The Libertarian Argument
Channel: C0nc0rdance
Date: 02/04/2012

First:  My apologies for slipping off the map.  I was assigned to run a workshop at AACR at the last minute, and I'm uploading this from my hotel in Chicago (at AACR2012).  It's been the busiest month of my life with the house going on the market, a new project and new position at work, and AACR on top of it all.  For those of you who are curious about why I missed the Reason Rally, it's because my daughter's birthday was on the same day, and I'm a father first and foremost.  Sorry to have missed it.  I should be back at 100% very soon.

Let's see who can be the first to misinterpret this video to be advocating for a totalitarian state with no personal liberty!  Winner gets a free "Slippery Slope-n-Slide"*

I'm not interested in criticizing the "Big L" party because they provide a small minority of people with a voice and they provide a useful counterpoint to the two-party system.  This video is strictly about the misuse of "the government has no right to tell me to..." argument.  "We, the people", have a right to act when one person's choices affect the rest of us.  It's easy to miss the subtle externalities that come from living in a complex and interdependent society.

Other topics where there is clearly a conflict between personal liberty and the best interests of the society:
1.  Vaccine refusal
2.  Extreme sports
3.  Unlicensed medical practices
4.  Religious tax exemptions
5.  Recreational drug use

*offer not valid on planet Earth