take people out of our country to torture them, it's not right at all and they're being hypocritical.
ReplyDeleteTheoni Kontos
PSCI 100.03
I agree with almost all of these points, but I also feel that they would not go so smoothly in the real world. Anything can look good on paper but that does not mean that the world will fall into line so perfectly. The main point that I do not agree with is the issue of money. I feel that falling back to using a bartering system would be a huge down fall. Using a standard legal tender really helps open up the economy and lets everyone be able to survive/ flourish. Again I know that a bartering system would not function as smoothly in the real would than it would on paper.
ReplyDeleteBen Hackett
100.03
I honestly don't completely agree with any of these. However I do like how free market is important and that local business should succeed, because that is a problem I think the US has today, but that shouldn't be achieved through bartering or any way an individual pleases. I think the National Defense policy described here is completely opposite of what the United states does. Even if the libertarian view is to not help out other countries in any way, I think it shouldn't be a policy. You have to decide whether to help or not as the need comes. The United States shouldn't stretch themselves to thin, but if it can help the US should definatley.
ReplyDeleteHannah Hime 100.04
I agree with most of these points, but, like Ben Hackett said, they probably wouldn't go over too well in reality. Even so, I do think that these are all fantastic ideas on paper. I like all of these views because they focus on rights and giving individuals their rights back from the government. I do think, however, that some form of government is necessary...and even more of a government than the liberatians propose. The benefit of federal agents would be seen in crime. Not everyone would be open to this self-governing, honest ideal world and as a result there would still be evil people. We do need law enforcement and laws to protect us. On the point of water boarding: I am completely against any idea of physical or psycological torture. I believe that this falls directly in line with what I understand libertarians to stand for and against. I am starting to realize that I am easily persuaded, so last week I was totally against totalitarianism and for any kind of democracy and this week I am a libertarian.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Trupo 100.03
I agree that Libertarians have great ideas on some level, however I disagree with parts of most of them. The major disagreement I feel is unacceptable is the education of our youth. There are parents that did not receive a good education and have dropped out or have been forced out of school without the proper knowledge they need to provide for their families. If these same parents were to choose their children's education, there is a chance that these children would go only as far as their parent. I feel this limits the childrens'chances to succeed in todays society. The second disagreement I have is over the drug use. Unfortunately our youth copies our actions. So to be free to use drugs if wanted does infringe on the children being raised in this household. The children are not aware this is wrong if their family sees it as ok. I do however agree with the healthcare. I understand that the healthcare system has to have money in order to provide the best care, yet if the healthcare were free to everyone then even the people that can't afford healthcare can see a doctor. people die every year because they can not afford proper medical. So reality is we can not go without government even though at times we disagree. I feel it is important to ensure our future.
ReplyDeleteWhile taking a look at all the comments above I can see where each individual stands and how they see things in this debate. Like everyone else has said there should be a time when and when not a government should be in a person's life. I agree mostly with the Personal Liberty Act that it is up to each person to handle themselves how they want to and proceed from there. I also agree with the Personal Relationships and how the government says that they can not discrimate upon color or sexual orientation which is something I strongly agree with. I also agree with the issues brought up with abortion. This seems to be a big debate lately but I feel as though it is up to that specific person of what they can and cannot do. I don't think the government should be able to say yes or no on the issue of abortion. It's just not fair every person should have their free thought to think and do and make the decision in that situation.
ReplyDeleteHanna Simane
100.05
Katherine Martin PSCI .04
ReplyDeleteThere were parts that I agreed with, and parts I disagreed with. I completely agree that the US should not be able to intervene with other countries. In my opinion, we have no right to do this and should focus on our own problems. The two biggest problems I had with this list was with education and personal relationships, and both things for the same reason. There are many people out there that are not fit parents. That being the case, why would you let people adopt whenever they want? For all the government knows they could be crazy and abusive. Yet even knowing this the parents would not get in trouble because it is their right to do what they want with their family. Same with education. You can't just rely on parents to do exactly what they should.
When I read this section on what Libertarians believe it just seemed to be a lot of wishful thinking. It would be nice to not have to pay income taxes, however the taxes that we do pay go towards programs that many people take for granted. As far as not having the government in the school systems I think it would be a mistake. I do think that the government over steps it boundaries but I think it would be good to have required standards that need to be met. We already pay for our children to attend school; it again comes from us paying our taxes. We pay for these services whether or not the government is involved. If the government is not involved you will simply receive a bill for your portion. One of the areas that I strongly disagree with is on the retirement and income security. Obviously there are problems with social security and social welfare services, however there are many people who simply cannot afford to pay their bills let alone put money aside for their future. People are not as generous as what they suggest here and the idea of people just be more charitable seems to be again wishful thinking. It has been proven thru the generations how the poor are treated. I like the concepts of many of these ideas; I just don’t see how they would ever work. I believe there just needs to be a balance between the ideas of the Libertarians and what we currently have. As far as the water boarding is concerned, I do think a Libertarian could still believe in this practice. The Libertarian believes that the government should protect the citizens. Those that would be being tortured would not be citizens and would be threatening the security of the individuals. I think the way around their rights for the individuals is in the fact that the “enemy” does not hold the same rights as a US citizen.
ReplyDeleteKaren Martin
PSCI 100-04
The point made that I most certainly disagree with is the one regarding “personal relationships”. The government can be allowed, like all other citizens, to voice their opinion on sexual preference or practices. But, they very well should not be allowed to ban and authorize the restriction of relationships that they do not personally understand.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, in contrast, I agree with the government stepping in to assist children when they are in need. When the children or child is in a situation where they require support from individuals other than their parents, in that moment I completely understand that the government would step in. Temporary adoption and foster homes is often a better decision. The parents or caretakers that who gave up caring, and fail to protect and take care of the children themselves deserve to no longer have a child under their guardianship.
Laura Elkins
PSCI 100.4
While all these sounds really good I’m pretty sure there are a bunch of loop holes that would bring the libertarian government down rather than hold it up. I don’t think as a rule we have a restraint not to fight back once done wrong. Then again it’s all on the notions of “What ifs” because we have to actually imagine ourselves in the situation that I don’t think would ever come to pass in the society that we live in now. As far as the water boarding I still believe that if it’s against the law it should hold true across borders as well. It’s not ok to take a possible terrorist overseas in order to torture them to get information out of them. I don’t think it is ever legitimate to torture, anyone for anything.
