Not that temporal longevity has anything to do with being libertarian, but I would conjecture there was a surge of growth from the past year, myself included.
Although much of my actions and thoughts were libertarian, I have really only been one for the past year.
Same here. I really began researching libertarianism in the library last year during study hall. I had to do a Persuasive paper on the Patriot Act for my english class and I talked to my dad about it, and he showed me mises.org. So, after he introduced me to it, I began reading the Daily Articles and viewing the media section. Therefore, I have only been a knowledgeable libertarian for about 1 year too.
...And nobody has ever taught you how to live out on the street, But now you're gonna have to get used to it...
A year and a half now.
I cannot be caged. I cannot be controlled. Understand this as you die, ever pathetic, ever fools.
Irenicus' Diaries.
ViennaSausage: Although much of my actions and thoughts were libertarian, I have really only been one for the past year.
The loosely defined the Cato/Reason type, for awhile. But that perspective is stagnent.
It was only after discovering Rothbard(and the Rothbardians), a little over a year ago, that libertarianism became consistent and meaningful.
By nature, always. But I didn't take an interest in the intellectual body of work until about 10 years ago. Before that I was more concerned with introspection and pushing the limits of my mind and body (okay, and girls ), and not really interested in politics. When I did take an interest, I came across and gravitated towards Jude Wanniski and his Supply-Side University. Through them, the Austrians. I studied Austrian and neo-classical models during my years at Columbia ("know thy enemy" and all that), then went to Mises U. in 2005 to solidify my Austrian basics and meet everybody. BTW, if you're a student, you should try to attend... you can probably get a scholarship so everything but airfare would be paid for. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot!
"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper." Edmund Burke
I started reading Austrians more than 30 years ago. The Public Choice school headed by Gordon Tullock was another influence.
On the other hand, I've probably been a hater of mankind since I was even younger.
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool."
-- Richard Feynman
A little over a year I do believe.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Free Software Foundation
I've been a "vulgar libertarian" since 2005, having become utterly disillusioned with republicanism after the 2004 election. Since then I've grown steadily more radical until May 12th, 2007 when I became a market anarchist.
Pro Christo et Libertate integre!
Huh, seems like their was a lot of libertarian conversions about a year ago. Pretty neat.
mr_anonymous: Huh, seems like their was a lot of libertarian conversions about a year ago. Pretty neat.
While I still maintain that a Ron Paul Presidency would be a bad thing in the long run, it is quite clear that he has influenced many thousands of people toward the Austrian economics. A serendipitous result of his candidacy is that there are now more market anarchists than ever before. That, I think, is the only purpose of a political wing to a libertarian movement - getting the word out. Not to sieze the reins of the state.
MacFall: While I still maintain that a Ron Paul Presidency would be a bad thing in the long run, it is quite clear that he has influenced many thousands of people toward the Austrian economics. A serendipitous result of his candidacy is that there are now more market anarchists than ever before. That, I think, is the only purpose of a political wing to a libertarian movement - getting the word out. Not to sieze the reins of the state.
I agree. He has really helped in getting the austrian beliefs out.
The crucial moment, for me, came late '06 & 07, when I eventually discovered RP after swearing off voting for democrats & being in political limbo. Seeing him in the debates sealed the deal, more or less.
I definitley agree that the only real useful political means that libertarians could serve in mainstream politics is education & spreading the word, as, without them (and the communities & political thought they showed the door to), I might not be where I am today, and probably would be an Obama-bot right now. I went from being a soft-paternalist, then civil libertarian, after that, a vulgar libertarian (minarchist, for the past 2), & currently: an apolitical libertarian, w/ market-anarchist, objectivist (very mild; only just starting the virtue of selfishness), & technorealist (douglas rushkoff, howard bloom. e,tc.) influences. Yeah, it's been an interesting 1 1/2 almost 2 years.
mr_anonymous:I agree. He has really helped in getting the austrian beliefs out.
Can someone be an anarcho-capitalist and not an Austrian?
Doesn't the Austrian school imply utilitarianism?
Don't allow leftists to play games with definitions! Some of the libertarian-leaning leftists at this forum will try to redefine "left-wing" back to its original defition (Third Estate, limited government, free-markets, laissez-faire reforms, etc.). Fine! We non-leftists can't stop them from using their own personal definitions; they can use whatever labels they want to describe any concept they want.However, they have the audacity to then use their personal definition of "left-wing" (remember, the original definition, which is no longer valid) to prove that modern leftists are more libertarian than modern rightists! They will say that libertarianism is "inherently leftist" (again, using the original, no longer valid definition), and use that to insist that we should prefer and side with modern leftists over modern rightists.
Question their motives.
From my knowledge, I don't think it implies utilitarianism per se, although I remember reading recently on the forums that Mises had a utilitarian streak to him, but Rothbard wasn't utilitarian by any means, and employed the austrian school, methinks. As for being anarcho-capitalist but not utilizing the austrian school, I wouldn't think you'd be able to be neo-classical & anarcho-capitalist at the same time. I'm not too well informed of other competitng schools aside from keyes, neo-classical & classical, and austrian, though.
No, utilitarianism implies that the end justifies the means, which conflicts with the non-coercive philosophy of the Austrian school.