Category: Libertarianism

The Economist is reporting on the rise of classical liberalism amongst the youth of Britain.

Experimenters with new technologies, fashions and ideas, young people in Britain and elsewhere have long tweaked established social institutions. But their iconoclasm goes further than this. Young Britons are classical liberals: as well as prizing social freedom, they believe in low taxes, limited welfare and personal responsibility. In America they would be called libertarians.

More than two-thirds of people born before 1939 consider the welfare state “one of Britain’s proudest achievements”. Less than one-third of those born after 1979 say the same. According to the BSA, members of Generation Y are not just half as likely as older people to consider it the state’s responsibility to cover the costs of residential care in old age. They are also more likely to take such a hard-hearted view than were members of the famously jaded Generation X (born between 1966 and 1979) at the same stage of life.

One of the causes of this rise of British libertarianism, according to the Economist, may be because the young are seeing more of their pay taken by the state, but seeing less benefits.

This doesn’t mean we’ll see another Thatcher-ite government rising soon. Young people in Britain, as in America, are not a reliable voting bloc (like the pensioners are). It does mean that as these young people mature, they will bring new ideas and demand different solutions, possibly non-governmental solutions.

When I was married, my father-in-law was from around Liverpool. We were discussing the differences in American and British attitudes. He told me that the British attitude was “we’ll tell the government what the problem is, and they will find the solution.” My response was that most Americans were more of “here’s the few problems we think the government should solve, and for all others, the government should stay the hell out of our way.” I still think this is true for most Americans. We may disagree on the scope of problems the state should handle, but most people would like to be free to handle their own challenges without interference.

This is also gives me hope that we are seeing the frontrunners of a new libertarianism in America. Particularly as the baby-boomers start transitioning from workers to pensioners, the young will start seeing their taxes rise without the promise of having the same benefits of their parents and grandparents.

This week’s quote is actually a pic:

This is new to me, but many of you have probably seen it.

I still believe in the ideal of America. Where this nation stands as the shining beacon of liberty – all liberty. Restraining some liberty will ultimately spread as the populace becomes acclimated to the new worldview.

The NHTSA is recommending that states require additional training and special licenses for people to operate self-driving cars.

They aren’t against the idea of self-driving cars, just people operating them without special consent from the .gov. Plus, there’s all that wonderful graft from propping up the special “self-driving instruction schools.”

Way to go against stereotypes, folks!

So, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was the subject of a HuffPo article about their Virginia shelter. You’d think the same group who applauds when fur-wearing celebs are splashed with red paint would run a “no-kill” type shelter. Nope, PETA manages to kill about 90% of the animals its shelter takes in.

Here’s where the fun begins. PETA has decided that some of the comments really hurt its feelings and is demanding the names of anonymous commenters so PETA can sue them for libel. Really? That’s the road they want to travel down? Do they want something like Anonymous noticing them and deciding to play their style of hacktivist games?

More importantly, does PETA understand that they aren’t in Britain?

Although, to be honest, if Anonymous does go after PETA, it might be fun to watch. In that whole dingo versus Rottweiler way. (How many times can I offend PETA in one post?)

For the record, I think PETA is a bunch of elitist hypocrites who does splashy things in order to get attention for its elitist ideology. Maybe that’s why they kill so many pets – they don’t want to compete for your attention. (Was that enough times?)

Apple’s CEO was hauled before a Senate subcommittee to defend the use of “tax shelters.” In essence it was kind of like this (with more polite wording):

Senators: Shame on you for not giving us your money. That money belongs to us until we say otherwise.

Apple: Fuck you. We complied with your laws. You want more money, then simplify the damn tax code.

Of course, Rand Paul was there to help remind his colleagues who should truly be on trial.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pqI39GMbLLk

I find it amusing/repulsive that senators who will gladly accept lobbyists’ money for carving out tax exemptions are upset someone might actually use those exemptions to improve their business.

Historically (at least since WWII) government tax revenues have been about 18% of national GDP. If Congress desperately wants more dollars to spend on lavish ego-projects, they should focus on growing the economy, not attempting to squeeze even more money out of already over-burdened companies.

Here’s the real kicker, and one that no Senator will admit (well, maybe Rand Paul). Businesses don’t pay taxes, they collect taxes from their customers in the form of higher taxes or from their shareholders in the form of reduced dividends. In the end, we are still paying for government avarice of private sector money.

Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and those will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

Fredrick Douglass

I want to thank reader Dave Blackard for sending in this quote. I have been sick all week and along came a great quote!