Comments on: The Libertarian Center http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/ Big Ideas for a Better World Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:32:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Donklephant » Blog Archive » VBO (Voting by Objective) http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-114541 Donklephant » Blog Archive » VBO (Voting by Objective) Sun, 07 Oct 2007 07:38:31 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-114541 [...] My answer: I no longer vote for a specific political party. Nor do I cast my vote based on a candidate’s personality, or perception of who is the “best man” or what a candidate promises in a campaign. I vote for objectives. I vote for objectives about how our government should act. Objectives that are derived from a set of philosophical beliefs about how we choose to be governed. Objectives informed by the word and intent of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The objectives I vote for: Federal government should be limited in scope, provide for common defense, protect and respect individual rights, spend and tax in a fiscally responsible manner, provide effective oversight of elected and appointed representatives, legislate carefully and slowly, and pass only laws that are tempered in the fire of partisan debate. I vote in the hope and expectation of moving our government and country toward these objectives. Many would recognize these objectives as a centrist, moderate and/or small “l” libertarian perspective. [...] […] My answer: I no longer vote for a specific political party. Nor do I cast my vote based on a candidate’s personality, or perception of who is the “best man” or what a candidate promises in a campaign. I vote for objectives. I vote for objectives about how our government should act. Objectives that are derived from a set of philosophical beliefs about how we choose to be governed. Objectives informed by the word and intent of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The objectives I vote for: Federal government should be limited in scope, provide for common defense, protect and respect individual rights, spend and tax in a fiscally responsible manner, provide effective oversight of elected and appointed representatives, legislate carefully and slowly, and pass only laws that are tempered in the fire of partisan debate. I vote in the hope and expectation of moving our government and country toward these objectives. Many would recognize these objectives as a centrist, moderate and/or small “l” libertarian perspective. […]

]]> By: brinklindsey.com http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-93558 brinklindsey.com Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:33:22 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-93558 [...] In my book and elsewhere (see, for example, here and here), I’ve argued that American society has shifted in a decidedly libertarian direction — i.e., left on culture and right on economics — over the past generation, and that American political culture reflects this shift. Regarding economics at least, Ezra seems to agree: America’s political consensus is almost absurdly to the right. But because people still need to run to the left of each other, the rhetoric on offer frequently sounds like the rhetoric of the left, even as its actual prescriptions are decidedly within the mainstream of our fairly conservative consensus on economics. And vice versa in other countries, where rhetoric of the right can refer to almost comically leftist policies. where the center is much further left — and in other countries, the precise opposite happens. [...] […] In my book and elsewhere (see, for example, here and here), I’ve argued that American society has shifted in a decidedly libertarian direction — i.e., left on culture and right on economics — over the past generation, and that American political culture reflects this shift. Regarding economics at least, Ezra seems to agree: America’s political consensus is almost absurdly to the right. But because people still need to run to the left of each other, the rhetoric on offer frequently sounds like the rhetoric of the left, even as its actual prescriptions are decidedly within the mainstream of our fairly conservative consensus on economics. And vice versa in other countries, where rhetoric of the right can refer to almost comically leftist policies. where the center is much further left — and in other countries, the precise opposite happens. […]

]]> By: Brink Lindseys marxistischer Libertarianismus « Kapitalismus-Magazin http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-88548 Brink Lindseys marxistischer Libertarianismus « Kapitalismus-Magazin Fri, 20 Jul 2007 08:14:45 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-88548 [...] Verfasst von objektivisten am 20. Juli 2007 Blogger Noumenalself ist nur hin und wieder auf seinem Blog aktiv, aber wenn, dann sind seine Beiträge höchst interessant. Am 13. Juli hat er einen Eintrag über Brink Lindseys Version eines, wie Noumenalsefl schreibt, “marxistischen Libertarianismus” verfaßt. [...] […] Verfasst von objektivisten am 20. Juli 2007 Blogger Noumenalself ist nur hin und wieder auf seinem Blog aktiv, aber wenn, dann sind seine Beiträge höchst interessant. Am 13. Juli hat er einen Eintrag über Brink Lindseys Version eines, wie Noumenalsefl schreibt, “marxistischen Libertarianismus” verfaßt. […]

