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It is too bad that Mr. Janarelli did not take the time to study history and political science a little closer before attempting to write his opinion piece (“Libertarian solutions to recession will only make matters worse,” Feb. 2, 2009). Nor did he seem to consider the topic at length before writing an attack piece for his obvious bias.
The libertarian notion of the fruits of one’s labor are easy to understand if one considers that the “CEO sipping the finest scotch” worked for years to make his company a success. A small-business owner who risks all he has to create a company that will employ dozens or perhaps hundreds of people has the absolute right to the fruits of that labor and the profits of the company.
The idea that a CEO does nothing and therefore does not contribute to the success of a company is ludicrous. While workers on the floor contribute to the bottom line of the company, they do not have a right to the profits of the company unless they are shareholders. Workers agree to work for a wage and benefits in exchange for their labor. The fact that laws were needed to prevent exploitation and violence against workers points to changes in society and not the rise of libertarian thought, which came some decades later. Mr. Janarelli would do well to read some history since, in more than a few instances, government and its agents acted violently, or refused to investigate violence against such protesters.
Mr. Janarelli points to the past with child labor and deregulation, in order to condemn Libertarianism using guilt by association. This laughable tactic insinuates that Libertarians don’t believe in laws to protect workers or children and that is patent nonsense. Libertarians, as he rightfully mentioned earlier, have a “healthy dose of suspicion of government intervention.” That does not in any way imply that government does not have a place. It states that the actions of government should be examined long and hard to prove it is needed.
As to the generalization of a Libertarian idea – tax is theft – it is a simplification to the highest order. In this view, he is discussing what I would term “pure libertarian thinking” which is a synonym for Utopian or wishful thinking. Mr. Janarelli attacks the ideals and not the logic of the idea. Pure libertarian thought is no more workable in this world than pure socialism. It is a goal, and good Libertarians realize there is something called human nature and would never consider violence as an acceptable means to achieve their goals.
Finally, Mr. Janarelli asks how government can be the greatest enemy of property rights when it is used to defend property. This shows a basic lack of understanding. Government is a way to use force to achieve goals in society. When one considers how to use force without directly applying that force, then one considers how to use a tool. Thus, government is a tool to create and run societies. Whether it is a hammer, a screwdriver, a gun or government, tools can be used for good or ill. That the people of America have forgotten they are in control of how that tool is applied, and responsible for its use, is the cause of many of our problems today.
While there are many paths on how we get out of this mess, most of those paths will create a larger and more invasive form of government at the cost of our freedoms. If ever there was a time to begin the reasonable application of libertarian ideals, then now is most definitely that time.
