...who was a man trying to be a woman or vice versa, I could never figure it out. I suspect we had extremely differing views on lots of things, but, damn, he/she was an awesome web designer.
A commnetrer called it " quintessential libertarian point of view. Bravo, sir."
I don't see it that way.
A libertraian can be someone that hates transgenders, someone who does not give a hoot one way or the other, or someone who refuses to associate with transgenders.
Libertarianism is about the non-aggression principle. That's it.
As long as you are not physically coercing someone, you can hate, or refuse to associate with, any group or individual, and not violate libertarian principle.
The fact that I was tolerant toward a transgender that did good work for me does not mean that the toleration should be cheered as a libertarian act. It wasn't. It was simply a type of action which falls within the bounds of libertarianism, but so does action that would avoid such people,
-RW
Touche! And glad you caught me on this to make this excellent point. Many "libertarians" who bundle their social agendas into libertarianism would do well to apprehend it. Obviously, a devout sexist, racist, homophobe, etc, is fully libertarian so long as he rejects aggression.
ReplyDeleteThough I will add I do believe it there are cultural values more conducive toward libertarianism than others. For example, the value of personal productivity is more conducive toward libertarianism because an unproductive, impoverished person faces a greater financial incentive to stray from libertarianism. More rather than less tolerance of others' personal choices is more conducive toward libertarianism as an intolerant person faces a greater emotional incentive to stray from libertarianism.
But in no cases do such incentive differentials justify bundling anything other than non-aggression into libertarianism. Thanks for the correction.
1. It has bothered me since about 1974 that libertarians seem to avoid outreach to folks with "traditional values". We are officially neutral on lifestyle choices. Demand separation of lifestyle and state!
ReplyDelete2. Ron Paul Inc. should go to jail for incompetence for allowing southern primary voters to think Ron Paul is "socially liberal". Tell them to go set up a private community and school where those with lifestyle choices they oppose are banned. They just aren't going to be able to kick down the doors of gays and transgender people and impose their lifestyle on them. It's just not that complicated and should be explained as such.