]]> By: The best explanation of the incongruity of the left and the right I’ve ever seen. « ZenPolitics http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-87711 The best explanation of the incongruity of the left and the right I’ve ever seen. « ZenPolitics Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:25:49 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-87711 [...] The best explanation of the incongruity of the left and the right I’ve ever seen. Posted in Politics by hktelemacher on the July 17th, 2007 I wish I read Cato Unbound more consistently.  About half the time their articles tackle subjects and involve research I have no depth in, and so I am left struggling with a topic I don’t have the background to comprehend in a way to make the reading enjoyable.  But when they do hit a topic I at least have a passing grasp on I have found their format to generate truly engaging debate.  This month’s lead essay is on whether libertarianism has indeed become the center of the country around which both major parties perform their partisan dance. [...] […] The best explanation of the incongruity of the left and the right I’ve ever seen. Posted in Politics by hktelemacher on the July 17th, 2007 I wish I read Cato Unbound more consistently.  About half the time their articles tackle subjects and involve research I have no depth in, and so I am left struggling with a topic I don’t have the background to comprehend in a way to make the reading enjoyable.  But when they do hit a topic I at least have a passing grasp on I have found their format to generate truly engaging debate.  This month’s lead essay is on whether libertarianism has indeed become the center of the country around which both major parties perform their partisan dance. […]

]]> By: Divided We Stand United We Fall http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-87249 Divided We Stand United We Fall Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:27:18 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-87249 <strong>Curing libertarian political impotence - a prescription for Electile Dysfunction</strong> Brink Lindsey (not pictured above) of the Cato Institute kicked off this month's Cato Unbound series with an essay seeking to locate and describe The Libertarian Center in the American political landscape. He weaves two themes into the essay, the firs... Curing libertarian political impotence - a prescription for Electile Dysfunction

Brink Lindsey (not pictured above) of the Cato Institute kicked off this month’s Cato Unbound series with an essay seeking to locate and describe The Libertarian Center in the American political landscape. He weaves two themes into the essay, the firs…

]]> By: Con Law Geek » A Libertarian Center? http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-86649 Con Law Geek » A Libertarian Center? Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:59:09 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-86649 [...] In this month’s post at Cato Unbound, Brink Lindsey argues the concept of that “a broadly defined libertarianism now occupies the center of the American political spectrum”: As I describe in The Age of Abundance, mass affluence triggered a mirror-image pair of cultural convulsions: on the countercultural left, a romantic rebellion against order and authority of every description; and on the traditionalist right, an evangelical revival of socially and theologically conservative Protestantism. Both arose around the same time, in the dizzying 1960s. Between them, these two movements have played decisive roles in shaping America’s accommodation to mass affluence. But those roles were deeply ambivalent, mixing positive elements and negative ones in roughly equal measure. The countercultural left combined genuine liberation with dangerous, nihilistic excess, while the traditionalist right mixed knee-jerk reaction with wise conservation of vital cultural endowments. [...] […] In this month’s post at Cato Unbound, Brink Lindsey argues the concept of that “a broadly defined libertarianism now occupies the center of the American political spectrum”: As I describe in The Age of Abundance, mass affluence triggered a mirror-image pair of cultural convulsions: on the countercultural left, a romantic rebellion against order and authority of every description; and on the traditionalist right, an evangelical revival of socially and theologically conservative Protestantism. Both arose around the same time, in the dizzying 1960s. Between them, these two movements have played decisive roles in shaping America’s accommodation to mass affluence. But those roles were deeply ambivalent, mixing positive elements and negative ones in roughly equal measure. The countercultural left combined genuine liberation with dangerous, nihilistic excess, while the traditionalist right mixed knee-jerk reaction with wise conservation of vital cultural endowments. […]

