[They don't get much funnier than this. Cries out for a BTL.]

Libertarians and Race

Posted in The N.C. Way by R Lee Wrights on December 13th, 2006
by Sean Haugh

Libertarians have a problem with racism. No, not that problem, thank God. It’s actually a much better problem. After some thought, I’m beginning to wonder just whose problem it is, anyway.

Our racism problem is simply that we don’t understand it. It doesn’t fit in with our paradigm. Sure, we can develop an intellectual understanding of racism, if we must, but we have a very hard time really feeling it, unless we already brought that experience with us to the party.

This puts us at a disadvantage in public debate. Those who innately perceive racism in our society are looking for something from us that we aren’t prepared to provide. And those statist leaders who understand racism can manipulate it to their own advantage, with deft and calculated linguistic moves that leave the average Libertarian bewildered.

Libertarianism is much more than a political party with its own set of issues and perspectives. What makes us different is that we also have a principle. That principle is kept front and center at all times, and informs everything we say and do.

There are a number of ways to express that core principle. The first thing we say as Libertarians is that we do not believe in using the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals. Avoid this only, and you can do whatever else you want with your life.

You think about that for awhile, and you begin to realize that this simple principle has very far reaching consequences. A lot of people are attracted to the Libertarian Party because they like one or more of issues or perspectives. Over time, as people contemplate the principle and put it into practice, their Libertarianism grows beyond a simple political outlook. It becomes a lifestyle.

The philosophy is insidious. People who choose Libertarianism, for whatever reason, eventually find that they not only think it in their minds, they start living it in their hearts. This may not even be a conscious choice. It just naturally happens.

Racism simply does not compute for us because Libertarianism focuses on the individual. We spend very little time thinking about the collective, any collective. On the other hand, racism is necessarily a collectivist philosophy. Since we are so wrapped up in the rights and responsibilities of the individual, we usually fail to take any information into account that would help explain racism to us.

As we gain experience with living Libertarianism as a lifestyle, we find that being racist in any way is nearly impossible. We have written it entirely out of our conscious thought. When racist stuff happens, we get that puzzled look, like, why would anybody want to do or say that?

Being a philosophy of the individual, Libertarianism is necessarily a philosophy of hope and respect. We wouldn’t believe so ardently in the rights of all people to live their lives as they see fit if we didn’t implicitly assume that most everyone is capable of exercising the responsibilities that go along with them.

Taken to its extreme, Libertarianism is a joyful, people-centered idea. We want Liberty, not only for ourselves, but for everyone. We judge people by their own personal self-government. And when we see someone, anyone, reap the fruits of Liberty, it makes us feel all warm inside.

We find we only see people as individuals trying to live their own lives. All the externals of race, gender, religion, lifestyle choice, and so on, silently slip into nothingness. When taken to heart, our philosophy leads us to tolerate everyone’s personal choices. To paraphrase Jefferson, if it doesn’t pick my pocket or break my leg, hey, you can do what you want. Even if I wouldn’t want it for myself, if it makes you happy, then I’m happy for you.

When we do notice those externals, it is almost always with appreciation. When that which is different stops being threatening, it can become quite interesting. Libertarians celebrate diversity the best way we know how, not by pointing to it and idolizing it, but simply by gladly accepting it as a sign that freedom is working.

Whether or not we have heard the famous “I have a dream” speech of Martin Luther King, we Libertarians are already obliviously living in the colorblind society. Or at least we think we are. And that can be annoying to those of us who aren’t.

Yes, it is true that some individual Libertarians are quite racist. I received ample proof of that in some of the responses to my recent article on open immigration. But when these Libertarians display their racist attitudes, the gut reaction of those who live the Libertarian lifestyle is amusing and instructive. Our first thought is invariably that this person must have an incomplete or defective understanding of the philosophy.

My friends, racism is real stuff. Plenty of it still occurs in this allegedly enlightened day and age. Yes, it used to be much worse, and we can all be grateful for the great social progress we have seen in our lifetimes. I know I am.

But if we are to reach out effectively beyond our own kind - and let’s face it, the Libertarian Party is still overwhelmingly white - we really do need to take the time to see and understand the racism that persists in our culture. We need to re-learn how to relate to the problem from the perspective of those who are still suffering from its effects.

