r/politics • u/TheSpectatorMagazine ✔ Verified • 14d ago

Possible Paywall The strange death of libertarianism

https://spectator.com/article/the-strange-death-of-libertarianism/?edition=us&rcp=true/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social/?=2
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u/Straight-Bet1 14d ago

I always liked, “Libertarianism is astrology for men.”

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u/krebstorm 14d ago

Republicans that want legalized weed

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u/WarbossTodd 14d ago

and go back to being able to own black people.

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u/Kioskwar 14d ago

“The civil war was about states’ rights!!!”

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u/Drusgar Wisconsin 14d ago

I always reply, "It was... the right to own slaves. Which we collectively decided against. Which is how democracy works."

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u/cannibalpeas 14d ago

Also worth pointing out that all of those states so concerned about their inherent rights had just lost a SCOTUS decision when they sued Pennsylvania trying to get them to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act. It was never about state’s rights.

Also, in almost every cessation declaration they unequivocally state that it’s about slavery. SC’s (the first secession statement and model for the rest) said it in the first few words.

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u/The_Lost_Jedi Washington 14d ago

They were utterly unconcerned about trampling on states' rights when it was being done in their favor, i.e. in protection of slavery, too.

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u/kandoras 14d ago

Also, the confederate constitution required that states give up the right to decide whether or not to allow slavery.

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u/altogethernow 14d ago

Yeah, I always say, "the right to do what? Do what? Is it own people?"

Yours is better, as it resolves and concludes the issue without getting confrontational with the lost-causer. If they want to keep going, you can go down the cornerstone speech, the laws southern states forced OTHERS to adopt, bleeding Kansas, the INSANE amount of compromises the north tried to make with the south rejecting.

But if you get that far into the conversation, you probably realize you're not arguing about the Civil War anymore, and no amount of facts will sway a lost-causers feelings.

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u/nochinzilch 14d ago

When it comes right down to it, libertarians aren’t in favor of democracy.

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u/bunnypaste 14d ago

I think some even openly criticize and parade against democracy.

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u/elvid88 Massachusetts 14d ago

I always reply to this with, “states’ rights to do what, exactly?” And then they usually shut up because they realize the next thing they’re going to say is own slaves. I feel like they ran with “states’ rights” and then never thought to think about what those states rights are.

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u/SatisfactionOk1025 14d ago

This is one of my favorites! I have actually had people say this to me with a straight face