Comment

Comment by Timothy Law on February 3, 2010 at 8:17pm

My sticking point with Libertarianism is the abolition of the state. That was Marx's goal too. And well...I'm a non-believer.

And while we've touched on the topic of Liberty I think a re-read of Mill's classic, On Liberty, is due. I wonder if I can find a free copy to download on the net...I offer this quote (again via wikipedia - I love wikipedia) on freedom of speech:

"I choose, by preference the cases which are least favourable to me - In which the argument against freedom of opinion, both on truth and that of utility, is considered the strongest. Let the opinions impugned be the belief of God and in a future state, or any of the commonly received doctrines of morality... But I must be permitted to observe that it is not the feeling sure of a doctrine (be it what it may) which I call an assumption of infallibility. It is the undertaking to decide that question for others, without allowing them to hear what can be said on the contrary side. And I denounce and reprobate this pretension not the less if it is put forth on the side of my most solemn convictions. However positive anyone's persuasion may be, not only of the faculty but of the pernicious consequences, but (to adopt expressions which I altogether condemn) the immorality and impiety of opinion. - yet if, in pursuance of that private judgement, though backed by the public judgement of his country or contemporaries, he prevents the opinion from being heard in its defence, he assumes infallibility. And so far from the assumption being less objectionable or less dangerous because the opinion is called immoral or impious, this is the case of all others in which it is most fatal.” [

Comment by Timothy Law on February 3, 2010 at 7:41pm

I've tried to locate a dispassionate, rational or unbiased comparison of the the two political philosophies (Libertarian vs Liberal) on the net. I found this

http://atheism.about.com/b/2008/04/23/forum-discussion-liberal-vs-l...

Not very unbiased but helpful. Better yet are the Wikipedia entries for both:

Liberal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

Libertarian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism

Comment by Timothy Law on February 2, 2010 at 7:17am

I admire the process of discovering what your political allegiances are Glen. I wish more people would take the time to think through where they stand rather than have one issue knee jerk reactions. (I'm mixing metaphors). One of the interesting things about the thinkers behind liberalism (John S Mills etc) is the pride of place for LIBERTY. And jose, I'm all for that...