The Internal Inconsistency of Libertarianism

People at the extremes tend to believe their difference from the majority is proof of their correctness. Anything supported or believed by the masses is despoiled by its very popularity. It wouldn't be a great truth or world-changing idea if everyone knew it. While such reasoning may be reassuring to members of small groups who rail against the larger world, when you break down the logic it tends to more properly be a refutation of those ideas themselves. For example: Libertarianism.

The concept of Libertarianism is fairly straightforward: the government should not make choices for people; society will be better off if everyone makes their own decisions free of interference or guidance. It assumes that people are the best arbiters of what is in their own self-interest and will choose accordingly - the free market will save the day.

While you can argue about the efficency of the market, whether it is truly free, and get into an econometric debate that has no end, the real problem lies underneath those issues, because the vast majority of people, the vast, vast majority, are not Libertarians. The Libertarian Party has existed in the U.S. for over forty years and has accomplished nothing. It polls around 7% of the population (everyone's excited now because it might gather about 10% support this election). Those numbers show that when people make their choice, they do NOT choose Libertarianism.

So we must ask the question: why? Why are there so few Libertarians in this country? Why is there no great Libertarian country in the world? If people are truly rational, if their choices are in their own best interest and they reject Libertarianism, then it has to be because the idea itself is flawed.

Or - as most Libertarians will argue - people are wrong. Tthe only explanation for the lack of support is that people have not thought it through. They just don't understand. They aren't making the simple and logical choice that would lead to a betterment of their life. Of course, if that's true, if so many people over so many decades are simply incapable of making the correct choice, then the entire basis for Libertarian beliefs is flawed.

Whichever side you come down on, whichever flaw is in play, doesn't matter as much as the simple fact that Libertarianism's unpopularity proves it is impractical.

So why does anyone argue for it? Because it is in their self-interest. If you look at the demographics, it becomes clear. Libertarians are white. Mostly male. Mostly young males. They are the people who suffer the least amount of structural disadvantage in society. Not that they would admit that, but in our unequal society they have it the best. If life is a race, they are the group that has the head start, so it's not surprising they argue against any interferrence that might reset the race, any laws that would reduce obstacle for other people, or principles for organizing a society that involve redistributing the wealth acquired under unfair circumstances. Libertarians are true to their principles and have chosen a path that will benefit them the most, which is perfectly fine, but it's their argument or assumption that what is best for them is best for all that collapses under closer inspection. Society has rejected their logic and by so doing proved it false. For that, Libertarians have no answer. There is more wisdom in the masses than many individuals recognize.

A White Person’s Primer on Racism

I grew up a white boy in a white town. I never had to think about race. In school I learned about the history of racism - the horrors of slavery and the ultimate victory of the Civil Rights Movement - but I never was taught about the reality of today. Like most white Americans, I have mostly white friends, mostly white neighbors, and live in a mostly white community. Race just doesn't enter into my life.

As I got older I learned more about the world, started paying attention to viewpoints different than my own. When I heard a large group of people stating that racism was a current problem, not a relic in the past, I didn't see it directly. But as is my nature, I sought out information and facts to analyze their arguments; an attempt to find the truth for myself and come to my own conclusion. It took a lot of time and reading to get to the point where I feel comfortable that my opinions and judgment are based on reality and not merely a worldview limited by my necessarily small window onto society.

The other day I decided to write a post to collect many of the sources I found in my years of learning in the hopes that it would make such an endeavor easier for others and would encourage them to become more informed before passing any judgment. But in my research I came across someone who had already done the same. Instead of replicating his work, I want to direct people directly to his site and give him the credit for a clear and cogent summary focused on information. No preaching, no emotional appeals, just the facts:

[EDIT: Mr. Tucker's post is no longer available for some reason. Here are some alternative links instead:

https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/at-the-edge/2015/05/06/institutional-racism-is-our-way-of-life

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/08/racial-disparities-in-the-criminal-justice-system-eight-charts-illustrating-how-its-stacked-against-blacks.html

https://www.vox.com/2014/8/14/6002175/its-not-just-ferguson-americas-criminal-justice-system-is-racist ]

As Mr. Tucker lays it out, the data is hard to refute. Some people try - and he addresses most of the common arguments you'll hear in the comments. Before we can have a real discussion on the topic of race in America, it's especially important for those who don't have to experience it to understand what the rest of the country gets to see in their own lives. 