ReplyDeleteMarChell DeShong 100.04
In some ways the libertarian views are not that much different than the type of government we have in the United States. They believe in things such as having freedom to do what they choose to do to their bodies as long as it does not harm others. Our government has amendments in place which gives citizens the right to freedom of speech, religion and the right to bear arms as long as these personal rights do not interfere with the rights of others. The one thing I disagree with is the libertarian view on education. The government should be able to have total control over schooling and the policies on going. They should also help fund the schools.
ReplyDeleteWayne Fleming 100.4
I have a slight problem with 2.2 Environment. While most people i know, including myself, are concerned for the government, it is obvious that not all people do. In the 2.2 it says that "Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems". But the issue i have with this is that wouldn't a liberal have the right to run a non- eco friendly business? would they not have the right to run the business as they please? wouldn't it be un-liberal to take that right away? or would they be ostracized?
ReplyDeleteAnother issue I have, and this has more to do with the reading, has to do with when the men try to break in the house, and kill them. Then when the one man is subdued they tell Win that he can not hurt him, etc. Then they call the civil liberties association to sort out the issue. But the one thing they assume is for both parties to tell the truth, when it would be very easy for one party to lie and thus create contradicting stories.
Yasmin Modica
PSCI 100.04
A libertarian government doesn't sound as bad as people make it out to be, well when its written down. I don't believe this form of government would actually work though if we applied it to our country today. There is parts in all these points that I agree with and disagree with. For example, the point they made about abortion. I feel like abortion is completely wrong, if that baby has a heart beat then it is a person and deserves to live...not be murdered. Yeah some people say it was an accident, or even more in depth with rape. That child is still a person and deserves to live whether its with you, a family member, or an adoption agency. Another point I found to be iffy was the point on personal relationships. I feel that the family should be in control of who they adopt, and the custody of their children. But I also believe that the government should have a little part in these acts with making the families take background checks, etc. A lot of the points on a libertarian government are iffy because they can be good and bad. But over all I think this form of government would not be an idle government to have.
ReplyDeleteAlicia Watts 100.04
A completely libertarian government doesn't seem very realistic at all because the government needs to have a little bit of a say in what people do. There mainly needs to be a balance of what the government can and cannot have a say in. After reading over the numerous positions, a majority of them do seem fair, yet there are consequences that come along with these positions. For example, poor peoples' lives will never have a chance to improve because there is no government help whatsoever. When reading the position of "Retirement and Income Security", it states that the only way that the poor can be helped is through charity from other people because they believe "society will become more charitable" in this type of society. What if society doesn't become more charitable? This will lead to an increase in people being poor and having no homes because there is no government programs to help them survive. I do agree with many of the positions that deal with equality though, such as the "Expression and Communication" and "Personal Relationships", because I don't believe government should have a say in a person's private life if it doesn't harm others. Individual rights is extremely important but when those rights are taken too far and begin to harm society as a whole, the collective needs to be put first.
ReplyDeleteKelly Sweeney
PSCI 100.05
Like a lot of the above posts, I also believe that government should and should not be part of our lives. There are aspects such as finances and education that cannot be executed correctly without a government system. I strongly agree with the "Personal Relationships" and "Expression and Communication" because I do not think the government should have any type of say in an individual life and individual rights are important.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Hudlow
PSCI 100.05
Libertarianism seems like a pipe dream to me, mainly because there are too many people alive in this world. Too many people to disagree with one another. I think that if people had the right to bear arms wherever and whenever they wanted to, LOTS of people would be dead. It seems like a government-fiction fantasy. Also I don't think it would be a good idea if, "We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid," we, as Americans, would make a lot of foreign countries mad. If we cut off funding countries that rely on our funding to function, we would put them at a major disadvantage. I understand that by cutting them off we would (eventually) dismiss foreign entanglements and problems that may arise in the future. But, we would also loose out on benefits they could in turn provide for us (maybe). To tell the truth, there is a large amount of information I find myself ignorant to much of what goes on in our government to fully respond to the slew of questions this week.
ReplyDeleteThere is a high tension between the right of the indivuidual and the collective right of all. They overlap each other and make it hard to have one with out someone being unhappy with it. and it's hard to have a happy medium between the two which is why we have the far right the far left, and everything inbetween. Libertarianism would be very hard to accomplish since everyone has gorwn up with the system we have now. it would ahve to be slowly implenmented here and there, and possibly involve another civil war because the capitalists with the money won't want it, and they have the power to stop it by any other way than revolt. Even when it came to a civil war it would still be difficult. But a civil war or overthrow of the government every once in awhile is needed to weed out the corrupt in power.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Kimberlin
100.05 PSCI
I disagree with the personal relationships point. I think that if children are going to be adopted or anything like that that background checks should be given to the parents to see if things are safe and what not. I think that the government should also be apart of the educational systems. Although the cirriculum given is sometimes pointless it is good for all children to be getting the same education to prepare for the government tests that are given to them. I do not think that libertarianism would ever work in the United States because people are too selfish and would completely take advantage of all the freedom, they already do when we live in a democracy, although the government does effect our lives i still think that we have reasonable rights and that people would take advantage of all of the freedom.
ReplyDeleteChristina Ferrara PSCI 100.03
I would have to agree with the Self-Defense Libertarian position which is; the only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense.
ReplyDeleteWe oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
I agree with this position because if we lived in a Libertarian society there would be no police force protecting and enforcing my rights as an individual. I would want to feel safe in my home or place of work. Holding a gun on me insures that my safety living day to day. For example if I didn’t have a gun and someone was trying to steal things from my house how would I get help? I could not call 9-1-1, I would need a means of trying to get these people off of my property with an intimidating force. One thing I do not find acceptable with this position is that anyone can possess a firearm and any kind as well. That is very scary for this fact, if someone was criminally insane and wanted to kill people, they would be able to do this very easily. I believe there should be legal guns and illegal guns. That would ensure that everyone would be safer. I would not want someone to be driving a tank or owning a rocket launcher, which just seems ridiculous.
