Libertarians and Progressives

There has been a great deal of conversation about the and vices and virtues of libertarian and progressive political thought. The current incarnations of both schools of thought, while popular are a far cry from their beginnings. The progressives have strayed from their Robert LaFollett roots as have the libertarians from their beginnings later in the century led by Barry Goldwater.

The Progressive movement of the early 20th century, was in direct opposition to the Industrial Revolution practice of Laissez-faire capitalism. The leaders of this movement, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Robert Lafollette, represented the diversity and focus of the movement. The focus was social change through as Sociologist Robert Nisbet defined it the five "crucial premises" of the Idea of Progress as being: the value of the past, the nobility of Western civilization, the worth of economic/technological growth, the faith in reason and the scientific and scholarly knowledge obtained through reason, with the intrinsic importance and worth of life on earth. The Progressives of today are too extremist in their view and governance. Progressives of today don't value the past, they believe that the past is wrong and no lessons are to be learned, and the past is wrong. Progressives believe that western civilizations particularly the United States are evil, and that all other civilizations are more worthy. They have no faith in reason, because they don't use reason anymore. They use one thought and indoctrinate their followers in the lack of reason. They dislike all Republicans and Conservatives when some of the  former and the latter are in fact Progressive in their thinking. The belief that the technology and economy as a way to improve life is as much a constant with today's Progressives as it was with earlier incarnations. The Progressive scholar's, and scientists of today believe that their way of thinking are the only way and profess to be tolerant and inclusive, but deride those that they disagree with, without discussion, or exchange of ideas. Progressives of today believe, like their predecessors, in the value of life on earth.

Today's Libertarians like their Progressive counterparts have gone to the extreme side of the movement. Minarchists believe that states should exist, and that their only legitimate function is the protection of individuals from aggression,  theft, breach of contract, and fraud. That the only legitimate governmental institutions are the military, police, and courts. In a broad sense, fire departments, prisons, the executive, and legislatures, are included as legitimate government functions. The Tea Party, and Religious Right factions have taken the Libertarianism too far to the right of mid to late 20th century Minarchists like Murray Rothbard, and Barry Goldwater. Economist Rothbard was believed that Rothbard asserted the services  that were provided by the "monopoly system of the corporate state" could in fact be provided more efficiently by the private sector. Rothbard  and wrote that the state is "the organization of robbery systematized and writ large." Barry Goldwater believed in the rights of the individuals to freely associate with whoever they pleased. He also believed in the rights of the states to govern themselves.This included gay's and minorities. according to Goldwater "you don't have to be straight to serve your country, you just have to shoot straight." He was also a proponent of integrating the military before Truman did it in 1947. He was critical of the Religious Right as it was emerging as a political force in the United States.  He asserted that " When you say "radical right" today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican party and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye." he was a supporter of women's rights, when he came to the defense of Sandra Day O'Connor when she was criticized by Jerry Falwell, and his votes to legalize abortions. Today's Libertarians of the Tea Party, and the Religious Right have hijacked the term Libertarian for extreme political purposes. 

As a rule both political schools of thought have good and bad elements. I believe that privatization of the government is a bad idea, because of corruption and fraud. I believe further those who need help should get it from the government. If one needs help, then they should give something to get something. Laissez-faire economics have no place in the world today, and like socialism promotes classism. What we need is a way to help people without making them dependent, to help corporations stay in business and make money within reason, so people can work and take care of themselves. We need to protect those in society who can't do it themselves. The more one makes the more they should pay. No one should pay more of a percentage of their income than anyone else. No one person should get a deduction that any other should also get. If one is poor, they should pay a nominal amount of wages to pay fpr state sponsored health care. I believe that if one segment of society gets a deduction, or a reduction then all segments should get the same deduction. No one person has more of a right to exist than another. We all need to compromise, because we all have differing beliefs. Neither political thought has all the answers, but instituting a combination of both just may make living on this earth better.