The problem with Libertarianism: Part 2 (political cartoon)

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Continuing from yesterday's theme I want to focus on what killed libertarianism for me.

I heard Harry Browne on the radio speaking about Libertarians and was interested. Some of my friends were going to a Libertarian Party picnic so I joined in. The local candidate for Libertarian Party mayor talked a lot about privacy and freedom and it all sounded great and the guy wasn't an asshole, so that helped. I decided to give the guy my support.

Then he went on a local radio talk show and blew it. He was asked about his position on public services and he advocated the privatizing of many publicly owned parks and infrastructure. The real eye-opener was his support for auctioning off the SIDEWALKS in Winston-Salem to a private contractor who would in turn issue a "sidewalk pass" (similar to a bus pass) to pedestrians who wanted to walk in town.

I shit thee not.

When I received my Libertarian Party info pack in the mail the next week, the totality of their platform was the most selfish political stance I had ever seen at that point. The basic premise was to depend on the goodwill of people and business to always do the right thing. Which is, as we all know, the common denominator of Wal Mart and Halliburton. There were to be NO public commons. If the people want a park, a private company will find a way to make it profitable. If the park is not profitable, the timber or coal from the land might be. In essence, their platform was the ultimate destroyer of community in every sense of the word.

So what is wrong with little l libertarianism? Much the same thing. As evidenced in the brawl over at Daily Kos yesterday in Part 1, the chief complaint was people wanted to opt out of citizenship. They wanted to pay their share of taxes only when they are able to define what their share is. They want the benefits of living in a civic community but want none of the responsibilities. Some wanted proof that citizenship came with responsibilities! (Hit this link for what they are exactly)

So they all said privacy and freedom, but it all came down to bitching about taxes. How they want out of the US and leave the US debt behind. How civic. The main complaints they have do not come from democracy, but from corrupt government officials that are beholden to corporations. DO I trust George W. Bush with the Grand Canyon? No. Do I trust Halliburton with it? Oh Hell no!

As I see it, the main problem with Libertarianism is the Libertarian Party. What damage the party leaves undone, the sycophants of little l libertarianism finishes off. Cause when they start cheering for Halliburton, I know something is deeply wrong.