I believe that the government is above our rights because the government does whatever they can to protect our Nation. Even though they are breaking our Constitutional rights it is for the greater cause. To be totally honest they have the power to cover up these actions. If we look at the Borne trilogy our government assassinates people for our National security and covers it up. If the government does something unconstitutional it is for the greater cause.
Joshua Labuhn PSCI 100.03
The views of libertarianism look good on paper and in theory they all seem like great ideas. However, in the real world things don't work out that way. For instance there are many situations that call for aggression and removal of peoples rights. In a world of only liberalism there would be no protection leaving not only the nation unprotected, but your self as well thus the coined phrase self help government. I do agree some of the views of libertarianism would be great but i don't see all of them working out and can only speak for myself but it seems to me that a lack of governmental control would be disastrous.
ReplyDeleteCordova,Jacob PSCI100:05
There are a number of things I don't agree with, and a few that I do.
ReplyDeleteThe government should interfere with personal relationships when minor children are neglected, abandoned or abused. Under a libertarian system who else would advocate for them? Otherwise, I agree that the government should not be involved in peoples’ lives as far as their personal relationships are concerned. Where marriage laws are concerned, there should be a separation of church and state. No reason why civil unions and legal marriage should be available to all under the legal system. The church is a separate function in society from government.
In Probability Broach, everyone seems reasonably sane and well-versed in the use of firearms. However, in reality, restrictions should be placed on arms when it concerns vicious criminal behavior, minors who don’t always have the capacity for judgment and consequences of their actions, and the mentally ill, who also sometimes have difficulty controlling their behavior, finding proper treatment, etc.
What a happy world it would be if we didn’t have to pay income taxes, however I do appreciate some of the things taxes make available – sewage systems, clean water, roadways, national and state parks, education. Can’t imagine how the libertarians manage these without some collective action.
There are flaws with public education; if education were to be free market, it would definitely impact the country as a whole since only the already educated or wealthy would be able to educate their children. It would create a large gap in society.
With all the medical resources this country has, it would be beneficial to all if we had socialized medical care. Think where we would be if the vaccines were no longer required or if the cost were extraordinary. Vaccinations do not always ward off illnesses completely and there could be catastrophic repercussions if an epidemic swept across the nation or the world.
I prefer the socialism version of this, similar to the way Norway cares for all of its citizens, regardless of ability or income. The elderly and disabled would fare badly through the libertarian system. Who would care for minor children if their parents were incapacitated?
I’m aware that the U.S. has the largest military presence around the world and I’m unsure whether we need that much presence, but I don’t think it should be pared down to the libertarian definition.
I agree that abortion should be available through the health care system as any other medical procedure is allowed. Various religious ethics and personal mores should not have any influence over this decision.
A little less government and a few more individual rights would be more reasonable. I really don’t like the way religion and faith have become a strong basis for legislation and voting.
I don’t think I could say when it does become legitimate to torture the individual for the security of the collective. Since I don’t know what it’s really like “out there in the war zone.” I have known people who have said that ordinary citizens can never know what its like to serve in the military in a war zone and they should not criticize or judge.
The above post - paragraph 2- should read:
ReplyDeleteNo reason why civil unions and legal marriage SHOULDN'T be available to all under the legal system.
Dee Pierce
PSCI 100.03
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with 1.3 Personal Relationships. I agree that the government should not be involved when adults choose their sexual practices and personal relationships. I feel that those decisions are extremely personal and have no effect what so ever on the government. Therefore the government should not have the right interfere. Nevertheless, I feel that government is important when determining child custody. Although it is sad when divorce puts people in this position, I think that it is important to have a neutral party to decide custody.
ReplyDeleteEmmi Shambeda
PSCI 100.05
Libertarianism, when on paper (much like what Alicia said), seems as though it would work; in reality, I believe that it would not work. Although the two cannot really be compared, Communism looked good on paper. When dictators attempted to utilize this philosophy, however, it did not work the way it should have, much to the dictator's chagrin. I agree with some of the views but disagree with others. I agree wholeheartedly with Expression and Communication. The government should not censor, regulate, or control media and technology. I feel the same with Personal Relationships. It is one's right to be whatever sexual orientation he or she pleases, whether we as individuals agree with the choices made or not. As for Property and Contract, I both agree and disagree with it. People should be able to do with their property whatever they want to a certain extent. One should not be able to have a child pornography ring running out of his or her house. I disagree with National Defense, however. The government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. If the government is for the people, then in my opinion, the government should have an organized military to protect its citizens; the government should not go into meaningless wars though. While libertarians do have good views, they also have a few which I oppose. The libertarian views seem to be a form of anarchy. One of the definitions of anarchy is "a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society." Anarchists who believe the list above usually define themselves as libertarians, although not all libertarians are anarchists.
ReplyDeleteZachary Roach
PSCI 100.04
I agree with some of Libertarian positions and some I disagree with. One of those is the personal relationships one. I agree that it is none of the government’s business about your preference of gender because no matter who you are or what you belief in you should have the same rights. I disagree that the government shouldn’t be involved with child custody and adoption. I believe that the government should be the one to decide who gets child custody so they can take on sides and not be biased to a certain side. Also the government should decide if certain people are right to adopt and do checks on them.
ReplyDeleteAshley Mellott
PSCI 100.03
Ian Hickman 100.05
ReplyDeleteLibertarianism poses a risk to the public by not requiring any regulation of firearms. Today we have a terrible problem with the misuse of such weapons and we DO regulate (i.e. registering weapons), If there were no regulations whatsoever I would fear for the safety of society. Libertarian society environmental position can’t prevent natural resources from being destroyed, or the environment from being polluted, because it rejects collective regulation and control. If the government doesn’t control the means of energy, I assume it becomes the responsibility of the public, therefore acquiring natural resources for energy production is potentially an issue for the majority of the population financially and with physical access to acquire it. Libertarians favor laissez-faire capitalism, however; market failures justify government intervention in the economy, so a nonintervention government would lead to monopolies and subdued innovation. Unregulated markets are economically unstable. I do like however; that libertarianism tends to be less concerned about small government and low taxes, and more concerned about things like police brutality, the endless bloody wars on drugs (i.e., addicts and dealers) and terror (i.e., suspected terrorists and terrorist sympathizers), women affected by abortion laws, and the immigrants affected by anti-immigration laws. I conclude that the legitimiacy of a governmental regime comes from the overall positive influence on the majority of a localities citizens, and the individual rights must be formulated around that. It is selfish to care only about one’s own well being and not what’s at best interest for the rest of the population. As for torture, it is legitimate only if an act of terror has been committed against the group inflicting it. It is legitimate because if there is no retaliation, who is to say it won’t happen again?
