Taking Libertarianism Mainstream

I just read an amusing (read: leftist) review of Ron Paul's new book. Here is my favorite part:

Often seen as a rich man’s political philosophy, devoid of social programs and indifferent to the plight of the poor, libertarianism needs a makeover if it is ever to break through to the mainstream.

By "makeover" does she mean more statism?

The review continues...

Paul understands this, and he thus softens up his views with a vague, benevolent populism. In a passage that condemns all forms of welfare, he is quick to tell us that he is also talking about government aid to rich corporations. “I do not understand why we take for granted that the net result of all this looting is good for those who are lower on the economic ladder,” he writes. True enough, but it doesn’t change the fact that Paul still opposes giving federal aid to the disadvantaged.

Allow me to outline the leftist manifesto:

1. One must fail to distinguish between the concepts of total and marginal.
1a. An additional dollar of funding will have the same effect regardless of how much one is already spending.
1b. Taxes are to be defended on the grounds that they are the price one pays for a civilized society.
1c. This concept should only be applied to analysis of government. By contrast, individuals do not need certain levels of income. Although this level of income is not known, it will be subject to the obscenity test by our trusted elected officials.

2. Government is bad and oppressive.

3. Government is the answer to our problems.

4. Believe it or not numbers 2 and 3 do not seem to contradict one another. Number 2 refers to civil liberties and war. Number 3 refers to redistribution of income and government regulation.

5. Intentions rather than results are what matters.

6. Incentives? What incentives?

7. Tax it. Regulate it. Regulate it some more.

8. Those who do not favor an expansion of government should be mocked. No explanation or counter-argument is necessary.

9. Belief in freedom and free markets is naive. Belief in the benevolence of government is ideal.

10. If it fits on a bumper sticker, it fits on the platform.

Politics Posted by Harrison Bergeron at May 6, 2008 10:29 PM