Libertarianism as direct experience: My defense of a misunderstood philosophy

http://www.salon.com/2014/06/14/libertarianism_as_direct_experience_my_defense_of_a_misunderstood_philosophy/


A photo of the author

In one of comedian Louis CK’s standup routines, he talks about the vile things that come out of his mouth directed at other drivers when he gets behind the wheel. “In what other scenario,” he asks, “would a person feel comfortable saying such foul things to others?”

Put a little distance and a scrap of metal between him and the other drivers, though, and Louis CK becomes a monster hurling invectives at other people at will. Most of us have experienced the same sensation of being emboldened when behind the wheel, knowing that regardless of what we do or say the chances of ever having to see other drivers again are slim to none. CK’s bit is very funny, but it highlights a larger, more general problem — one that occurs when the consequences of one’s actions are not fully experienced by the actor. This chasm between the actor and the consequences of their actions is the defining characteristic of government, and is the antithesis of libertarianism.

A story recently published on Salon, called ”Grow Up Libertarians,” like so many other popcorn critiques of libertarianism, would have you believe that “government is just the things we decide to do together.” A basic look at what some of those “things” are and how they are accomplished, however, tells us exactly the opposite.

From taxation to war, government carries out activities that, were each person directly responsible for them and the resulting consequences, would simply not get done. Like the driver separated by a few feet and a car capable of speeding away, most people go about their lives without much concern over what government does in their names on a day-to-day basis; government’s actions are simply too far removed, too remote, from our direct experiences of daily living. So how exactly does this government sleight of hand play out? It takes place in several subtle ways, each one making government action a little bit more veiled to the common man.

Informational block

Facts and details surrounding government action are always difficult to obtain and where they are available, they are usually hard to process in any meaningful sense. You can certainly review a federal highway program, if you are so inclined, but such things are measurable only by comparison to other previous highway projects. Furthermore, the sheer magnitude and complication of the available information about government programs puts them off limits to all but a few CBO bureaucrats. It is easier for the individual to simply give up and let government do what it will, effectiveness and accountability be damned. Other times, details surrounding government programs are purposely kept secret for the obvious reason that the truth about them would result in pushback. The result is the same. In both cases the individual lacks the requisite knowledge to make an informed decision about government.


*** i think a laissez-faire world can't be anything but a brutal place. who wants to live like that?
now citizens should demand that bureaucracies undergo appropriate reform at pretty damn regular intervals to ensure they aren't becoming fiefdoms, or are inept and harmful.