Episode 41 - Defining libertarianism, thinking logically and objectively about authoritarianism, the nature of children

The Attack on Libertarianism by Aaron David Ward http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig8/ward-aaron4.html The End of Libertarianism: The financial collapse proves that its ideology makes no sense by Jacob Weisberg http://www.slate.com/id/2202489/ The three variants of libertarianism (classical liberalism, laissez-faire capitalism, and anarcho-capitalism), only one of which is logical (market anarchism and voluntarism, i.e., anarcho-capitalism, i.e., complete liberty) Capitalism And Current Political Views: http://www.logicallearning.net/libcapitalismpol.html Either you advocate statism or you don't; there's no wiggle room for a night-watchman State that allegedly would respect rights Libertarianism isn't on the continuum of statism, so it's neither left nor right The nature of human autonomy and the nature of reality We must show respect for each other; logic demands it; each person is deserving of respect and happiness The initiation of force is anti-reason and anti-life If you do not define your terms properly, it will lead you down contradictory paths http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/definitions.html We don't have "self-regulating financial markets," by any stretch of the imagination A communized fiat currency and a host of regulatory "agencies" are the main economic problems, not "unregulated credit market derivatives" Modern intellectuals' denial of individuals and focus on politics in midstream (out-of-context analysis) Alan Greenspan's betrayal of his own earlier views: Gold and Economic Freedom by Alan Greenspan (1966) http://www.lewrockwell.com/north/north204.html Our present fiat currency (dollars) would disappear quickly in a free market, and be replace by gold and silver (or any other tangible commodity that can't be dramatically inflated and devalued) Regulation always compounds the political problem (whatever it is) and it obscures the real nature of the injustice (coercion) as well as the solution (get rid of the institution of government) Cato and Reason "libertarian" think tanks as apologists for statism; neither strikes at the root of the problem (government itself) The analytic/synthetic dichotomy in modern philosophy http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/analytic.html The arbitrary division of rationalism and empiricism http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/rationalismvsempiricism.html http://www.logicallearning.net/libfreewill.html The basic metaphysical/epistemological issue is how well do one's concepts adhere to the facts of reality The concepts of libertarianism adhere perfectly to the facts of reality, because they are in accordance with a non-contradictory (logical) view of human nature; any other interpretation, any version of statism, would be contradictory Those who believe in "government" are supporting the bully mentality writ large, institutionalized disrespect of persons and their property Those who believe in "government" deny the irrefutable principles of property rights and self-ownership What we need are new intellectuals, able to think logically and objectively, especially in relation to challenging the meme of government (which Ayn Rand failed to do, though ironically she did denounce statism) http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/intellectuals.html Brief clip of Ayn Rand on the New Intellectuals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xKGZMwaIG8 Freedom—An Intellectual Issue: http://www.logicallearning.net/libfreedomintell.html Roundtable discussion!... Ridiculous laws and the practice of civil disobedience--where do you draw the line in terms of kowtowing to "authority"? If you're not willing to expose the coercive entities of the State, then you're granting them legitimacy Propaganda is used to promote the myth that those in government (authoritarian sociopaths) are our "protectors" and "providers" Using the Internet to reverse the statist propaganda; San Diego Free Press, perhaps Can you really change others? You can't delegate to others any rights that you yourself don't possess Most people worship government like they worship god; even most atheists worship government, regardless of it being a coercive monopoly that infringes on individual rights Once you plant the seed of authoritarian sociopathy (i.e., government), it will grow into an uncontrollable weed We don't need to be robbed in order to be protected! The sundry collectivistic and fascistic ills of HOA's, which aren't free market phenomena http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowners%27_association One man's story about his encounters with HOA Nazis: http://www.parkingenforcementforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3 In order to transition to a free market, people need to deal with their fears about conflicts with others Objectivist's failure to understand and thus criticize corporations and corporatism Does child-rearing advice from someone who doesn't have any children have validity? Yes, because we were all children once, and we all know the nature of being respected and disrespected "Authority" figures believe they are behaving rationally, so they can live with themselves; the thinly veiled rationalizations of authoritarianism in parenting Honoring the feelings of little people; some great video clips by psychologist Haim Ginott: http://www.betweenparentandchild.com/index.php?s=content&p=free_parenting_video_clips No one likes to be disrespected "Getting kids to do things"; the nature of brutalizing behavior that parents are prone to indulge in, which denies self-responsibility and autonomy Operant conditioning (rewards and punishments) begets more of itself, and it sets up an inhuman living environment Some great empirical analysis on this issue: http://www.alfiekohn.org/books.htm Seeing children as irresponsible, naughty, irrational, deficient, or flawed, is no different than the religious doctrine of Original Sin--and it excuses authoritarian sociopathy, i.e., pervasive disrespect The flawed medical school model, as noted by Harvard business prof Clayton Christensen: http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail3798.html Good parenting is really about self-trust, a healthy relationship to one's own mind, and cultivating self-esteem, so that one nurtures it in others (especially children) The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden http://www.nathanielbranden.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_23&products_id=35 Central planners of all guises always seem to know "what's best for you" The so-called "age of reason" (seven for Catholicism, btw) is no guide in understanding how to treat children appropriately Julia Sweeney - Letting Go of God... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNELNq4XJKs Two books addressing the moral corruption in families and thus in society - On Truth: The Tyranny of Illusion & Real-Time Relationships: The Logic of Love by Stefan Molyneux http://www.freedomainradio.com/free/ One must respect the will of the child, while offering rational guidance and education, in order to make the world a significantly better place bumper music "Fortunate Son" from Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits (and Willy & The Poor Boys) album by Creedence Clearwater Revival http://www.johnfogerty.com/albums.html ; fan site: http://www.creedence-online.net/all_in_one/ to comment, please go to http://completeliberty.com/magazine/category/91697