And for those who want to learn more, once again, I'll direct you to voices and information that has more legitimacy than my own, to people who know what they're talking about and deserve to be heard. It's a very small thing to ask that those of us who have been at the center of every narrative in our country to take the time to listen to a different perspective. Open up, show some empathy, and put in the effort to really learn.

If you don't want to put that much time into things, here's a fairly short article showing just the tip of the iceberg, but still enough to make the point: Institutional Racism is Our Way of Life.

Ta-Nahesi Coate's excellent summary of how we got to this state - know the past to understand the present. The Case For Reparations.

The seminal explanation of White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.

Or for those who don't want so many words, so much reading, try listening to this kid: Royce Mann slam poem.

Hopefully this will get you closer to understanding the modern civil rights movement known as Black Lives Matter. The best way to understand it is to listen to what they are fighting for. You'll find it's much harder to dismiss their demands when you know what they are: Campaign Zero.

And to go with that, though it shouldn't need to be said, here's why 'All Lives Matter' (or any claim that we are beyond racism) misses the point and does a disservice to humanity. 

And if you want even more knowledge, here's another list of great resources: Curriculum for White Americans.

As a white man in America, I've been able to go my whole life without ever having to deal with race. A lot of people want to continue in that manner. Until those of us who are in the majority consciously choose to listen to the minority, to force ourselves to face something which might discomfort us, the people of color who are oppressed will continue to face injustices without the option of looking away. It's inhumane to ignore them, it's arrogant to deny the truth, it's too easy to let the status quo stand when it leans in your favor. I've chosen to enlighten myself and I hope others will do the same.

Open Letter to My Fellow White Males

To My White Friend,

You insist that the system is not rigged. That America is the best country and we should all be thankful to live in a such a land of opportunity. We have a black President and our next one is likely to be a woman. You get tired of hearing people complain about the system - you know it's unfair but life isn't mean to be fair. If you work hard and make smart decisions you can find success regardless of where you started. That's amazing and special and worth celebrating. 

You're not entirely wrong - our country is a great one and our world is much better than it once was in terms of equality and opportunity - but you're missing the bigger picture. One black President, or one woman, does not prove equality. For all that we have achieved as a nation, much of it was built on the backs of those who never had a fair chance. To celebrate our victories without acknowledging our failures does a disservice to everyone who ever fought their way up through a structure of discrimination to contribute to our success. We owe it to them, to ourselves, to be honest.

You're my friend because I like you, and I like because you're a good person. You’re a fundamentally decent human being who treats others with respect. You’re smart and hard-working and have earned a certain level of success in this world. But you’re also advantaged by the unfair system, even if it’s through no fault of your own. Me too. I’m as privileged as they come. I don’t think that undermines the quality of the person I am in any way, but it does make it more important that I speak out for all the people who are disadvantaged.

I look at it this way: I’ve been given a head start in the race. I’m white, my parents were middle class. I received a decent public education and knew the police were there to protect me (not arrest me). I had tons of positive role models around and I was always expected to succeed. I didn’t ask for a head start. I didn’t need a head start – I’m a pretty fast runner – but I still got a head start. If I don’t acknowledge that and simply talk about what a great race I ran and how great the competition was it makes me kind of a dick towards all those other runners who had to start way behind me. They probably would have lost anyway, ‘cause I worked my ass off and ran as hard as I could. But still, I started with an unfair advantage. Even if there wasn’t any racism or sexism today, minorities and women would still be at a disadvantage because of the past – as an econ guy you should know that the effects of capital accumulation last for multiple generations, and I don't hear anyone denying that the past was definitely unfair.

But’s it’s not really fair today either – it’s not enough that African Americans started behind because of centuries of slavery, followed by Jim Crow laws and segregation, followed by racism and discrimination that left them woefully behind. There is a TON of data that shows racism is still prevalent and powerful today.

So my race course was level and open. Everyone cleared a path for the well-educated white guy to run through. I’ve never experienced any racism or sexism. But people of color face all kinds of obstacles – their health care is worse, their education is worse, they’re more likely to be viewed as responsible for their actions at a younger age and thus more likely to get suspended from schools and placed in juvenile detention. That’s before they even become adults. Then they have to deal with things like the fact that employers will more likely give an interview to a resume with a white sounding name than a minority one – even if it’s the exact same resume. They face a tougher time getting home loans – especially if they dare to live the American dream and move out of their poor black neighborhood into the suburbs. African Americans use drugs at about the same rate as whites but they’re three times more likely to be arrested for it. When the cops do show up, studies using simulations have shown that they are more likely to view black people as threats, they are quicker to use force, including lethal force, based on the color of their skin. Even if they do overcome those obstacles and make it to lucrative careers, they still get paid less. So, yeah, lots of obstacles that I haven’t had to face. Once again, if I talk about the race I’m winning, what a great runner I am and how fast my friends are, but ignore these differences, I’m only contributing to the problem.

