Carnival Of The Libertarians

Libertarianism is sometimes misunderstood and albeit unknown by many people. You can find out definitions and explanations of Libertarianism in many places on the web, like Wiki - or the Libertarian Party website.

In the interest of education, I'd like to use this carnival to educate people as to what libertarians are all about. I invite you you take this quiz because you might be surprised at the results; you might be a libertarian! Basically, if you believe that you, and not the government, are responsible for yourself and your family, then you might be a libertarian. As the saying goes: The liberals want to be your mommy, the conservatives want to be your daddy, the libertarians want to treat you like an adult. Personally, I am not a member of the Libertarian party, but I do believe in many libertarian principles, which I guess now qualifies me as being a Ron Paul Republican.

Some of our Founders had very libertarian ideas. They believed very much in liberty and freedom. They understood the beast of oppression and government control. They believed not so much in conservatism versus liberalism, or right versus left, but more about the spectrum between tyranny (ruler's law) versus anarchy (no law). Smack in the middle is where government is kept under the control of the people and political power is maintained at the balanced center with enough government to maintain security, justice and good order (people's law)". (The 5000 Year Leap: The 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World, p.9-33). That spectrum seems to have been the guide in how our government was structured, after much debate between our Founders.

Thomas Jefferson stated, "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others." Jefferson also said "No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain him."

Interestingly enough, with all the talk lately about "Ronald Reagan Conservatism", it is worthwhile to note that it was Ronald Reagan who said he believed that "the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism" (Reason Magazine, 1975-07-01).

But anyway, here is a shmorgasbord of posts that I will share with you. So let's get this carnival started:

David Z writes a response to Bryan Angliss' post proclaiming that libertarians are merely useful idiots with his post entitled Libertarians Are Not Idiots which is over at ...no third solution.


Libertarians believe in the notion of free markets and economic freedom - Economic freedom is freedom to produce, trade and consume any goods and services acquired without the use of force, fraud or theft. Economic freedom is embodied in the rule of law, property rights and freedom of contract, and characterized by external and internal openness of the markets, the protection of property rights and freedom of economic initiative. So here are some libertarian views on the economy (some of which also has to do with personal responsibility).

Phil for Humanity claims that the harsh truth is that the United States of America is probably in a recession… maybe even a depression. He offers a A Few Humble Suggestions to Get Out of this Recession posted at Phil for Humanity.

Freddie L. Sirmans, Sr. asks WILL THE EURO TRUMP THE DOLLAR? and that is answered over at the blog entitled A SURVIVAL PLAN IN CASE THE DOLLAR ACTUALLY COLLAPSES.

John Brown's post argues that bipartisan "economic stimulus" plans intentionally ignore root causes of economic difficulties and represent an inappropriate government intervention in the marketplace. Read more in his article:Economic stimulus... Savings, credit, markets and more... Oh, the mendacity! posted over at Prepare Yourselves for a Settlement.

John Crenshaw says, "This little known scam accounts for a huge portion of fees paid to banks every year and is going on right under your nose. The worst part is, it's completely legal". Find out more about The Biggest Scam Your Bank Gets Away With Everyday blogged at Truthful Lending Mortgage, Refinance Advice.

Wenchypoo presents The Right Kind of Government Handouts, and you can read more at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket.

There are two distinct differences in their perspectives concerning our U.S. Economy and monetary policy that Michael Bass finds puzzling. Find out more in this piece about Dave Ramsey, Peter Schiff, and decline of U.S. Economy posted at Debt Prison.

Logan Flatt says, "America’s economic problems are not due to market forces, laissez faire economic policies, or clever financial engineering. The pathogen that most afflicts the U.S. economy today is the Federal Reserve, which engages unwarrantably in the central planning of U.S. economic growth". His article Let's Be Frank, Barney: The Federal Reserve Hurts We The People. is posted at PowerWealth.com.

Head Pig writes Lipstick This Pig | Pig Logic Recession, Recession, Recession presented at Recession, Recession, Recession.