With these Libertarian principles, I agree with Personal liberty, personal privacy, personal relationships, crime and justice, self-defense, labor markets, and national defense because those policies are in favor of the citizen's best interest. I disagree with the education, health care, ane retirement and income security policy because the government leaves all funding up to the citizens. It should be the government's job to fund education, retirement, and health care not the citizens. I don't believe torturing should be a legitimate reason for the security of the collective.
ReplyDeleteBrandi Parsons PSCI 100.04
I personally do not find any specific belief of libertarianism unacceptable. Although the concept of doing things simply for the individual and not actually stopping to think about anyone or anything else is inconsiderate and something I would not like to live by. Although you are not actually hurting anyone physically by simply looking out for yourself, there has to be a way to look out for yourself without acting like you are the only important person in the world. The fact that libertarians only allow to do what is good for themselves makes me feel as if they are selfish and shallow people. Also, if you are constantly looking out for yourself, there is going to be some degree of anarchy because the government influence is so minimal due to ones own self infatuation. There is one thing to look after yourself in means of self preservation, but here has to be a line somewhere where you care about someone other than yourself. One cannot just go through life only thinking about themselves and what is right and only right for them. Without some compassion and feeling for other people, there would be no way anyone could function in a healthy way.
ReplyDeleteSarah Jeffries PSCI 100.05
Some of the Libertarian ideas I would agree with such as education because I believe it is important for every child to receive a good, fundamental education and Health care because, like mentioned in other blogs, there are people that desperately need it but cannot afford it. However, I do not agree with their views on child custody and abortion. Libertarian governments sound appealing in some aspects, but I do not believe this would be a type of government we, as America, would ever want to adopt. We, whether we realize it or not, rely to heavily on our democratic government to survive without it.
ReplyDeleteAs most people have mentioned, a libertarian government sounds great when you list all the rules that go along with it, but realistically it would not be as great as it sounds. The one point I found very interesting was the education ideas. The idea about having a locally run education system with parent involvement is very far-fetched. We all know very well that unfortunately too many parents are just plain lazy. They do not have their children's best interests in mind and therefor those children would never be able to achieve those education goals in this type of society. If you were a lucky one with a parent that did care about you, many of them would not be able to provide you with the best education because they themselves have lives as well and work in order to support you and your family. It is just not realistic to expect parents to take on another "job" to make sure their children are educated. Besides in this type of government the jobs that adults hold would be even more important due to the rules on forced retirement and social security benefits that have been eliminated.
ReplyDeleteAnissa Myers 100:04
I do not agree with is 1.6 Self-Defense. I believe that not everyone should be able to have a weapon, like a gun. I feel like the government should be able to intervene and require the registration, restricting, ownership, manufacture, transfer, and sale of firearms or ammunition. It is unacceptable in my eyes that the libertarians think that the government should not be able to do this. Not everyone should be able to have a gun or any other type of weapon because it depends on their maturity, what they want one for, and a lot of other things. On the other hand, I believe with their abortion view. People do have the right to consider if they want to abort or not to abort their own child. It is their decision alone if they can or cannot handle a baby at that point in their lives, although there is adoption maybe they cannot deal with someone else having their baby. I only agree with this view if it was a 16 and pregnant kind of thing, because they are not hold enough to handle a baby and to give it everything they need. Now if they were in their upper 20s then I think abortion is wrong because by then they could be able to financial do everything for their baby and possibly even more. The libertarian approach towards national security is more like to each their own. They are all about protecting their self because they believe that individuals need their own type of power. However, they are not concerned or idealistic about the rest of the country or other ones. For example, if the United States of America just randomly isolated itself, I’m pretty sure everyone will think hell froze over. Isolation is not the best thing to do in some cases, so in other words, libertarian is not the best government choice in some cases. Libertarians do not believe in torture, which is something I agree upon because torturing someone can either go one way or another. Torturing someone will not come legitimate in a libertarian’s government because everyone is always just focusing on their individual rights and concerns.
ReplyDeleteAlaina Meserole 100.05
A libertarian government at first seems like a suitable arrangement for success. However, in this type of system the individual as complete freedom to do with their body as they choose as long as they consent. Things such as drug use, prostitution, and abortion are all possible in this political arrangement. Giving the individual too much freedom is not necessarily beneficial because the nature of humans is not always inherently good. This is why a government which sets limits is important to have in place. However, too many limits in place can lead to revolutions like the ones occurring currently in Africa.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I like most about libertarian views is that everyone is held accountable for their own actions, such as: saving for retirement, self-help, choosing their own healthcare, personal acts, and schooling for their children. In my opinion this is not seen or valued very much in our current society. However, I do not fully agree with 3.0- Securing Liberty when it states “the protection of individual rights is the only purpose for government.” One, if people really believed in honoring one another’s individual rights they wouldn’t need government protection at all. Two, even though they require taxes the government offers many great advantages, including: accessible road systems, clear walkways, clean recreation facilities, sponsoring environmental campaigns, and regulating businesses while holding them accountable for their actions (2.2). On the last blog on water boarding I agreed that it should be ok if it protects the collective and still believe it. For example, I find it hard to believe that a mother or father living in a libertarian society would not protect their kid if they were being attacked. The young child has their own individual rights, but may not be able to protect themselves, and since the parents’ own body is not being harmed will they be wrong to defend their child? I like the idea of having as less government as possible, along with the individual right to do whatever I wish with my body or property, but my faith in the righteousness of the individual human is lacking. Therefore, I believe the tension between collectivism and individual rights will never cease, and the government will always be around providing headaches, as well as providing national and local protection, but overall aiding the collective more than the individual.
