this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2025
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My high school and early college was during the W. Bush years. I hated him, and around that time is when I got political, active, and told my (Republican) parents that I was a proud Libertarian! (Look, I've learned a lot over the years, and Libertarians used to pretend to be a little more progressive.)
My parents hated that, and constantly gave me the "you may not like him but he's your president too and you have to respect the office!" The first time he complained about Obama (hours after the election), I broke that one out and turned it around. And they ~~realized their hypocrisy immediately becoming gay communists~~ decided that the rule was stupid, actually, and that it turns out you don't have to respect the office when you dont want to!
What bothers me so much more than their stated political views is the realization that they never actually had reasoned, considered views to begin with. They emotionally select things that seem directly beneficial to themselves. And then lie about their beliefs because they know they're selfish and indefensible.
They're still republicans but I'm an anarchist who no longer respects any presidents! Funny where a difference in fundamental values will lead you.
Libertarianism as a concept has a lot to like on a surface level, I was right there with you. They could do something great with the movement, but looking around now you eventually realize that there are really only 2 sides of mainstream libertarianism, 'Republican, but weed and gay people might be okay sometimes' and 'Completely avoid personal accountability, but still punish others when it suits me'.
Actual libertarianism is fine. The problem with modern Libertarianism is them trying to shoehorn capitalism into what was a socialist ideology. Its anathema.
But go look up Joseph Dejacque. The man who coined the term and was the first libertarian. He would have scared the bejesus out of the modern libertarian larpers. Stood against all the things they are for. Fought in the French revolution.
Actually libertarianism has a lot going for it, period. Where it falls short is in recognizing that the power wielded by corporations and wealthy people now far surpasses any level which could be self-regulate, or be controlled by "the free market". So it's naive in its view of solutions to major issues facing a modern world, but pretty great regarding its interpretations of liberty, and the role of government in people's lives.
This is the most infuriating part. We all do it to some extent, but some people really turn it up to 11.
Respect has to be earned not demanded.
We anarchists :)