15 Comments
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Susan Sommer's avatar

I was there today as well. Thank you for this excellent post.

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Lillian Holsworth's avatar

You have hit every aspect of the Libertarians downfall. They are dam close to being Traitors now.

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George Turnbull's avatar

Sorry, but why the shock and dismay over libertarians? It's not as if the morals, ethics and logic of the American Libertarian movement (and it's various flavors like Ayn Rand) hasn't been bankrupt for at least 100 years. For me, it became obvious when "libertarians" when hard right for 'guns, god & anti-abortion" in the 70's. It's only gotten worse. Their "small government" drumbeat is a red herring - only "small" in the sense of no support for personal rights if they conflicted with far right notions of "personal liberty." Where were they in support of women's right to choose? Gay rights, and now Trans rights? Civil discourse? Truth in government? Balancing rights (like when do your rights end when they infringe mine)? On every level, they have nothing to offer except capitulation to the rich and powerful...or fignure out how to lie steal and cheat to become one of them.

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Anthony May's avatar

You sound old. I don’t mean that disrespectfully. But globally there’s 385,000 babies born every day, and every single one of them deserves to learn a suite of lessons at some point along their life, including this condemnation of Lbertarianism, via a torch passed from one communicator to the next. It will be new for them, and old for us; we need only keep scrolling in agreeance.

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Kevin R. McNamara's avatar

Reason. The very title is false advertising. Caveat lector.

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The Bison Movement's avatar

Libertarians are inherently out for themselves and cower when times are tough

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Austin Thornton's avatar

Moreover the bits of government which go will be the programmes that help people and resources will be diverted into those agencies that oppress them.

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Phil's avatar

If it helps, i stopped calling myself a libertarian when I witnessed this shift, people caring less about principled government that "gets out of the way" in favor of conspiracy, authoritarianism, and "move-fast-and-break-things" tech approaches being applied to the government.

Michael Lewis's book The Fifth Risk also helped deradicalize me out of thinking all federal programs are useless.

I suspect the number of principled libertarians left is under 100 nationwide. Most were driven crazy by COVID and went into the same right-wing rabbit holes that created QANON and MAGA.

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Barret Baumgart's avatar

Dude, don't worry we're all going to be so disgustingly rich, it's not even going to matter 📈

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JC Graham's avatar

Very nicely reasoned and written, Mike! Thank you. The experience sounds harrowing; I'm glad you're okay.

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kk's avatar

well-written. thanks you for your commentary. growing up in a family that prayed to pat buchanan, i once 10 years ago thought libertarianism was a sane answer to alt-right insanity. i have long since remedied such a foolish idea. i shudder to think about how dangerous the pseudo-intellectual circle jerking of libertarianism has become.

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Carmen Colborne's avatar

Torching why with words 👍

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Gary's avatar

Astounding analysis, sharp as a razor.

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Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)'s avatar

I think the ends justify the means if their deregulation fantasy manifests.

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C. Robert Little's avatar

🔥

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