Most people are decent people. Most of us who had a head start didn’t ask for it. Most of us are not actually putting up the obstacles in other people’s path, at least not consciously. We’ve got our heads down and we’re busy trying to run hard and get ahead fair and square. We’re good people. But is that really enough? If we refuse to acknowledge the unfairness in the system, if we brush off any complaints and point out that things are better than they used to be and they’re slowly getting better all the time, excuse me I’ve got to get back to running now - if that’s all we do then we’re complicit in letting unfairness perpetuate. The disadvantaged people don’t have a voice, at least it isn’t listened to as much as ours is, so I try to speak up for them. I don’t want to win at any cost. I have a really good life and I’m pretty far ahead. I can afford to wait to for them to catch up. Maybe even use my time to try to get a few of the obstacles out of their way. At the very least I can tone down my bragging about what a great race this is.

What you seem to consider negativity is what I consider being a gracious winner. Our country has done amazing things – but it was founded and built on slavery. We have innovated and revolutionized the world – but our tech industry would be much stronger if we actively engaged 50% of the population and allowed them to contribute fully.

Our system was created by a bunch of rich, white men. For centuries it was dominated and controlled by a bunch of rich, white men. If you look at the positions of power in industry and government today, the system is still run by an overwhelming majority of rich, white men. You may not want to use the word rigged, but it’s not coincidence. It’s not some cabal of evil super-villains sitting around a table deciding who gets ahead and who doesn’t; it’s thousands of tiny decisions influenced by those in power who are fighting for their own self-interest, just like they’re supposed to. It’s not the intention but the result that matters. The system is structured so some have a head start and face fewer obstacles and that disparity perpetuates itself so those who started ahead stay ahead and pass on their advantages to their children.

You and I are not rich and powerful, but we are certainly white men. We’re on that side of the system. If we say the system is fair enough, that it will get better without our help, that people shouldn’t be so negative, then we’re complicit in maintaining the status quo. We’re walking away with our gold medal and thanking the committee for putting on such a nice event. That's not right.

We might not agree on how best to fix the system. But I don’t think anyone who points out the problems – the factually true and well-evidenced problems – is being negative. Fighting for improvement, fighting for others who don’t have the privilege to be effective fighting for themselves is not negative, it’s the greatest tradition of this country. It’s why a bunch of rich, white men fought a revolution to create a system that would give more white men a chance to join in their prosperity. Continuing their struggle, expanding it to include women and people of color is not un-American but the very best part of what America is and can be. That’s why I ask you to reconsider your characterization of such comments as negative. I ask you to reconsider a blanket defense of the system as it currently exists. You’re a good person, probably a faster runner than I am, and I’m sure your voice will reach farther than mine. Take some time and consider what you want to say with it when you’re standing at the finish line.

Do Something. Speak up. #StopTrump

For most of my life I haven’t been a very political person, mostly because it doesn’t affect me personally to a large degree. But last night I couldn’t sleep. The reality of Donald Trump as a candidate for President disturbs me greatly to the point where I feel compelled to speak. Truthfully, I don’t see this as a political issue. It’s not a Democrat vs. Republican thing – Trump is neither. It’s not about partisan politics or gridlock, it’s not about fiscal conservatism vs. liberal activism, it’s not about economic advancement vs. social justice. It is, quite simply, about right vs. wrong.

Trump is not running a political campaign. He has no clear policy positions, only vague notions that change repeatedly, largely dictated by what he thinks the audience wants to hear. He is running on a much simpler message, one designed to tap directly into the emotions of the listener without engaging any thought. He reaches the crowds with an acknowledgement: I understand. I understand you are frustrated; that the world has not been fair and that your life is not as safe and bountiful as you feel it should be. In that he is correct. We all feel that way. It’s totally natural and human to need validation, to want to the world to be as good as we remember it, to expect the world to be better for our children. There are many difficulties in life and it feels good to have someone in power acknowledge that. But that’s only the start.