Avant News gives us Stocks Tumble on Self-fulfilling Prophecy Fears posted at Avant News.


Libertarians Reject socialism and communism in favor of individual ownership and control.

The Whited Sepulchre has some criticism of Bill Gates and claims, Bill Gates Wants To Pull Up The Ladder, Or At Least Break The Lower Rungs . Check it out over at The Whited Sepulchre.

A simple thing in capitalist America, but in socialist Venezuela, it is a day's work, says Duane Lester . I Bought a Gallon of Milk Today posted at All American Blogger.



Libertarians promote personal responsibility and private charity and opposes welfare statism.

Warren Wong gives us good reasons why we shouldn't be afraid of commitment. Read it here under the title What Committing To Something Means And Why You Should Do It posted at Personal Development.

NotYourDaddy presents Poverty Is Increasing -- And It's Our Fault over at Government is not your Daddy..

Rob Moshe has a project that he'd like to share with all of us, called Live Your Best Life By Serving Others. It's part of his blog named Rob Moshe.



With regard to foreign policy - libertarians believe in non-interventionism. Thomas Jefferson spoke of this when he said,"“Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none…"

Rotting Nation gives us this article called Noninterventionism: America's Original Foreign Policy posted at Reflections From A Rotting Nation.



Libertarians advocate either limiting or entirely eliminating the power and scope of the state in order to maximize individual liberty.

Shaun Connell shows why even Jesus would have been a libertarian in his article Stop Legislating Morality! posted at Reason and Capitalism.

TheRationalAnarchist lends us a definition of "Rational Anarchy" here with the post Rational Anarchy: A Brief Definition which is presented at Reflections From A Rotting Nation.

Michael Bass says, "Currently America is divided on the issue of gun control. Americans want to maintain Individual Rights and the 2nd Amendment - but then also create false illusions of ‘gun free zones’ (micro-versions of a gun free America). The massacres we have witnessed at Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, and other institutions are a result of the ongoing legal conflict surrounding the gun control issue. He gives us Guns and The Power of Free People posted at Debt Prison.

Greg Laden offers another piece about Gun Control posted at Greg Laden's Blog.



Libertarians are in favor of extensive personal liberties and respecting our Constitutional rights - that means the government should get out of our personal lives including removing government regulations regarding parenting, marriage and issues of procreation (i.e. the government should get out of the marriage business, as well as not dictate what people do with their bodies), as well as other aspects of our lives.

Dana presents NE legislature’s contempt for ALL parents? posted at Principled Discovery.

Holly Ord informs us about Colorado and Missouri's prospective 2008 ballot initiatives to abolish women's rights. Read more here with the piece entitled Colorado and Missouri Wage War on Women’s Rights posted at Woman Tribune.

blewsdawg presents Drug Bust Gone Bust - posted at InFrequently Asked Questions.


Finally we have a few folks who wish to weigh in on our current crop of presidential candidates:

Charles H. Green says the secret to John McCain's appeal is his transparency and openness. It's the same secret many of the best salespeople use. He gives us Lessons in Sales from John McCain posted at Trust Matters.

Leslie Carbone emphatically writes John McCain: Unfit to be President and that can be found at Leslie Carbone.

:: Suzanne :: presents Washington State Caucus Day which is posted at :: adventures in daily living ::.

Carole G. McKay asks if can we look beyond labels and sense the potential for healing and greatness? Read her comments here as she offers a post entitled Obama's Hope posted at Gold Post-it.

Timothy Moreland's post analyzes the use of farm subsidies, via Mike Huckabee's agricultural policy. Analyzing Mike Huckabee's Agricultural Policy is posted at timmorelandonline.


This edition of the Carnival of Libertarians produced lots of entries, so a big thank you goes out to all of the contributors. My apologies if I missed anyone. In some cases I had to choose from multiple entries from individual contributors, so if not all of your submissions made it in this edition please submit them next time. There were so many good posts. Thanks again to all.

In closing:

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson

When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny.- Thomas Jefferson

Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master. - Dwight Eisenhower