ralis

I can't believe what you are saying! Leaving persons to their own devices will lead to peace? Humans need structured rules and that is a fact. Have you observed the state of humans affairs as of late? What proof do you have that giving persons absolute freedom from rules, will somehow magically create an ordered society? What you are incorrectly stating, is that rules create aberrant behavior.

Link doesn't work.

In regards to returning to a strict Constitutional ideology, which is nothing but a misunderstanding of the Constitution. The framers could not foresee every change needed in the future with an evolving society but left provisions for amendments. I suppose that Libertarians would dispose of whatever amendments they don't like or even understand the reason for.

There are probably some here that did not experience the 'civil rights' movements of the 60's, which were movements against state's rights. Voting restrictions, segregation of schools, unequal access to public services and so forth were some of the egregious problems that needed to be addressed. Not one of these several states (Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Fla. etc) showed concern to change. Therefor, the Federal govt passed civil rights laws to insure that minorities have the same access as whites. There are some that would vote for slavery to return. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAzO4OShWeQ

What I see with Libertarian ideology is a championing of state's rights which has already been tried in this country. The Civil War and prior to the framing of the Constitution. The more state's are given free reign, the trend toward fascism is attained. Recently, the gutting of section 4 of the voting rights act has allowed the states that previously used 'Jim Crow' laws to control the vote, to re-institute draconian voting laws that are discriminatory towards minorities and poor people.

What definition are you referring to? I would prefer scientific definitions as opposed to religious doctrine.

Which Ivy league schools? References.

Home schooling with no standards? Parents with no math skills teaching calculus, algebra, chemistry? Social skills around children's peers? While we are at it, throw in so called creation science and brain wash children that the earth is 6000 yrs old. I guess geology wont be in the curriculum.

Here is one reason we need a federal government. Without which women's rights will continue to be trampled on! BTW, smaller governments can lead to fascism. http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4266599/

I was referring to perpetual motion free energy devices that the OP wanted comments on. There are reasons that these machines are bogus ideas. Friction and load cause these machines to fail.

The universe doesn't work that way. Love is a human based emotional concept.

Karl Rove and his cronies have characterized it as the 'makers and takers'. Anyone in the 99% is a worthless moocher/taker. I guess that is feudalism. Of course the makers only make money and nothing else. What is not well known about Ayn Rand is that she took full advantage of SS and related benefits in her later years.

What the LP ideology is calling for is neoliberalism which will lead to neofeudalism. Quite frankly, I see no difference between the LP platform and the tea party ideology. Both are based on Ayn Rand objectivism. Has anyone here besides me ever read her writings? Paul Ryan has made it required reading for his staff i. e, 'Atlas Shrugged'. Crappy literature!

In terms of education, I don't want to see religion or any type of creation science taught in public education.

Ecxellent point on the educational system! I imagine Aaron was educated at a public funded school. In regards to medicine and public health, FDA food inspections, eradicating infectious disease, giving excellent health care to all as opposed to only the privileged few is of benefit to all. After all, the real wealth of any nation lies in a healthy, well educated populace.

Most Libertarians are not aware that the Charles Koch funded 'Cato Institute' is the propaganda appartus for Libertarian ideology. Here we have the Koch bros. who represent the interests of the corporate elite disseminating revisionist history, advocating junk science and Ayn Rand objectivism. The Koch bros. father founded the ' John Birch Society' and the ideological views of these elite follow from the fear of Communist/Socialist ideology.

Well said! History is replete with examples of private groups given too much power and the ensuing chaos.

Who funds these private sector welfare programs? Who in the private sector decides who benefits and who doesn't? Look at the last several decades and see what a reduced regulatory environment does to the economy. Deregulation of banks is one example. Somalia is a free market deregulated economy.

Libertarians have no answer to tough social problems. Their ideology is based on Ayn Rand objectivist ideology, Milton Friedman supply side/trickle down theory which was developed at the University of Chicago School of Economics. The root of which is an idealized view of human nature in that persons are rational participants in the marketplace. The less government interference in regards to regulation, then an economy is more efficient. Reagan cut the marginal tax rate on Corporations from 74% to 28%. Since then the corparate tax rate is somewhere in the upper 30% if I remember correctly. In spite of lower marginal tax rates, corporations as well as their spokespersons, claim that jobs are moved overseas due to excessive tax rates and oppressive government regulatory policy. There is much documentation online if you care to research this. When I was studying for my degree in the early eighties, supply economics was the emphasis. Before Milton Friedmans death, he experimented with his theories in Chile and Russia which there is much documentation online as to the failure of so called free market economics. Free markets don't work because they don't exist in large complex systems where basic human emotions such as fear, greed and lack of trust are predominate. To answer your question in regards to structural poverty, the Libertarian view is not equipped to deal with the cause given that the basic problem of human emotion is not part if their view. Their only response is an appeal to reason which fails to address primal emotion. I would suggest there is self interest/selfishness which is really code for 'Social Darwinism'. A society will no evolve or survive based on the selfish interests of the few. I would suggest reading as to what Karl Marx wrote about small group economies with no outside intrusion and compare and contrast that with complex systems such as the economy in the U.S.

More corporate greed and control!! We’re About to Lose Net Neutrality — And the Internet as We Know It http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/11/so-the-internets-about-to-lose-its-net-neutrality/

Another emotional response which says nothing and an attempt to derail the conversation! Ron Paul saying he would not vote for the 'Civil Rights Act'

Don't have time for a more detailed response but a few things must be responded to. 1. 'States rights'. Usually appealed to by southern right wing operatives who are against desegregation. 'States rights' was an issue during the framing of the Constitution. The recent gutting of section 4 of the voting rights act by SCOTUS, allowed a number of southern states to reimplement harsh voting laws. These states such as Texas, Alabama and of course your state of North Carolina, had in the past the most egregious civil rights violations. 2. Neoliberal economic policies which Libertarian/Tea Party Ayn Rand objectivists claim will cure the ails of government interference in the market place. The deregulation banks are a perfect example of failed neoliberal policies. 3. To trust human primates to self regulate? Repeal all laws that would infringe on the rights of an individual? Do you seriously expect persons reading this to buy into such absurd remarks? Historical facts are not on the side of your argument!

I was saddened by this news just now. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lou-reed-velvet-underground-leader-and-rock-pioneer-dead-at-71-20131027

One reason we don't have a functioning government. The right wing has blocked almost every nomination that Obama has selected. Furthermore, this Benghazi incident is an obsession with right wing extremists. If memory serves me correctly, embassy attacks happened under Bush and very little was said. http://www.policymic.com/articles/40811/13-benghazis-happened-under-president-bush-and-fox-news-said-nothing Graham Promises To Block All Senate Nominations Over Benghazi http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014633235

Listening to this great piece. Thanks for posting it!