The biggest question for Libertarians has been and will always be how to reach out with the message of liberty. The stupidity of the average joe leaves a huge dent in our tries to reach out. If one would spend countless hours debunking statist lies to the average citizen they either wouldn't care, understand it or believe you even though you're obviously right.
Every average citizen will start to spit out logical fallacies to defend the state and all its flaws (the state is one big flaw, so everything the state is doing basically). How do we overcome this huge problem? It seems like if an honest man would try to spread an honest message to stupid people he would not be able to compete with the dishonest man spreading dishonest ideas (as opposed to the market).
People are stupid, how do we go around that?
you don't. humanity isn't going to save itself. either technology will save us by essentially eliminating scarcity or humanity will tear itself apart.
Well, obviously this is a huge obstacle for Libertarianism, and one that certainly deserves a lot of attention.
I think the best way Libertarianism can spread it's message is through alternative institutions (like the Mises Institute) and create a "free market" of ideas, if you will. It will obviously take time, but it is a fight one has to make.
I think we can learn something from the Vietnamese concept of Trận Đấu and time. It is basically the idea of conflict, and how it is to be waged regardless of how long it takes. The Vietnamese had been occupied by various foreign powers for centuries and centuries, yet they simply do not give up (Simply ask the Chinese and the French). They believe, act, and essentially know that regardless of time, they will succeed. I feel the same way about Libertarianism. It may take centuries, but the idea of liberty will eventually win out in the long run.
I think the idea of slavery might be a decent analogy. In the past, it was widely accepted as "ok", but nowadays it is a ridiculous idea. The notion of statism has to become just as stupid as the idea of human slavery. It is something we can only slowly influence and just hope that it picks up steam as more people learn about it.
Sometimes people are not so much stupid as they are stubborn. The cause of that stubbornness is often Libertarians themselves.
Libertarians can be very insulting to those who are un-aware of what we really stand for and it does not help at all to convince people that we are correct when others call them "Sheeple" or other terms that are designed to elevate our status while lowering theirs.
I would never join a movement where people get so frustrated that they lash out in anger with insults. Who cares for economic reason and freedom when those advocating it are insulting?
Try to assume those whom you find to be "stupid" realy are not stupid. Do not call people "brainwashed" either...believe it or not: telling people they have no free will because they do not believe as we do is no way to win them to our side. I try to overcome the stupidity of others by being polite yet uncompromising. Then when they realised I am not an insulting egomaniac but still have doubts I direct them here to this site to read free stuff at their liesure and decide for themselves.
Be polite. Smile (or use smilie emoticons if not at a proper party). Don't try to sell them shares of a non-existant society that lives on a theoretical oil platform. Then all will be well.
http://www.comebackalive.com/phpBB2 Travel, Adventure Travel, Arguments, Recipes.
Don't know why I felt the sudden urge to post a cheerleader comment, but thank you Twirlcan. Very thought-inspiring reply
(See, I even remembered a smilie emoticon, isn't that polite)
We just had this thread.
Microsecession as a strategy for revolution | Challenge to minarchist | How would a private road system work?
And we'll probably be having it again next week.
To darkness I condemn you...
Jon Irenicus: And we'll probably be having it again next week.
Oh, no!
Do you have the power to merge threads? It would nicely avoid having to repeat the same things over and over.
If not, I find it hard to criticize the repeated asking of questions... the search function seems to be quite inferior to that of other forums in regard to filter options.
No, only to move them and split them. Since this thread has come up before, I'll be locking this one.
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