]]> By: Libertarians in America « Michael P.F. van der Galiën http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85928 Libertarians in America « Michael P.F. van der Galiën Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:01:27 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85928 [...] Jul 11th, 2007 by mvdg Brink Lindsey wrote an interesting column called “The Libertarian Center.” I suggest you all read it. Excerpt: There is no organized libertarian movement of any significance in American politics. To be sure, libertarian academics and intellectuals occupy some prominent positions and exert real influence on the public debate. But they do not speak on behalf of any politically mobilized mass constituency. Only about 2 percent of Americans describe themselves as libertarian, according to a 2000 Rasmussen poll. And the Libertarian Party is a fringe operation that, at best, occasionally plays the spoiler. [...] […] Jul 11th, 2007 by mvdg Brink Lindsey wrote an interesting column called “The Libertarian Center.” I suggest you all read it. Excerpt: There is no organized libertarian movement of any significance in American politics. To be sure, libertarian academics and intellectuals occupy some prominent positions and exert real influence on the public debate. But they do not speak on behalf of any politically mobilized mass constituency. Only about 2 percent of Americans describe themselves as libertarian, according to a 2000 Rasmussen poll. And the Libertarian Party is a fringe operation that, at best, occasionally plays the spoiler. […]

]]> By: The Volokh Conspiracy http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85765 The Volokh Conspiracy Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:31:28 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85765 <strong>Brink Lindsey's Case for Libertarian Optimism:</strong> At Cato Unbound, Brink Lindsey (who earlier won fame for his interesting proposal for a liberal-libertarian political alliance), has a Brink Lindsey’s Case for Libertarian Optimism:

At Cato Unbound, Brink Lindsey (who earlier won fame for his interesting proposal for a liberal-libertarian political alliance), has a

]]> By: Chapomatic » Link Dump 10 July http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85762 Chapomatic » Link Dump 10 July Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:03:40 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85762 [...] Here’s a political bone to throw out (h/t Insta): someone at Cato saying they’re moving to the center. (With Medicare prescription benefits?) [...] […] Here’s a political bone to throw out (h/t Insta): someone at Cato saying they’re moving to the center. (With Medicare prescription benefits?) […]

]]> By: Man in the Middle http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85718 Man in the Middle Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:56:01 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85718 <strong>Libertarian Center</strong> The above title on Instapundit today definitely captured my attention as a centrist with interest in Libertarian ideas. That in turn links to this article by Brink Lindsey. Here's the basic idea: ...American society today is considerably more libertar... Libertarian Center

The above title on Instapundit today definitely captured my attention as a centrist with interest in Libertarian ideas. That in turn links to this article by Brink Lindsey. Here’s the basic idea: …American society today is considerably more libertar…

]]> By: Ignorance, Abundance, Skunks « Thinking Things Through http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85679 Ignorance, Abundance, Skunks « Thinking Things Through Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:35:56 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/07/09/brink-lindsey/the-libertarian-center/#comment-85679 [...] Ignorance, Abundance, Skunks I believe that the two greatest problems confronting humanity are economic illiteracy and cultural (usually religious) primitivism. Imagine my delight in finding a great essay by Brink Lindsey which bolsters and clarifies my thinking. It’s easy to get sucked into a bleak outlook, but Mr. Lindsey highlights a lot of positive stuff. We are in an age of incredible abundance and attitudes are getting better. Still, I am constantly reminded by politicians that it’s ours to lose and that they’re just the guys and gals to toss it away. Economic illiteracy is epidemic among Democrats and cultural primitivism is epidemic among Republicans. Those of us in the great Libertarian middle (as Lindsey describes us) are always left with choosing the skunk that doesn’t smell quite as bad. But read the Lindsey article - he’s decidedly more upbeat than I am today! [...] […] Ignorance, Abundance, Skunks I believe that the two greatest problems confronting humanity are economic illiteracy and cultural (usually religious) primitivism. Imagine my delight in finding a great essay by Brink Lindsey which bolsters and clarifies my thinking. It’s easy to get sucked into a bleak outlook, but Mr. Lindsey highlights a lot of positive stuff. We are in an age of incredible abundance and attitudes are getting better. Still, I am constantly reminded by politicians that it’s ours to lose and that they’re just the guys and gals to toss it away. Economic illiteracy is epidemic among Democrats and cultural primitivism is epidemic among Republicans. Those of us in the great Libertarian middle (as Lindsey describes us) are always left with choosing the skunk that doesn’t smell quite as bad. But read the Lindsey article - he’s decidedly more upbeat than I am today! […]

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