We are left at a disadvantage, since those living the Libertarian lifestyle can never take racism back into their hearts. We can only develop an intellectual understanding, a cultivated sympathy. If it weren’t for our burning desire to see justice done always, we might not even be able to accomplish that.

But, I have to ask, is this such a bad thing, really?

The colorblind society is a beautiful, if ideal, goal. Almost everybody wants it, or at least they would say they do. We are closer to it than we have ever been, but we still have a long way to go to really live there.

So how do we get to that promised land from here? I’ll tell you this, we won’t get any closer to Liberty, or the colorblind society, or any other desired social state just by talking about it. We have to create it, we have to make it real. We have to live it now, as best we can, not waiting for permission or the proper conditions to proceed.

We need living examples of just how the colorblind society would work. And here we are, the Libertarians, busy doing exactly that.

The only way any major social change happens is when a significant number of people just start acting like it already has taken place. Many who are stuck in the current state of affairs may find our attitude naive or even foolish. Well, if I’m going to be a fool, I’d rather be a fool for something good.

If you really want to live in the colorblind society, join the Libertarian Party. We don’t see it as some pie in the sky ideal. In fact, we can take you there right now, just as soon as you’re ready to go.



Sean Haugh is assistant editor for Liberty For All. Sean is married to longtime Libertarian Pam Adams, and they have a family of three dogs and five cats. Besides them, Sean loves God, Liberty, and Oklahoma Sooners football. Write to Sean at seanhaugh@mindspring.com.



Originally published in Liberty For All August 02, 2003.

http://www.libertyforall.net:80/?p=421

Treat killer bees as individuals.

Take great white sharks one at a time.

Don't judge Eastern Diamondback rattlesnakes.

Do unto rabid dogs as you'd have them do unto you.

Sean Haugh is assistant editor for Liberty For All. Sean is married to longtime Libertarian Pam Adams, and they have a family of three dogs and five cats.

Never thought I'd feel sorry for a fuckin cat. The good news is their won't be any little Sean Haughs running around to fill our world with mindless bullshit.

When the rest of the neighborhood bands together to put out the forest fire before it destroys their homes, he'll call them flamists. He will only put out the flames that land on his lawn, if that. He will point out that Whites, too, have body heat.

When the rest of the neighborhood bands together to put out the forest fire before it destroys their homes, he'll call them flamists. He will only put out the flames that land on his lawn, if that. He will point out that Whites, too, have body heat.

What is heat? How is temperature below 33 degree F any different than a temperature above 300 degree F? I really think you should consider the individual pieces of sage one by one . . .

I consider myself to be primarily libertarian as well as a WN. My ideal nation has a government that excludes non-Whites from citizenship but carefully respects the rights of its White citizens. (This is pretty much what the founders of the US had in mind.) White men and women are meant to live free. Anyone who bows to any absolute authority is a slave and a dog, not a man.

The first thing we say as Libertarians is that we do not believe in using the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals.This may be true of some or even most libertarians (big "L" or small), but it sure isn't true of this one. Force is a perfectly acceptable way to achieve freedom if force or threats are being used by the powers that be to constrain freedom, or if there's simply no other way to effect change. If laws are passed making it illegal to speak out against Jewish power, then I will not sit around and wait for the rest of my life for the laws to be repealed. No, I'll simply put a bullet in the brain of any pig who attempts to arrest me for speaking my mind.

To take further issue with the article, there is NO reason why libertarians should fail to perceive racial reality. In fact, any libertarian who truly cares about freedom will recognize the role of Jews, minorities, and egalitarianism in the loss of freedom within the US and other nations. For example, there's the loss of freedom of speech in Europe when it comes to the Holocaust. In the US, there's the neverending push by Jews to outlaw guns. It's illegal to discriminate on the basis of race when buying, selling, renting, or employing -- a clear violation of freedom of association. The next thing we know, laws will be passed requiring each of us to buy at least 50% of our goods and services from minority-owned businesses.

Once upon a time there was a tribe of Libertarians.

They were the first in history, existing right after the explosion of the Toba Super Volcano that almost drove humanity into extinction about 75,000 years ago.

After that event, there was increased selective pressure as the harsh post eruption environment put the early homo sapiens through an evolutionary bottleneck that pushed them over the edge of the line from savagery to sentience.

