Fabulous, Innersmith, the links were excellent and I received quite an education reading the articles that you cited and the comments that followed. I even read Mr. Dionne's piece. While, I tend to agree with Dionne more, the wealth of information provided is appreciated.
"So my personal proposition would be to have an economic environment closer to the 19th century, but of course with our current technology and culture."
I don't think that we could have a 19th century mindset in the face of current technology and culture. The lack of those things certainly contributed to making the 19th century what it was. A 19th century economic model may well not be possible with 21st century tools. It could only prosper based on what we did not know. You speak of a century dominated by slavery and exploitation of Native Americans resources on a vast scale, so how do the so called free-market advocates use the labor and resources of others to benifit themselves? What is it the liberatarian ideal? People should profit based only upon their own work and effort? Do we bring back debtors prisons, elderly and orphans abandoned to want and poverty? What about child labor, I mean the so called capitalist free market had no limits to what it would do to extract a profit, that is 19th century.Yet, that was never a level playing field, but according to libertarianism, that is not a factor. But, I am afraid that if one wants a successful and cohesive society for the greatest number, it has to be.
Yes, there are encrusted areas of power that will resist and the libertarian creed makes it clear that an overbearing private sector/corporate culture is just as oppressive as an overreaching government.
There are far too many people living from their entitlements, that would not dare put these at risk. People are enriching themselves through the militarism and foreign entanglements. They would not dislodge from all of this because of an ideal. If the movement is to be successful, it is as it was suggested, start with the young who have not been involved and can take the risk. But unless we are talking about a 'Soylent Green' or 'Logan Run' scenario, it is not going to happen soon. The power and the wealth belong to the older people and they are not giving it up. Libertarianism is science-fiction, much like the ideas of 'utopia'. That is the reason there is no example of it anywhere on the planet. Short of revolution, it can never happen. If we reduce the size and scope of government power and the reach of the corporate robber barons, it would be a dream.
After reading both articles, I remain of the opinion that a successful libertarianism in practice is contrary to the way people will behave.
I just don't see libertarianism working in the way that you say it would. People living on the virtue of their own industry, that has never happened, really, not even in the 19th century. The system is never perfect, it is just that the Dems, in my opinion, are the lessor of the two evils, if political parties can be described as such.
A most interesting study, I learned a great deal more than I expected...thanks
