...the error of libertarianism lies not in championing liberty, but in championing liberty to the exclusion of all other values. Libertarians hold that individual liberty should never be sacrificed in the pursuit of other values or causes. Compassion, justice, civic responsibility, honesty, decency, humility, respect, and even survival of the poor, weak, and vulnerable -- all are to take a back seat.
When libertarians translate the idea of liberty into the political and economic spheres, they argue that government should operate only to protect personal liberty and not for any other cause. According to libertarians, the sole role of government is to enforce private contracts and to keep the peace so that no one can use force to deprive the liberty of another. In English political theory, this is called the "night watchman state."
Read it at The Huffington Post
Libertarian Illusions
by Jeffrey Sachs
UPDATE:
Consortiumnews.com
Ron Paul’s False Founding Narrative
By Robert Parry
Rep. Ron Paul and other right-wingers have lured many average Americans into their camp by creating a false narrative about America’s Founding, claiming that the drafters of the Constitution wanted a weak central government. But that’s not the real history, Robert Parry writes.
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3 comments:
And Parnell Guinness wonders why we cannot find common ground.
Good points on Libertarianism but then we have this:
"Most ethical and political systems find the libertarian position abhorrent, indeed preposterous. Most would hold that the government can, should, and indeed must, tax the rich person to save the poor person."
He just cant help himself in reverting to "taxpayer on the hook". He is probably a Libertarian himself and accordingly has a MAJOR problem with accepting the Chartalist view on State Currency.
If you told Sachs that the reason a USD has value is thru the coercive force of state taxes he would have a shit fit, guaranteed.
Someone from the MMT camp really needs to have a talk with him.
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