What is Libertarianism? Libertarianism is a set of ideas that places the freedom of the individual as its core tenet. Libertarians disagree on quite a few things, but they agree on 10 main principles.
1. Liberty is the primary political value
Humans are individuals. We all have different values, we care about our family, our church, we care about LSU football. But when it comes to what to do politically – what should the government do – Libertarians have a single litmus test. Does this increase or does it reduce the freedom of the individual?
2. Individualism
To Libertarians, the individual is more important than the collective. We should not sacrifice the interest of the individual for some 'common good'. This the central feature of communism, socialism, and fascism. Every individual matters, every individual has a voice.
3. Skepticism of Power
Government often claims: we are forcing you to do X because it is in your own interest to do so, but in most cases they do so at the behest of special interests. Libertarians believe that the individual is the only person who knows what is best for them. Government can and should recommend things, but in the end the individual is the best judge of their own interests. Government should not make personal choices for an individual.
4. The Rule of Law
There are some higher principles we should use to examine what government does. Laws passed and government actions are to be judged by these principles. The US Supreme Court will sometimes strike down pieces of legislation that Congress has passed because it goes against certain principles of the US Constitution. Libertarians believe that certain principles of the rule of law should be applied to what our government does. A perfect example is equality before the law. Every person must be treated the same, regardless of their race or gender, or sexual orientation. That's why libertarianism has always objected to the idea of laws that treat black people or gay people differently.
5. Civil Society
Civil societies are voluntary organizations between the individual and the state. Libertarians believe that social problems can be more effectively dealt with through voluntary organizations. Organizations like family,churches,and civic groups because they are closer to the individuals they are dealing with. Civil society is much more effective than government bureaucracies and one size-fits-all policies that can't adapt to people's individual circumstances. A civil society can do most of the things that we look to the welfare state to do.
6. Spontaneous Order
Order means regularity and predictability in the world. When making decisions about what to do, people need to predict what the results of those decisions should be. People assume that order requires institutions, someone to direct and organize things.Libertarians don't believe that. We believe that order can arise spontaneously. Voluntary interaction can create the rules people can live by. A perfect example of this is language. No one invented the English language, it arose in terms of people communicating with each other, yet certain rules have come about through that process. We don't need other people to plan our lives.
7. Free Markets
Economic exchange should be voluntary activity between individuals. Government should not tell people where to work, how to save, what to build, what to produce. We need private property to be able to do that, and we must ensure that when there are disputes, they can be peacefully resolved. History shows us that leaving things to free market, rather than government intervention, increases prosperity, reduces poverty, increases jobs, and provides goods and services that people want.
8. Toleration
Toleration is the belief that one should not interfere with things of which one disapproves. Toleration does not mean that you allow people to do things you agree with, because you think it's a good thing. That is a question of moral principles, i.e. I think this action is wrong, but I will not try enforce my personal morality through government . A classic case would be free speech. People should be allowed to say things of which we strongly disapprove. We are tolerant of things even though we may dislike and disapprove of them.
9.Peace
Peace is a state where we can go about our business without violence or war. According to libertarianism, the best way to achieve this is by not interfering with other countries. We favor a non-interventionist foreign policy. Our view of our interaction with other nations should be based on what is commonly called the four freedoms, free movement of capital and labor, people, goods, and services.
10. Limited Government
There are just a few things which government should do. The goal of the government is simply to protect life, liberty, and property. Anything beyond that is not liberty. A strictly limited government. Our constitution was drafted not as document which grants powers but one which limits the powers of government.
So these are the ten principles of Libertarianism.
Are you a Libertarian?
1. Liberty is the primary political value
Humans are individuals. We all have different values, we care about our family, our church, we care about LSU football. But when it comes to what to do politically – what should the government do – Libertarians have a single litmus test. Does this increase or does it reduce the freedom of the individual?
2. Individualism
To Libertarians, the individual is more important than the collective. We should not sacrifice the interest of the individual for some 'common good'. This the central feature of communism, socialism, and fascism. Every individual matters, every individual has a voice.
3. Skepticism of Power
Government often claims: we are forcing you to do X because it is in your own interest to do so, but in most cases they do so at the behest of special interests. Libertarians believe that the individual is the only person who knows what is best for them. Government can and should recommend things, but in the end the individual is the best judge of their own interests. Government should not make personal choices for an individual.
4. The Rule of Law
There are some higher principles we should use to examine what government does. Laws passed and government actions are to be judged by these principles. The US Supreme Court will sometimes strike down pieces of legislation that Congress has passed because it goes against certain principles of the US Constitution. Libertarians believe that certain principles of the rule of law should be applied to what our government does. A perfect example is equality before the law. Every person must be treated the same, regardless of their race or gender, or sexual orientation. That's why libertarianism has always objected to the idea of laws that treat black people or gay people differently.
5. Civil Society
Civil societies are voluntary organizations between the individual and the state. Libertarians believe that social problems can be more effectively dealt with through voluntary organizations. Organizations like family,churches,and civic groups because they are closer to the individuals they are dealing with. Civil society is much more effective than government bureaucracies and one size-fits-all policies that can't adapt to people's individual circumstances. A civil society can do most of the things that we look to the welfare state to do.
6. Spontaneous Order
Order means regularity and predictability in the world. When making decisions about what to do, people need to predict what the results of those decisions should be. People assume that order requires institutions, someone to direct and organize things.Libertarians don't believe that. We believe that order can arise spontaneously. Voluntary interaction can create the rules people can live by. A perfect example of this is language. No one invented the English language, it arose in terms of people communicating with each other, yet certain rules have come about through that process. We don't need other people to plan our lives.
7. Free Markets
Economic exchange should be voluntary activity between individuals. Government should not tell people where to work, how to save, what to build, what to produce. We need private property to be able to do that, and we must ensure that when there are disputes, they can be peacefully resolved. History shows us that leaving things to free market, rather than government intervention, increases prosperity, reduces poverty, increases jobs, and provides goods and services that people want.
8. Toleration
Toleration is the belief that one should not interfere with things of which one disapproves. Toleration does not mean that you allow people to do things you agree with, because you think it's a good thing. That is a question of moral principles, i.e. I think this action is wrong, but I will not try enforce my personal morality through government . A classic case would be free speech. People should be allowed to say things of which we strongly disapprove. We are tolerant of things even though we may dislike and disapprove of them.
9.Peace
Peace is a state where we can go about our business without violence or war. According to libertarianism, the best way to achieve this is by not interfering with other countries. We favor a non-interventionist foreign policy. Our view of our interaction with other nations should be based on what is commonly called the four freedoms, free movement of capital and labor, people, goods, and services.
10. Limited Government
There are just a few things which government should do. The goal of the government is simply to protect life, liberty, and property. Anything beyond that is not liberty. A strictly limited government. Our constitution was drafted not as document which grants powers but one which limits the powers of government.
So these are the ten principles of Libertarianism.
Are you a Libertarian?