ReplyDeleteLaura Bobbitt 100.03
After reading more about libertarians I feel like it sounds good and bad. I don’t agree with personal relationship and individual security. In class you mentioned that adults could have sex with children as long as they consent but I feel like that is wrong. What if the child is too young and doesn’t know what he/her is doing. I believe you should be able to protect yourself and carry a gun but I feel it could get out of hand. Someone could get mad over something stupid or someone looks at you the wrong way and there could be shooting. I like the policy about labor and how you can keep the money and not give taxes. As a waitress it gets annoying when you clock out and have to claim your tips. It is bad enough I get paid $3.65 an hour. I also like that energy pricing doesn’t change because electric is expensive. I don’t agree with all the policies or water boarding. I think the collective is important when a disaster happens like a hurricane or tornado. It is also important when it is a matter of national security like a threat. I think it be okay to torture when an attacker comes and destroy our home or building like 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI highly agree on all the libertarian views. The problem with our society is that we baby everyone and everything. We have no trust in others or even in man kind. We have rules for what if and incase keeping anything from happing and if it does we already have a punishment ready for it. Just as the saying goes “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, anyone can kill a person with about any type of object or their bare hands, but we have to play the blame game in our society. To much intervention takes away our rights and our freedoms giving us no room to think for ourselves. I think about how many classes I have to take in college because its required and I don’t even need them nor would it help in any type of way but that is how are school controls and robs us. Just as in taxes I get my hard earned money taken away for other things I do not believe it should be used on things such as the never ending war in Iraqi for instead of health care and education which are country so highly lacks. The government is the medaling neighbor, I do believe it’s good to government for the basic laws to hold more true and for help with dealings with other countries but not to the point where there is no choice for the people who are supporting it. I use to believe in Thomas Hobbes theory that man is evil and has to be controlled because of selfishness, but I now lean towards John Locke theory that man is capable of thinking and behaving on his own and being able to be peaceful as well.
ReplyDeleteKatie Clevenger, 100.05
I agree on a morjority of the libertarian views listed above, however, i do not agree with the idea of universal healthcare. I think that if free healthcare is available to all then the quality of the healthcare will decrease. The number of people trying to have a doctors visit will be overwhelming and it may take months for someone with a serious condition to be seen by a doctor. I also believe that if healthcare is free then doctors will no longer have the ambition to excel in their field and will provide us with less than acceptable healthcare. This can be seen in Canada. Minus healthcare i stronly agree with many of the libertarian views. I believe that less government intervention is better for America and will prevent us from becoming socialist or totalitarian. If someone wants to shoot up heroin in their basement, more power to them. However, once they step out of their house and into a vehicle, that's when their actions should be prosecuted. The one instance in which waterboarding or any other form of torture is acceptable is when an individuals actions are threatening the personal freedoms of others. Preventing harm to other individuals and infringing on their rights is the governments purpose in a libertarian system.
ReplyDeleteJenna Peck, psci 100.04
Many of these positions I am in favor of. They are for individuality and give emphasis to freedom. You live your life how you want to and do what you believe is best for yourself. Although there were a few I did find unacceptable. It says that the government shouldn't have any input on adoption or child custody. I disagree because you need to do the background checks to see if the parents are accountable and loving enough to take care of the children. More and more children are not being brought up in a clean, safe environment.
ReplyDeleteMegan Long
PSCI 100.03
I agreed with a lot of what Libertarians believe in. I think people in America should have more negative freedom when it comes to things like drug enforcement and the like. Our prisons are filled with people who committed victimless crime. I also agree with the national defense aspect of the Libertarians. I think the U.S. takes too active a roll in foreign affairs, to the point that we are imposing our beliefs and our way of life on other people.
ReplyDeleteWhere Libertarians and I don't see eye to eye is the idea of a "free market". People are greedy by nature and I don't see what is going to deter people from forming monopolies. If one person controls a huge section of the economy than that person will have big influence on what everyone else does; so much for being "free". I also don't see how the environment would benefit. Sure people might not litter because there are no men in orange jumpsuit to go pick it up but what about more unseen damage. What's to keep Tony's Pizza from dumping cleaning chemical into Town Run again? If something doesn’t directly effect a person physically of financially that person is likely not to care. Very few people think about the long-term effects if they are not thinking as a collective. And furthermore, I think it is the ability to think as a collective that helped the human race climb to the top of the food chain.
I agree with a lot of the libertarian government's views. I agree with the one on rights and discrimination because people should not discriminate others. Everyone should have the same rights and those rights should not be determined upon things like sex, wealth, race, age, origin or anything else. I agree with their view on retirement and income security because retirement planning should definitely not be the government's responsibility. People should also become more charitable because the government reduced activity in income activity. I agree with the healthcare because people should be free to purchase health insurance and choose exactly what they want. Government collecting small portions of employees labor money is good because they deserve to keep the money they worked hard for.
ReplyDeleteAlthough abortion is wrong in many ways, I agree with the abortion view. I think the government should stay out of it. They do not know the individual's reasoning for their decision, and technically it is none of their business. I also agree with the government's outlook on personal relationships. if an individual wants to marry another individual of the same sex, that is their choice. The government should not stand in their way.
I disagree with the one on education. if a child's parents are irresponsible and could careless about their child's education, they will have a lower education, if an education at all. The government should definitely have regulations when it comes to schooling.
morgan gabriel psci 100.05
Libertarianism is basically about individual freedom and how one has the total right to do whatever one pleases but it can’t infringe upon another’s rights. From my understanding thus far, one could if he or she desired to could take drugs freely and partake in anything without the intervention of government or law in libertarian views. After reading the libertarian positions on popular political issues it seems to me that the libertarian system is basically a system without government. On some of the political issues the libertarian systems seems to be fine, such as their stance on environment, personal privacy and expression and communication. To an extent implementing some of those seems a little tough and unrealistic. On other issues I beg to differ such as abortion and education. Education is really important and something that only helps to further prepare and educate the newer generation for the future. That is something is should be offered at its highest quality. It’s kind of like if one invests now then in return in the future one reaps wealth down the road. I don’t think it’s possible to justify waterboarding and be a libertarian because it seems to contradict. It states that in crime and justice that “the rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied.”
