I’m apparently an “Australian Libertarian blogger” …and that suits me fine.
The Australian Libertarian blog has a poll asking who is the best “Australian libertarian solo-blogger”.
As the note before the poll says, “This is a good opportunity for you to check out some Australian libertarian blogs that you might not have checked out before. If you haven’t visited Fleeced, Pommygranate, Double Think or Real World Libertarian before, then go have a look…”
There is also a link to my IPA colleague’s blog ChrisBerg.org.
I image Luke and others would be horrified to know that Graeme Bird is currently topping the poll!
So go vote for us: http://alsblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/als-poll-best-blogger/
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
Just incase anyone is wondering what a Libertarian is, this is from the ALS website:
“The libertarian political philosophy, also known as classical liberalism, has existed in some form for several centuries. Libertarians believe in individual liberty, small government and free markets. The central element of libertarian thought is that people should generally be free to do what they want with what they own, so long as they don’t interfere with other people or property without permission. Consequently, libertarians generally do not support the government getting involved to tell people how to run their lives — either in the economic sphere or in the social sphere.
Libertarians tend to prefer the voluntary interactions of the market and civil society over the government, which uses the threat of violence to force people to follow government rules.
Are libertarians left-wing or right-wing?
Neither & both. Libertarians are sometimes described as ‘economically right-wing’ and ’socially left-wing’. While this isn’t a perfect explanation, it’s a helpful shortcut.
Some people are confused by what appear to be contradictory positions in libertarianism. Free trade is considered to be right-wing, but drug legalisation is left-wing. Cutting tax is right-wing, but defending civil liberties and gay rights is left-wing. However, all of these libertarian positions share the common principle of decreasing the role of government. In contrast, “left-wing” people often want to have the government control the economy, but not to control our social lives, and “right-wing” people often want to have the government control our social lives, but not the economy.
Do libertarians generally agree with each other?
Most libertarians agree on the main points of libertarian philosophy — individual choice, private property rights, much lower taxes, free trade, liberalised industrial relations law, drug legalisation, sexual choice and the rule of law.
However, libertarians also tend to be an argumentative and individualistic bunch so they inevitably disagree on many points. One of the biggest debates within the Australian libertarian community over the last five years has been on foreign policy and the Iraq war. While most American libertarians oppose the war as bad government policy the Australian libertarian community is more divided.”
You can read more here: http://australianlibertarian.wordpress.com/faq/
But don’t forget to vote here: http://alsblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/als-poll-best-blogger/
Thanks for this… we need to get the vote out or we’ll all be ‘birdied’ 😉
I imagine anyone would be horrified to think the Bird would win such high office.
Does the fact that boffy birdy is leading the pack say more about the audience than the bloggers.
But birdy did enlighten us on blogging tactics i.e. keep screaming GIVE ME THE EVIDENCE, you a dead &*T*@E@&(^!@*)(@!$) and something about a goat, my swearing has improved markedly under his tuition, I have a healthy respect now for THE CAPS LOCK, and if you can’t win the debate you can always offer to attend someone’s home and assault them.
Nevertheless Birdy represents a unique experiment in the hybridisation of highest libertarian intellect and philosophy combined with brain damage, substance abuse and Tourette’s syndrome.
I mean – how can you top that. If at least 20% of the sentences make English sense he’s a winner.
P.S. Jen is this thread’s title a freudian slip?
Hooray! I have just realised that I am a libertarian. I have always wondered – both extreme left and right wings seem equally repulsive. Perhaps libertarian is another term for rational thinker, or at least one who tries.
I find being a libertine is better.
Thanks Jen… since posting this you’ve shot up to 3rd behind the evil Graeme and the blog that I thought would win — Andrew Norton. Hopefully one of you can overtake the Bird and save us from embarassment.
As Luke noticed, the title currently says “bog” instead of “blog”.
OK. Thanks. Title fixed.
Individual choice, private property rights, much lower taxes, free trade, liberalised industrial relations law, drug legalisation, sexual choice and the rule of law. Sorry, not very helpful banners. These are not absolutes – you need higher level aspirations to set the boundaries, solve externalities and resolve the internal conflicts.
Can anybody work out what gazza is talking about?
Is he saying he can’t understand what libertarianism means, or just that he disagrees with it?
And what does a definition of libertarianism have to do with high aspirations?
I suspect Gazza is in search of absolutes? And what do they say about absolute power …
John and Jen, check out Galbraith for a start.
http://world.std.com/~mhuben/faq.html#philosophy
Gal-who? Sorry, never heard of him. Or have I? 🙂
Seariously, gaz-man, what do you think I can learn for that guy who Friedman once famously referred to as “not a bad economist, for a writer”.