this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2023
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"Libertarian" always seems like a misnomer. Libertarians only want people like themselves to experience liberty. They aim to do nothing to address inequities like social and systemic discrimination against LGBT+ people, BIPOC, women, and others. They aim to do nothing to address poverty. It's social darwinism at its ugliest. This is why they are practically indistinguishable from conservatives here in the US -- the way they arrive may look different, but the outcomes are the same. At best, they are wearing blinders. At worst, they actively support the power structures and systems that result in things like poverty and abuse.
People who legitimately do seek liberty should instead be looking to things like anarchism, which is interested in addressing the root causes of all of these problems, such as hierarchies and the state.
"Libertarian" used to be a synonym for left-wing anarchism until Murray Rothbard purposefully co-opted the term and even bragged about it.
Yep it's just a propaganda campaign.
Fellow left-wing anarchists: should we just give up on trying to reclaim this word? What do you call yourself among people who don't know the context?
In Europe it's way more ambiguous. Also: you can simply specify "left-wing", or "right-wing" libertarian.
I usually just say "anarchist", though ;)
Interestingly, 'libertarian' was originally a euphemism for 'anarchist', until it was co-opted by the right
You can't fully experience liberty unless everyone is free