The Libertarians were individualist. They were independant. No longer would they be ruled by mere passions or biological drives. They would defy Universe! They would be free to choose and all would be welcome with no distinctions!

On the first day, they started to get hungry. "Maybe we should go on a hunt." Said Peikoff.

"Wait a minute! What's this 'we' stuff" Screamed Ayn (she was always screaming)

"You just want us do all the work while YOU get to eat from OUR labors!"

"Now wait a minute" Peikoff protested, "That's not it at all, I was considering a division of labor that would allow each of us to fully utilize our individual skills to the benefit of us all as individuals.

Just then, Nathaniel piped up, "Yes Ayn I think I would like to join Piekoff, completely voluntarily of course, and see to this basic biological need that we all have."

"Oh Nathaniel," Ayn sighed dreamily, "I would LOVE to share a tapir testicle with YOU."

"Well, then it's agreed." Said Peikoff quickly (before Ayn could start screaming again), "All freely choosing to join me in a hunt, say aye"

"Aye!" came the quick assent as well as an "ugh! (from one of the Neanderthals that had wandered into the group.)

"Wait a dammed minute!" It was Ayn again.

"How do we divide up our proposed hunt? Shouldn't we develop a means of exchange so that we can monetize the efforts of each individual within the group and determine just how much each has contributed so that they can then 'buy' the proceeds of our hunt!"

"Umm..." Stuttered Peikoff

"I mean, why should we give the proceeds of our hunt away to the savages of this tribe (cutting her eyes at the Neanderthal) with apologies for having caught it while THEY did not."

"I'm sure that we can figure out a way to monetize the efforts of all the individuals within the tribe Ayn" Soothed Nathaniel. "But we need to hurry, We've been arguing for a long time now and it's almost nightfall."

"ugh!" Said the Neanderthal

"Oh ok Nathaniel..." Sighed Ayn again.

But then she perked up, "I'm going to come with you! After all, you need my brilliance to help you. All labor comes from the mind, and my mind is SURELY the greatest here! That will be MY contribution, and I'm sure that the monetization coefficient of that contribution will be high indeed!"

Peikoff groaned and the Neanderthal said, "ugh," but finally they were off.

Barbara stayed behind to gather berries (surely she could figured out a way to monetize her labor there, or trade them for some meat), casting a surly glance and Ayn as she sidled up next to Nathaniel.

Two hours later, it was dark and they still hadn't caught anything. They had come across various creatures that would have tasted great (they were all furiously hungry by now) but Ayn's repeated screaming drove them off.

Finally, as they were all standing around discussing how to monetize the
thrust of each spear and the 'Free Rider Problem,' they were startled by a crashing noise coming at them from the underbrush. Just then, the Neanderthal stepped into the clearing with a deer over each shoulder.

"Ugh!" he said.

They followed the Neandthal back to camp and this time even Ayn was silent.

When they reach camp. It was pitch black. "Where is the fire!" Screamed Ayn. "God dammit, how in the hell can we cook our food when you lazy assholes wont even chip in!"

"Wait a minute." It was Virginia.

"Why should we build YOU a fire? After all, we all ate berries." She pointed at Barbara, "She thought of it and we decided to follow her example.

"All except for Rich, who traded her something for his share (Nathaniel frowned at this)."

"And besides," continued Virgina, why should any of us 'chip in?' " We are all free to choose and you chose to hunt, cook your own dammed food!

"Virgina!" It was Rich, from somewhere up in the trees, "Come back to bed" He whined (this time Barbara scowled).

"You God dammed collectivist cunt!" Screamed Ayn as she drove head first at Virginia. The others stood there in astonishment as the two tribeswomen rolled around in the dirt screaming and pulling hair. Ayn had initiated force against Virginia and no one really new what to make of it. Nathaniel however proposed that really it wasn't an initiation of force by Ayn since Virginia had engaged in an initiation of fraud, which then justified Ayn's use of force. They began to debate this new idea furiously as the two Libertarian tribewomen continued to tussel in the darkness.

Just then there came a loud "CRUNCH' and everyone stopped and turned to look. It was the Neanderthal as he chewed on a deer haunch, raw.
In the dim moon light they could see him offer up a piece of deer meat to them, "ugh?" He said.

