Shocking
I even hold myself out as a small L libertarian but it seems I am not so much. Via Jeff, I took the libertarian purity test and scored a 32, which makes my only slightly libertarian. This is one of those tests that tries to convince you that you’re a libertarian. Example: It asks odd questions Should we abolish Medicare? Now, I think Medicare is currently crap. I think it’s poorly run and has some major issues. But people need Medicare. I don’t necessarily want it abolished, though I’d want it abolished in its current form. Therefore, I said No, as some folks still need it. This makes me seem not all that much libertarian despite having a minimalist approach to such a program.
Us whacky moderate libertarians. Go figure.
Bonus: Tim is plotting scores so post yours there.
March 13th, 2004 at 11:46 am
I get a capital “L” – score: 54. Even I didn’t know it!!! LOL
March 13th, 2004 at 12:42 pm
Big L libertarianism doesn’t do a good job of accounting for people who are injured and can’t work, are born with genetic defects, etc. It also assumes everyone is above average intelligence. In other words, it’s a fantasy that doesn’t have any connection to reality.
March 14th, 2004 at 11:17 pm
I disagree, Les. Libertarians just think it’s not the government’s place to solve those problems.
March 15th, 2004 at 10:11 am
Uncle:
For the record, I scored a whopping 12.
Thibodeaux:
The larger problem is, most libertarians (big and small L) can’t come to any specific consensus vis-a-vis what is the government’s job. The viewpoint is generally something along the lines of “government shouldn’t do stuff that I personally don’t like.” 🙂
March 15th, 2004 at 11:18 am
most libertarians (big and small L) can’t come to any specific consensus vis-a-vis what is the government’s job.
In the case of the federal government, I’d like to see it stick to the limits enumerated in the Constitution. I’d say that’s a big enough challenge for now.
March 15th, 2004 at 1:50 pm
As I mentioned in my blog entry, this test has a more fundamental problem than the radical questions about abolishing medicare, abolishing all worker safety regulaions, etc. Given that the point of the test is to measure one’s ideological purity (or lack thereof), those questions are fair game in my book. Where the test errs is with a series of questions that have little or nothing to do with the issue of individual liberty. Generally, the test confuses blanket opposition to ALL government action with a more selective opposition to those government actions that threaten individual liberty.
March 15th, 2004 at 2:58 pm
Jeff, I concur with your analysis.