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by tracker1 1196 days ago
I think that government should exist to implicitly ensure essential infrastructure. What is essential is up for debate, but generally can include, common defense, upholding contract law and enabling transportation, trade and commerce. In this day and age, I think internet, telephone and radio communications would be included as well.

Anarchists will often identify as Libertarians, as there are also left-leaning Libertarians that I don't really get as well. I'm a bit more pragmatic in terms of a from where we are standpoint in that I think there are less intrusive solutions to many problems than full regulation or more government. I think the crux is starting by holding those that are responsible for these things (corporate or banking execs and boards) liable for their decisions and actions, which doesn't happen currently, and most Libertarians I know would celebrate.

1 comments

> Anarchists will often identify as Libertarians, as there are also left-leaning Libertarians that I don't really get as well.

of the anarchists i’ve met i have yet to hear any accept the label of “Libertarian”. most of the handful i know used to be Libertarian but then passed through that into anarchism as they chased some ideal of rights/freedoms that turned out to be incompatible with the Libertarian views toward property rights.

Yeah... I'm moderately active in some Libertarian groups, so do see a lot of left-libertarian and anarchist views, though I don't quite share them... I'm probably a bit more conservative/statist than a "pure" libertarian, again on the point of pragmatism. But I do believe we've become so statist, and I feel propping up corporations is an extension of the state, not limited because of it (executive/board liability especially).

I just feel there's plenty of room for closer to libertarian solutions without expanding govt, and in some cases actually reverting to prior state in terms of dealing with certain issues. The lack of accountability is probably the single biggest issue I've seen in the past few years. The lack of limits on patents and production around patent protection, extension and licensing is also very concerning.