Libertarians
Roy Edroso may be onto something:
[T]he fact remains: libertarians stand too close to you when they talk, sing along with Frank Zappa songs (even the obscure ones), and smell.
Although I think I prefer Julian Sanchez’s definition slightly better:
[L]ibertarians—I’m including myself here—tend to be an eccentric bunch who, pretty much as a prerequisite of seriously entertaining all the unpopular ideas we do, are skeptical of mainstream consensus and fond of quixotic crusades.
The signal trait of most (semi-sane) libertarians (myself among them) I’ve met has been contrarianism. It’s a reflexive inability to let prevailing wisdom pass without critical comment. This is why libertarians are generally ineffectual as a political force: consensus is almost impossible when everyone refuses to engage in the sort of compromise and nose-holding that coalition building generally requires. And even if a potential coalition appears, the mere fact of its appearance induces spasms of agitation and yelps of counterintuition. The tendency toward self-marginalization, I think, is generally not something that can be helped. (Some paleocons, I suspect, are similarly afflicted.) Politically, the chances for libertarianism are dim. On the other hand, we’re lots of fun at parties.
ibertarians—I’m including myself here—tend to be an eccentric bunch who, pretty much as a prerequisite of seriously entertaining all the unpopular ideas we do, are skeptical of mainstream consensus and fond of quixotic crusades.
I’ve said similar things, around here, although admittedly in less sympathetic tones; but nobody listens to me.
The signal trait of most (semi-sane) libertarians (myself among them) I’ve met has been contrarianism. It’s a reflexive inability to let prevailing wisdom pass without critical comment.
The exact reason I won’t go see that goddamn lonely robot movie.
— Freddie · Jul 1, 04:39 AM · #
That reminds me, I’ll have to recreate that graph I once posted showing how libertarians are like communists, but unlike conservatives. (I’m a libertarian-leaning conservative, myself.)
— The Reticulator · Jul 1, 01:04 PM · #
I’d second that. I’d rather hang out with P.J. O’Rourke, Penn & Teller, and Chris Ferguson at a CATO institute or Reason gathering that Madonna and Al Gore at one of those Earth Day celebrations.
— Mark · Jul 1, 02:08 PM · #
I can’t agree that Libertarians are “an eccentric bunch”. I actually believe that the real majority of Americans are libertarian at heart. They just don’t realize it! For example; how can any good Christian, who has learned to think for himself, not be skeptical of the mainstream belief in global warming, and man’s responsibility for it? Ask yourself, (if you believe in a God, any all-powerful creator) why such a God would create a habitat and its inhabitants who could not withstand the effects of each other? Furthermore, NOAA data shows that, over the past ten years, global warming has been reversed. Why does the media not report this? Why can’t politicians explain that new data has caused them to rethink their positions on global warming? They are still using global warming to wreck our economy! Libertarians are the only purveyors of common sense.
— Phil Roach · Jul 5, 07:57 PM · #