ReplyDeletesofia khan psci 100.05
I agree with most of the Libertarian Party's positions the only ones I have a real problem with are: 1.0 Personal Liberty and 3.3 International Affairs. Yes, we should have personal liberties so do what we want with our bodies in most case but if a person is trying to do harm to themselves and someone or thing (like a government ) should have the right and/or the responsibility to set in and stop them from causing harm to themselves. More times than not a person trying to harm themselves is due to a chemical imbalance, this issue they may not even be aware of. If they have the right to do whatever and the government doesn’t have the right to step in then people making poor choices due to the fact that they are sick cannot be helped. The other problem is internationals affairs, yes there is stuff that America should not be sticking their nose into but some foreign policy is very helpful. And if a country were to need and WANT help we should be willing to help with foreign intervention like military and economic aid.
ReplyDeleteSusan Stout
PSCI 100.05
i dissagree on the libretarian position of internal security and induvidual rights. If somebody else impeads on breaking into your private property and be a possible threat to your security, that person does not have civil rights for that time. Libretatian government is a type of government that looks GREAT on paper, put just wouldn't work as planned in the real world. It's much like the sense of anarchy and how it doesn't work because somebody always tries to create a heiarchy, where in libretarian government somebody will want something somebody else wants or will want to acquire something more and will set the whole government corrupt by a chain reaction. Libreterian government seems like a great idea at first look but i feel like there is some heiarchy needed and a possible threat that if i break into someones house i could get shot.
ReplyDeletedillon berger psci100.4
Like the rest of the students above, I feel that the idea of a Libertairian Government looks fine when listed but it is not an ideal way of living. The schooling system really stuck out to me. Without our education and years of schooling we wouldnt be where we are today. Making the parents resposible for paying for early education would turn the economy upside down. Alot of people today cannot afford to send their children to college much less pay for the to fingerpaint in Pre-K. I dont agree with the education part of the Libertarian Government at all.
ReplyDeleteAshley Eckenrode 100.05
I think that the government should have a say in abortion. I disagree with abortion except in rare cases, like if it going to endanger the mother. I think the government should get involved with that issue. I also think that government should be in our lives regarding social security and retirement. People in the United States like that when they retire, they get money back every month. I do agree however that the government does not deny anyone's rights based on their gender, race, sexual orientation, age, and etc. All of the Libertarian Party's positions seems like it would come together and make a good government but I still do not agree with all of them and it wouldn't be as good as a government as they think.
ReplyDeleteLeigh Ann Nelson PSCI 100.03
We are very much liberal already. The libertarian positions are some of which we have already. However, there are many we do not see. I highly agree with the National Defense and International Affairs positions. I do feel that our government and military should not be the “policemen” of the world. We do have the right to defend ourselves in an attack and against aggression; however, we need to avoid foreign entanglement, for it is hurting us as a country with other foreigners. I feel that these positions need to take place within our government and military. The libertarian positions I feel are unacceptable are the personal relationships and abortion views. I feel that, like Dee, the government should have interactions in personal relationships if children are abused, neglected, etc. as well as spouses. This also has an impact with the abortion position. I feel that a living thing has the right to live on not have its life taken away when it can’t speak for itself. I feel that abortion is completely wrong and should not take place in society. If someone didn’t want a child then they should’ve used protection in the first place. The mistake isn’t the child but the people who took actions without thinking of the responsibility they’d have to take on.
ReplyDeletePamela Smoot PSCI 100.04
Ben Goldman PSCI 100.03
ReplyDeleteI feel there are many strengths and weaknesses outlined with these certain points. For the most part i agree with almost all the points that were touched upon. With that being said im going to speak on the points that i do not agree with. I disagree with the point on education. I feel the government should have education enforcements. Some parents are to busy to really take time and worry about if their child is getting the proper education or if they child is getting properly educated at all. Their are also some parents who do not care if their child is educated, sad to say but its reality. Also, I do not agree with the point on healthcare. Every citizen should have the right to healthcare. I mean in a sense everyone does have the right to some type of healthcare, but some people can not afford these plans. This does not seem fair for those who cannot afford such plans, this leaves them in a very unfortunate predicament. If they cant afford healthcare then how are they going to afford doctors and hospital visits. In my eyes no-one should be turned away from receiving medical attention because of their money situation. The last point i do not agree with is that of retirement. Retirement should be set up threw the company which you work for, one should not have to make a retirement plan and follow their own guidelines by themselves. One can never predict how the future is going to play out, this is why i feel that the businesses or companies you spend the majority of your time working for should have mandatory enforcement of imposing retirement plans. For the most part i agree with these libertarian views, i feel it is much more inviting than other types of government.
I like what the majority of the policies state, but I don’t believe they would all work in the real world; much like communism, it sounds great on paper but never works out successfully when applied in the real world. However, I disagree with the education and national defense policies. The education I disagree with because it says that the parents will choose the form of education their child will receive. I’ve known parents that don’t give two shits about their children and look at them as another way to collect welfare. So in that case I believe it is right that we have the public school system to help give children general knowledge, because if it was up to the parents the children would not receive any education. On the matter of self defense I am half and half on the statement that the government should not act as a policeman for the world. I believe the United States should keep their nose out of some things but not in others. As acting as a policeman to other countries the United States can defuse situations that could escalade in the future, that may result in many deaths and that country becoming a threat to the US and we end up having to intervene in the end any ways. I believe the good of the many outweighs the good of the few. I find torture acceptable when it is the only way to get information from an individual that may result in the preservations of others lives.
ReplyDeleteMatt Santmier PSCI 100.03
With these Libertarian principles, I feel like it sounds like an ideal way of having a government.However, if you really take a deeper look at every principle. It really wouldn't be a stable government. Two of the principles i strongly disagree with is internal security and induvidual rights. If someone comes into my house and has the intent to harm my family and myself. I don't believe that if he gets hurt in the process of breaking into my property he deserves rights. However, I do strongly believe that people should be able to believe in whoever they believe in if they believe anything at all. I also believe that the government has no right to tell me what I should do with my body.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Pepperling
PSCI 100.04
I believe that the libertarian government would not be sufficient, but a lot of good points are made. I agree with most of the views of the Libertarian government, especially 1.0 Personal Liberty because I believe that everyone has the right and the responsibility to stand up for themselves. A person should have the authority to make their own decisions but when they do wrong they should suffer the consequence.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Himmighoefer
PSCI 100.05
Most of this libertarian style of government would not be logical when put into a real life situation. a place where everyone has rights to do whatever they want is good in theory. but when they try and rob and harm another person and you cannot protect yourself because it is against the law is just wrong.
