Libertarianism: Is It Implementable?

Libertarianism is a political theory that advocates the maximization of individual liberty in thought and action and the minimization or even abolition of the state. Libertarians embrace viewpoints ranging from a minimal state (or minarchist) to anarchist.

Sounds nice doesn’t it? Maximum individual liberty, minimization or elimination of the government? If we are honest with ourselves, who amongst us does not at some level revel in this idea?

The first sentence of the Libertarian Party platform states, “As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.”

I content that these sentiments and the full Libertarian philosophy is an interesting one and is in many ways beautiful. In fact, even though Marxism and Libertarianism are generally thought to be at dead opposite ends of the political spectrum, I find beauty in both.

In order or avoid servitude of the proletariat, Marxist theory asks that each member of society contribute only the amount of labor needed to support goods and services each individual needs and the communal needs of society. Because there are no classes and no state in an ideal Marxist society, each of our needs would be roughly the same. There is not a class of haves and a class of have nots. Given the absence of government, there is not opportunity for corruption. We all would exist peacefully and happily in an ideal communal state.

While Marxism asks us to live in harmony in a balanced communal existence, Libertarianism asks for the essentially the same result, coming from another direction. Libertarian philosophy also seeks elimination of the organized state, also seeks freedom, but rather that achieving this freedom via communal cooperation, freedom is achieved by each member of society enjoying maximum liberty while not violating the liberty of others.

Marxism and Libertarianism are both lovely ideas that do have great merit when exploring political philosophy and some of the more esoteric conversations that exist within the halls of academia.

However, as we will explore via a series of posts looking at the Libertarian Party platform, philosophy must be converted to pragmatic approaches. Moving directly from philosophy to application (without clearly defining the structure and the application approach) is asking for trouble. Soviet-style communism, for instance, was a disastrous mutilation of Marxist theory.

Even though most Libertarians would shutter at the comparison, I believe that they have a lot in common with Marxists--belief in a poetic philosophy without tactical strategy for implementation. Sort of like trying to build a skyscraper from a beautiful painting. At some point architectural drawings created by highly skilled architects and engineers are going to be needed.