Frequently Asked Questions about Libertarianism

Libertarians are not “left” or “right” or a combination of the two. Libertarians believe that on every issue you have the right to decide for yourself what’s best for you and to act on that belief, so long as you simply respect the right of other people to do the same.

How does this compare with the left and right? Today’s liberals tend to value personal liberty, but want significant government control of the economy. Today’s conservatives tend to favor economic freedom, but want to use the government to uphold “traditional values.” Libertarians, in contrast, support both personal and economic liberty. They can be either progressive or conservative in their personal values.

Libertarianism is the only political movement that consistently advocates a high degree of both personal and economic liberty.

Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill are among the most famous of the 18th and 19th centuries “classical liberals” that developed theories on the invisible hand of free markets. More recently, libertarian philosophy has been explored and defined through Ayn Rand’s “ethical egoism” and the Austrian School of free-market economics. Modern libertarianism has multiple roots, but perhaps the most important one is the minimal-government republicanism of America’s founding revolutionaries like Thomas Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists. The core ideals of libertarianism — that all men are created equal and are endowed with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — can be seen in the Declaration of Independence and in the limited government established in the Constitution.

Libertarians want to unleash the positive creative powers of the individual and to create a peaceful, prosperous world. Libertarians understand that static, monolithic bureaucracies generally serve to enrich the current elite structures, damage individuals with unintended consequences and fail to live up to their grand promises.

History has shown that tyrannical governments ultimately result in suffering and poverty. Libertarians want to empower individuals to take control over their own lives not simply because it is the moral thing to do, but additionally because it results in the most dynamic, prosperous, peaceful societies possible.

Libertarians use a caring, people-centered approach to politics. Politicians too frequently forget that their laws and regulations affect real human beings. Libertarians never lose sight of the fact that each individual is unique and has great potential. Libertarians want a system which encourages us all to discover the best within ourselves, and to make the most of it.

In dealing with political issues, libertarians ask, “Is anyone violating the person or property of another?” If the answer is yes — if someone is committing murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, arson, trespass, etc. — then it is proper to call on the justice system, including police.

Libertarians want to replace as much government as they can with private, voluntary alternatives. Some libertarians are “minarchists” who favor stripping government of most of its accumulated power to meddle, leaving only structures like the police, courts and military to defend our rights and borders. Others are “anarcho-capitalists” who believe that the concept of government is by definition a concept of violence to enforce personal values on others, and limited government is a contradiction; the free market can provide better law, order and security than any government monopoly.

The current system of special interests dominating political power allows the politically connected to collude with government functionaries to take your property through eminent domain and taxation. A strong government always becomes an instrument of privilege. The politically connected can exploit their resources to influence the government to squash competition and receive special favors. Regulations, permits, licensing, zoning and labor laws make it much harder to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. While the level of government spending in this country has risen, poverty has not changed in 50 years. Government bureaucracies have no incentive to lift people from dependency and every incentive to increase their budgets and power. Libertarians want to break the chains of poverty and help the underprivileged. By allowing people to keep what they earn, wealth goes directly into the private sector, businesses create more jobs and charitable giving increases.

Stronger respect for property and a weaker government would weaken the elite and benefit minorities, small businesses and the poor.

National defense is one of the current roles of the government, but that defense should be limited to protecting Americans in America. A military force focused on defending America, rather than policing the globe, would reduce the manpower and resource needs that currently stretch and endanger our defense. A non-interventionist military would, over time, acquire fewer enemies and further reduce the need for a massive defense industry and expenditures.

Absolutely not. You don’t have to believe that everyone will be good for freedom to work. America’s Founding Fathers understood that most people were influenced by greed, ambition, and the pursuit of their own happiness. That is why they built structures with limited powers, checks and balances, and other limiting factors on the darker sides of human nature. If people are generally not good, the last thing you should want is a powerful government staffed by those evil folks.

Self-government breeds individual responsibility and stronger character, which decreases violence and theft.

Most people, most of the time, deal with each other on the libertarian premise of respect for the person and property of others. The majority of people do not steal, or cheat or murder others. A strong respect for property and civil liberties gives authority to justice systems to punish those few who violate the law and provide restitution for those harmed.

The best way to advance self-government is to think about freedom and act on your good character and thoughts. Read libertarian books and publications, and share them with your friends.

Start a libertarian student group. Identify and recruit new libertarians with Operation Politically Homeless. Give a speech or write a letter to the editor. Use the words “libertarian” and “libertarianism” in your daily life so more people are exposed to it.

Join a libertarian organization or campaign. Support them with your donations and time. Give to private charities. Run for office. Oppose government expansion at every opportunity. Don’t loan money to government institutions. Start your own business, create wealth and support voluntary cooperation.