Sunday, July 22, 2007

Don't "Do Wrong"

If you think something is wrong to do, don't do it or don't compel others to do it. The problem occurs when you think something is wrong, and you try to force people who do not share your opinion to go along with you. You hate guns? Fine; don't own one. Think abortion is wrong? Great, don't have one or don't force your pregnant girlfriend to have one. Where I think most of the conflict arises is when you try to force your views on others. Your hatred of guns does not give you the right or the authority to impose your disarmament scheme on everyone around you. Does that irritate you? Too bad. If you are really afraid of being shot, take precautions like wearing body armor. Think that is extreme? It isn't as extreme as trying to force society to accommodate your mental issues.
To me this is the basic difference between the mindset of libertarians and that of authoritarians. Libertarians realize that we are fallible and do not have all the answers. In our awareness of our ignorance we are opposed to forcing everyone to go along with us. Authoritarians do not recognize their ignorance for what it is and blindly demand that do as they say, or else. You can't force people to be free, but you can force them into slavery. The US police state is evidence of that.

5 comments:

  1. "If you think something is wrong to do, don't do it"

    You should mention, don't pay taxes for it either! ;)

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  2. Good point, but I am not one of those who blames the theft victims for the things the thieves spend the stolen money on. Hide all you can from the thieves; don't feel like you are "cheating" them if they fail to steal all they would like to, but don't beat yourself up over the money that they do get.

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  3. Sure, but even if you only give a cent in taxes, part of that cent will go to something you find morally abhorrent.

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  4. On the question of abortion, a discussion thread has opened up here:

    http://2008presidentialcampaign.us/message_board/YaBB.pl?num=1186219695/0#0

    I'd really be interested on Libertarian comments on this.

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