Ayn vomited all over Virgina and Babara decided this would be a great time to sneak off and join Rich up in the trees again.

The next morning they were huddled around cold and hungry. No one wanted to build a fire because they couldn't figure out how to monetize the labor. Ayn was off alone in one area, sporting a black eye and snarling at anyone who came close. Rich, Virginia and Barbara were giggling together up in the trees and the Neanderthal snored, scratched his belly and farted, then turned over and began to snore again.

Suddenly they all became alert.

A loud rythmic stomping could be heard coming though the trees.

Suddenly the brush parted and into the camp stomped an odd looking group. They wore skins all cut the same way, with matching deer hide boots that were colored black from carbonized wood. It was the worlds first tribe of Nazi's !

"Who is the leader here!" Boomed the head Nazi chieftan. Some glanced nervously at Peikoff and a few others at Ayn.

"Well..." Began Peikoff nervously, "We don't really have 'leaders' as such, we are all individuals who freely chose to associate and ...GURGLE!"

The gurgle came from the arrow now protuding from Peikoff's throat as he fell back dead.

"You fascist pig!" screamed Ayn as she jumped up to confront the Nazi chieftan. Suddenly she was backhanded by the Nazi and she spun around and collapsed as her other eye began to swell.

"I don't know what a 'fascist' is woman, but you will now cook me breakfast. If you scream again I will cut out your toungue and you will still cook me breakfast. Understand?"

Ayn started to scream at him again, but thought better of it this time and nodded meekly.

"Good" The Nazi cheiftan said. "You," He pointed at Nathaniel, "build a fire, and you three up in the trees, get down here. I have work for you as well. And someone get that god dammed untermenchen out of here." He said as he pointed at the Neanderthal.

"UGH!" Exclaimed the Neanderthal as he ran back into the trees.

"By the way," the Nazi Cheiftan said, "My name is Adolf, and work shall make you free!"

Thus ended the worlds first experiment in Libertarian societies, not to be repeated again for thousands of years, when decadence, jews and too much leisure time would once again bring it back into vogue.

-Brian

[I]Once upon a time there was a tribe of Libertarians.

That is funny. :D

Organization and hierarchy are two things that exist because they have value. Yet at the same time, we can't centralize everything. It works on the small level of a tribe with less than ten people, but when you grow in size you need private ownership and competition, for people to be innovative and work hard. The experiment with the first pilgrim colonies on the east coast showed that.

It's not either/or. Some things should be run by the govt, some should not. Both libertarians and commies are wrong, while those who want freedom within a racial context are closer to the target.

That is funny.

Thanks.

I still consider myself a libertarian for the most part, even though I like to make fun of them from time to time.

I came up with that story a few years ago and when Alex posted this thread I decided to sit down and pull it from my head and cast it into the ether.

While liberatarian ideals are a great way for a white society to live, libertarians make two big mistakes. The first is their attempt to take take libertarian ideals from the zone of economics into the arena of eschatology. They aren't content with merely doing what works, they want to turn it into an ultimate philosphy of life.

Ayn Rand is primarily responsible for this, and in fact she was right about many things. But her failure was that being a rootless cosmpolitan jew (her militant atheism notwithstanding) she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge the needs and strengths of communities of people who had a culture and genetic heritage in common.

The second, is their refusal to acknowledge the biological realities of human existence. This was the area that I have had most of my arguments with my libertarian friends who seem to think the epithet "biological determinist," was a catch-all refutation of any biological/genetic argument.

Libertarians in their own way are every bit as hidebound and stubborn as any of the conservatives or marxists they love to posture against. They love to pretend that they are super rational and logical, but present them with an argument pointing out the differences in the races and they start turning cartwheels of denial as furiously as their liberal/marxoid counterparts.

I can understand this, because the universal assertion of the validity of libertarian ideals falls apart as soon as nature rears its ugly head. If humans are different and if the principles and values of white people aren't universals then libertarians can't look at Africa and claim that the dismal continent is the way it is simply because of collectivism.

Also, liberatarians are just cowards. I know for a fact that many libertarians know the truth about race. As famously incompetent as they are politically however, even they know where to draw the line.


-Brian