ReplyDeleteRobert Hayes
PSCI 100.04
I agree with many of the aspects of a libertarian government, but I also disagree with some as well. I mean the United States military is the largest in the world and I take pride in that. If called upon I would go and protect the lines. A draft is needed when the need arises. The body of the individual must sometimes be sacrificed to better the overall. Yes it is your body but if what you do with your body hurts society or puts a negative image on you than it should not be done. The police is a very strategic example, if someone steals from you, you should have the government backing you, not some private hand. Torturing is acceptable although I don't recommend it, but if it helps saves thousands of lives then it should be allowed.
ReplyDeleteMy bad that last blog entrance was from me.
ReplyDeleteLevi McDonald PSCI 100.03
I agree with most of the positions listed. The only ones I have problems with are personal relationships and abortion. I think the government should be involved in adoption and child custody because it is extremely important to a child's future how they grow up. If a child is left in the care of a neglectful family then the child's future is not very bright. There should always be some type of regulation on who gets custody or who can adopt children. As for abortion, I don't agree with it. I consider the two people responsible for the baby and that they should have to follow through with their decision at least until the baby is born and can be put in better care. I only see three real reasons for abortion. One would be to save the mother's life if there was going to be a problem in labor. Two would be if the baby would have life threatening problems after birth. The third would be if a woman was raped. That baby would be a constant reminder of the event and I consider that to be cruel punishment if the government forced her to keep the child.
ReplyDeleteChristopher White
PSCI 100.03
I am pretty sure that most will agree that a libertarian style of government would not suffice. There are many flaws that come into play. For one, when an individual breaks into my house and has the idea of harm in his or her head they do not deserve rights. They decided to break into my property so they can suffer the consequences of self defense. Secondly the idea that a human should be able to do whatever they want to their own body is somewhat out of hand. Say someone wants to use a deadly chemical on themselves and its very infectious. It then comes into contact with other civilians that did nothing but were also killed in the process, that's not right. There can be more and more examples of why a libertarian governmant would be insufficient.
ReplyDeleteDerek Buckley PSCI 100.03
In theory, most of these policies should work well. They make sense and there are many good arguments. However, one policy that I disagree with is 2.8 which states that libertarians believe in no government involvment in education. While I do believe there should be more parental involvement in their childs education, there must be some set guidelines in order to insure each child recieves a proper education. Without this, there would be many children not recieving any formal education who would most likly have a hard time supporting themselves later in life. This isn't fair to children whose families might not have the necessary resources. Each child should be garunteed the ultimate learning experience to insure their future sucess. On the other hand, I agree with the ideal that calls for increases personal privacy and self defense as well as many others. My concern is if these policies would be sucessful when put into action. While they seem like they would work well, there is no garuntee and less government involvment could lead to less security.
ReplyDeleteMiranda Beahm
PSCI 100.05
I have to say that they all sound good. However, I disagree with having little to none government control over things. For instance, I do agree that government should not interfere on people’s preference sex life. That should be a decision that we as human beings can make on our own and we should be able to do as we pleased. I also find disturbing the fact that they are against government taking control of abortion. No one should have the right to kill a baby just because they didn’t think twice before getting themselves in to this situation, and any person who thinks abortion should be up to the person’s decision, should be prosecuted by the government. On the other hand we have a totalitarian government, which as we all know by now; it is a kind of government that manages the freedom of everyone in that country. So overall, I believe freedom and restriction should be balanced. No country would be able to exist if there are non-governmental enforced laws.
ReplyDeleteJorge Alvarez
PSCI 100.03
I disagree with Jon. When it comes to the right to choose whether you want to have an abortion or not should be completely up to that person. The government should have no say what so ever. What if your daughter was raped by some man, and was pregnant with his child, would you feel comfortable raising a child of a person who raped you, I doubt so. There are many different reasons a women should have that right, and the government should leave it alone. I also feel as if you should be able to choose which sex you want to be with. It's not really the governments place to determine that because it's how you were born, so therefore I disagree with that. As far as the totalitarian system I would much rather live in a libertarian system because you have more rights and freedoms. Yes, the waterboarding is unconsitutional and it goes against a person's rights, but at the same time the government needs to protect the entire nation, so when it comes down to details that they need to know that could protect us from harm i feel that it is neccessary to inflict torture on an individual that may want to harm our country.
ReplyDeleteSecily Butts
PSCI 100.05
The issue I find unnacceptable would be crime and justice. I feel our law system worries about the dumb stuff rather than the real important issue we are facing in today's society. I come from a small town and they would rather pull people over for having a loud exhaust on their vehicle rather than crack down on the meth labs in our town. It isn't just happening there in my town. It happens everywhere in America. We really need to focus on the important issues that could affect us all.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I find acceptable is personal privacy. We have a right to protect our identity, homes, and things that are most valuable to us. If we don't have privacy, then we have nothing. Privacy is an important matter.
Shayna Landis. 100.03
I agree with all of these policies to a large extent. I'm sure there are nuances in them that I've missed, but overall I believe that as a whole these would be good policies to uphold.
ReplyDeleteLibertarians would not agree with waterboarding, and would never be able to justify it unless there were a very strong possibility that the person being waterboarded was putting someone in imminent danger, which is highly unlikely. There would be a definite struggle between collective security and individual rights. In a libertarian system, the individual rights trump collective security, so waterboarding would be completely against their morals.
Rebecca Herbert
Psci 100.05
Sam Beatty
ReplyDelete100.04
Many of the Liberatarian rules and regulations are acceptable in my opinion because many of them are similiar to practices we have in our government today. The main thing I feel that is unacceptable with this system is the lack of overall government. The section about international affairs which says that basically the US should become isolated again. I feel that is unacceptable because the US has an obligation to help other nations. Last time the US went into isolation did not turn out very well when we first became a superpower. Also, the whole idea of no national government power and a lot of power with the individual and state is not acceptable for me. When the US was first a confederacy before the new consititon everything almost fell apart. There was no standardized currency or trade, no standing army to protect are nation which is an important part of this system of government, and no protection of rights for indiviuals.
