Some may have noticed that this blog was recently voted 14th in the top libertarian blogs category at Total Politics. Very proud we are too.
However, it would seem that we must be misunderstanding the term 'libertarian' if Times columnist Minette Marrin is to be believed.
In a Radio 4 debate today, Minette professed herself to be a right raving libertarian. So much so that she considers John Stuart Mill her 'hero'.
Such a committed libertarian is she, that she advocated the following:
- Forcing people to pay for their healthcare if they indulge in unhealthy lifestyles
- Forcing supermarkets to change the layout of their shops
- Using compulsion instead of information as the Change4Life campaign is not working
- Implementing a sugar tax to stop people eating foods they would like to
- Harassing flat-dwellers into not smoking in their own homes
- Banning people from eating food in the street
This in less than an hour, amongst a panel of two other experts, interspersed with phone-in contributors, news updates and trails for future programming.
And to top off a world class performance of exactly why she is anything but a libertarian, she finished with this exceptionally laughable denouement.
"I understand that people don't like compulsion, nor do I"
Really, Minette? You could have fooled us. I think that instead of 'libertarian', the description you were looking for is 'authoritarian' or perhaps even 'totalitarian'.
It's obviously an easy mistake to make. Just ask Alan "We need more nannying" Maryon-Davies, another who professes to be libertarian.
We at Freedom2Choose are well aware of what libertarianism means. We advocate it on a daily basis. It's why we gained that pretty badge on this page after only a few months of operation. We, strangely enough, believe in the right of the individual to choose how they wish to live their life.
That's what libertarianism is, and why you, Minette, have no bloody clue.
7 comments:
Lovely.
With Libertarians like Minette, who needs Authoritarians?
What an idiot Minette is. She needs to go back to school, or at least use a dictionary to establish her correct choice of words.
Great post again.
If the list above is truly what she advocates she is everything but libertarian. What a nasty piece of work !
"Libertarian" does not even fit in the same sentence as "The Times" and "Radio4". Up hers, I'm off to get a drink out of the fridge which will be consumed in conjunction with a lovely fag! Now FUCK OFF, bitch!!
Funny old world when you have to check on the 'tinternet' to see if the goalposts have been shifted when being labeled a libertarian, but check I did:
"The core idea is simply stated, but profound and far-reaching in its implications. Libertarians believe that each person owns his own life and property, and has the right to make his own choices as to how he lives his life - as long as he simply respects the same right of others to do the same.
Another way of saying this is that libertarians believe you should be free to do as you choose with your own life and property, as long as you don't harm the person and property of others."
Says it for me, how about you Minette and Mr. Legrande?
Strangely enough she does sounds very much
like the current high profile "Libertines"
Check out the creds of most of the banner
waving Liberati
Pro gay rights
Pro late abotion
Pro easier divorce
Pro immigration
Anti fox hunting
Anti alcohol
Anti smoking
Anti religion
Far,far right
So, an obese, threble-chinned MP condemns the enjoyment of tobacco, but tucks into monster meals.
A skinny MP condemns the enjoyment of food, but enjoys tobacco.
A teetotal MP condemns alcohol but enjoys lots of coffee late.
A fitness fanatic MP condemns riding in cars, relaxing on the couch, but enjoys freebee holidays travelling by air in the interest of 'research' in foreign climes.
And so on.
You see, 'libertarianism' is relative. I am a 'libertarian' and therefore I am free. I am free to force you to do what I say.
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