Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
The problem I think that is happening here is that you are not introducing a first step into the subject. It's a bit like saying to someone who wants to know why the earth moves that they should read a thesis by Stephen Hawking. Furthermore the method in which you put forward this thesis is borderline fanatical, comparable to fundamentalist preachers and extremist Imams in its ferocity and vehemence.
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Vehement yes, and intentionally. that is for biographic reasons which I do not wish to publicly talk about, and for the reason of that I see all Europe around going to hell, aggression between various peoples in different countries growing again, totalitarianism openly being invited under different labels, conflicts between states growing and growing, and everybody cheering to even accelerate the overall decline. Yes, I am very angry there. I also cannot believe and understand this... this monumental and needless waste of potential and opportunities. In wanting to understand why these processes nevertheless run on, I realised that my old ideas did not work and that I needed to pout everything into question. And that I did.
I am in short time right now, and get back to you later this day. For the moment just this: I am a realist, and do not assume I would not know that they have made it almost impossible, both legally and psychologically, to just overthrow the current order - I know it, and many of the names I mentioned know it as well. Hoppe repeatedly said that he has almost no optimism for the future,. regarding whether the libertarian social order based on the old and honorable tradition of what is called "natural law" (that is explained early in Rothbards book on Ethics) could be achieved. I, like he, argue from a theoretic standpoint and say what should be looked for, what should be tried to reach. It would be the right thing to do. But I have almost no hope that people will do it. Part of libertarianism is and must be to nevertheless demand the right nevertheless, and he who says that it should be had later, or in smaller steps, and in a limited, reduced format, already has betrayed freedom and liberty.
You ask what to do, and probably also what it is. Again, check the content list of Rothbard'S book, The Ethics of Liberty, the chapters make it easy to identify the matter you might be interested in i form of your questions. I do not even agree with all of that, for example the chapter on children's rights (or lack of), made me swallow twice. Regarding the how, my reply is: disloyalty to states, parties and politicians. Do not help the state. Be disobedient. Talk to you next people, spread the ideas of libertarianism. Boycott the common political showacts, they only serve the purpose of legitimising state-run crime. Refuse to pay taxes if you can get away with it. Do not cooperate with state organs. In other words: refuse to give moral legitimation to those who take freedom away from you. Historically, you would be in very good and high and honorable company with all that. And that is not just Thoreau.
The Hoppe book gives a good historic introduction on how and why republican state order took over from monarchies at the WWI-era - and what consequences that has for the citizens in affected states: taxes exploded in following decades, freedom declined, war became even more total and barbaric than ever before, all civilisational inhibitions removed. It has much to do with the change from monarchies to republics. In I think 14 chapters, he repeats himself quite oftenb. That makes it comfportable to read, becasue you store it in mind easy that way, and every chapter deals with the (same) matter form a slightly different perspective and focusses on slightly different objects. And yes, the book caused quite a stirr.
I get back to you later, I have no time right now.