In my opinion, I believe that a liberatarian form of government is close to having no government which is competly unacceptable to me.
Life is complicated, and there are never concrete ways in which to handle situations. Such being the case it would be impossible to have an extreme system of government such as totalitarianism or the liberalism of liberatarians be the perfect way in which to run a country. The reason a democracy is viewed as the best form of government is because it allows the populace to decide on a situation hopefully with the knowledge of its context in hand, and can therefore deal with accordingly. No reoccurring problem is solved by stubbornly adhering to extremist views. Brandon Nicholas 100.03
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with most of the libertarian rules and regulations. I like the idea that they leave the people to make their own choices. I disagree with the comments about abortion however. I feel that the government should have no say on the matter. It is up to the woman and the couple. The government has no right to control what the woman decides to do. I like the pro choice factor the libertarian system has to offer. Another rule I admire of the libertarian system is the personal relationships. I feel that the government should grant everybody equal rights and the government should have no right to restrict people from marring whom they want.
ReplyDeleteBrittney Butler PSCI 100.03
I really like that people are able to do as they please as long as it only affects themselves. I especially agree with the fact that defense doesn't count as violence, but I think different scenarios could make that line a little blurry. I don't agree with the individual security rule for this very reason, because if a threat is nearby, I would want to stop it before it caused any damage, but that goes against the rules. As far as torture however, I don't agree that a Libertarian should be able to torture and still call themselves a libertarian. Withholding information isn't an offence, so there should be no reason why anyone in a Libertarian government could advocate torture.
ReplyDeleteJessica Meyers 100.05
i agree with brandons post. it is very hard to say what will work best before the situaion happens. however, like he said a democracy is the best way to run a country for the people because they feel everyone has a say and they can feel confident in our leader because hopefully it was the person they voted for. However, there is the downfall to that because the other half of the country could be upset because who they did vote for wasnt elected. But they still feel when they vote that they are making a difference in our country. even if no one realizes they really arent.
ReplyDeletekasey mercier
100.03
I agree with all but a few libertarian regulations. Such issues that I do not agree with are education and retirement and income security. I do not agree with how education should be left up for the parents to decide if their child goes to school or not. If this were the case, children would not have a fair chance at getting a proper education. I think that education should be controlled by the government so that each child has the same chance and if someone wants to drop out when they are 16, then they are old enough to make that choice on their own. The issue of retirement and income security should not be left up to the individual. My grandparents were not fortunate enough to have good jobs and they rely on income security to be able to pay for the necessary things they need to live. If it were left up to the individual, i think a lot of people would not be able to care for themselves and it would create far more harm than good. However, i do agree on the issues of personal privacy, self defense, economic liberty, environment, and national defense. I think that all of the regulations that go along with these issues are important and they would have a positive impact on our society.
ReplyDeleteKassi Gardner, 100.05
I agree with Collin (2nd post) on education and health care. Health care right now is even a problem, and I feel that this would make it worse. One thing that I wish would happen with education is that the government would not regulate what is taught in schools. Government officals do not know what should be taught in schools. People who have majored in education have a better say in what should be taught. If officals did not regulate what is taught in school, then we wouldn't have to teach to the test. I do not agree with how the poorer people would not be able to afford school.
ReplyDeleteAmy Sultner PSCI 100.03
I believe that libertarian govt. wouldn't be a good idea. I agree that every child should get a good education but i think the best way to run a country is through democracy. I don't agree with abortion and most people would view a liberal govt. in a good way because you can make your own choices but i think a govt. needs more structure.
ReplyDeleteKristin Knotts. 100.05
I agree with some of the views of libertarianism government and then others i do not. I do believe that the best way to govern is not to not have any government. I believe that education should be funded by the government but i do not think that they should tell us what is taught in school. I do not think that we should have to teach to the test. I do not believe in waterboarding. I also believe that we should choose what we want to do with our body in sexual preference. And although i agree that people do have a right to make thier own decisions. I believe that abortion should not be tolerated. I feel that all of these are have good sides and others dont.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Owens PSCI 100.03
I disagree with the first section I believe the government should have the right to say drugs are bad for people. I mean if people just had the right to do whatever whenever there would be a lot more deaths and abuse problems in families with no way to account for it. Also I disagree with the statement about the free movement of people I agree with border control not just for safety but it also helps to slow drug flows and give an idea of the area populations growths. People just moving from area to area inter country there would be no sense of nationality I like being able to say what ethnicity I am and where I am from. 100.05
ReplyDeleteI agree with a few, but not all of the platforms of liberalism. The issues of sexual orientation, environment, and representative government I do agree with. What you claim to be gender wise and sexually is completely to your own interpretation. There should be no governmental or local discrimination when it comes to being who YOU are, hence, personal right. When it comes to the environment, of course we all want to live in a clean, safe place. There is not much to be said about that issue. A representative government would be very beneficial in a libertarian society. With many political and self interest groups all being represented the voting turnout would probably increase. This would encourage more citizens to vote in elections and feel that their vote actually counts. With the many elected representatives, many issues in society would be better dealt with and faster too, as a collective effort.
ReplyDeleteThe issues I do not agree with include self defense and education. Self defense has good intentions as a rule, but I don’t think it is at all logical in today’s society. With as many people who commit murder on a daily basis, who’s to say that the crime rate would not increase? If you permit a person to carry and use a weapon, if they want to hurt someone, they will do it without getting caught. As for education, I think local systems would not be favorable. National education standards allow for children everywhere to have the same education. In turn, every child has the same opportunity as another. If a child in Nevada wanted to go to college in South Carolina (and vice-versa), they very well can in today’s society. The condensing of education to local levels wouldn’t even allow college opportunity in another town, far-less, another state. All in all, I think liberalism is a lot like socialism- it may sound good in general terms, but would never actually work in the United States.
Cayce Martin, PSCI 100.04
I both agree and disagree with this, think the united states shouldn't bother with other countries' affairs. They should work on internal affairs and let other countrys deal with their own issues. But i disagree when it comes to the part about family. Not everyone is a "fit parent" and government should spend more time making sure all adopted children go into good homes. Other than that i think this article was fairly accurate.
ReplyDeleteKindra Bittle
PSCI 100.03