Once faced with that reality, with the recognition of hardship and the longing for something better, Trump appeals to a primitive and fundament aspect of human nature facing danger – it’s us vs. them. He calls to rally ‘us’ by pointing out the danger that the other represents. Whether it’s the Muslims who threaten us Christians (ignoring the millions of decent Muslim Americans and over a billion peaceful Muslims across the globe). It’s the Mexicans who threaten us real Americans (ignoring the tens of millions of decent Hispanic Americans), the immigrants who want to take our jobs (ignoring the fact that we are all immigrants except for the native Americans who don’t enter into the discussion). The Chinese, the Iranians, the women who dare to question our white male leaders – they all pose a threat. In the end ‘us’ represents a relatively small group of people, but each and every person can identify some group they belong to and some other group they can villainize. It’s natural and instinctive, but it’s wrong.

It’s the separating of groups that leads to repressing the rights of others. It’s lead to slavery, to genocide, but also to simple stratification of society. It dehumanizes minorities of any stripe and suggests that we can raise ourselves up by pushing others down, but in so doing it lowers the bar for all humanity.

For what accompanies Trump’s appeal to division is a call to violence. How often has he expressed a desire to punch out, a wistful longing for the days when we could prove our right through might. That manliness is represented by talking tough and insulting anyone who disagrees. It’s an immature response, the kind you see from a teenage boy complete with bragging about penis size, calling women ugly, and mocking the disabled. Again, it has nothing to do with political parties but everything to do with base human behavior.

While its appeal can be strong, and I understand how easy it is to give in and wish for that simple solution to all our very real problems, we owe it to ourselves and our future to be better than that. A small amount of reflection and cursory review of history shows us that such a path leads to chaos and disaster. No good has come from spewing hatred and sowing dissent.

I believe people are capable of compassion. If we reject that notion that ‘they’ are the problem and understand that we are all in this together - that if we turn away from violence and accept that peaceful solutions will require hard work, compromise, and a less than ideal solution - then we can make progress as we have over the past century and a half. Even if we return to the bitter stalemate of Republicans vs. Democrats, it will be better than a descent into the anger and frustration that fuels Trump’s movement.

I urge everyone to take a moment to be political because politics will affect you this time around. Take a moment to think about what kind of human being you want to be and what type of world you wish to live in. Consider how far you want to divide up ‘us’ and how many people will be standing next to you vs. on the other side of that wall.

I’m angry. I’m frustrated. Life isn’t fair and I deserve better and I see a world filled with people who are not like me – people who make different choices, worship a different god and have a different belief system. People who are angry and frustrated because life hasn’t been fair. In that I recognize my own humanity in them. I want better for myself and that means I want better for them. I want life to be fair for a straight white male like me, so I want it to be fair for all of those with darker skin, a different gender identity or sexual preference, or even a different political preference. I will not hate them. I will not accept violence as a solution. ‘Us’ includes only myself or it includes everyone. I’ve made my choice and I hope for all our sakes that enough of us will choose love over hate while a choice can still be made.

I Vote for Them

Many say they do not vote out of objection -objection to the ineptitude of candidates on the ballot, objection to the position of both of the major parties in this country, objection to our current political system as a whole, Others do not vote out of a simpler apathy. In the past, I did not vote because I knew the outcome, either way, would not affect me personally. I am a well-educated, middle-class white male. There's very little in our political landscape that truly threatens the comfort and privilege that genetics and tradition have afforded me. I can always find a job, I have a large network of support to help me out, I face no real discrimination, and my health and safety are as good as it gets. elections don't affect me.

But I do vote. I vote for those who will be hurt by one outcome and helped by the other. I vote so the poor and disadvantaged might be granted greater support in this world, so their job prospects increase and everyone who works hard will receive a wage sufficient to put a roof over their heads and food on the table. I vote to help minorities realize a world where they are not disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system. I vote so women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies, where they are given easy access to effective birth control, and are not taxed for having a different biology. While I realize that terrorism poses less threat to me than household furniture, I vote because others are not so lucky. I wish for an outcome that will limit the violence in the world, that won't lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in the quest to discover if sand glows. I choose a world where the families of those who commit wrongs won't be tortured and killed in revenge, where neighborhoods won't be policed and secured because of the religion of those living there. I do not vote to make the world a better place for myself - it's a very good place for me already - I vote to help those who need it, those who have less access to the voting booth, those who have no option at all.

If you feel your vote will not affect anyone else, that abstaining will somehow make things better, or that things can't get any worse, then I respect your right to do so. But I urge you to look beyond yourself. Look beyond the simple political rhetoric that exists. Study a little history, accpet a little responsibility. Voting does matter, if not for you then for everyone else. Vote for them.