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Libertarianism in Children's Films, it's there, far more than one would expect.

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Mlee Posted: Sat, May 30 2009 12:10 AM

The first example that comes to my  mind is actually A Bug's Life by Pixar.

In fact, this movie has Libertarianism strewn throughout. It's quite frightening when one sees just how many elements of libertarian political theory emerge in the movie. The first thing we see is one of the many ways the ancient state formed, bandits leeching off of a sovieregn community. The only possible hole is the presence of a royal family of sorts, although in my mind the exact nature of the ant's society is not as important to the movie as their situation. The Grasshoppers proform their roles as primitive statists perfectly, relying on fear and the careful application of violence to keep a productive community under their control. If only they refered to these extortions as "Taxes". 

Also, we need to take a look at the hero, Flik, who is an inventor, a great Libertarian hero archtype, who tries, and at times fails to increase the efficency of his community. Flik hires out the equivalent of mercenaries from a foriegn land (An Anarcho-Capitalist defense strategy) And they battle the statists with a combination of intelligence, and numerical advantage. 

Also note that the grasshoppers, our insectoid statists, are aware that their victims are fully capable of rising up against them. (I suggest reading "A Discourse on Voluntary Servitude" if you haven't already). 

 

Any other examples? Watership Down perhaps?

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Waterworld.

'It is difficult to imagine any normal person wishing to meet Marx for a third time.' - Alexander Gray, The Socialist Tradition

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champthom replied on Sat, May 30 2009 1:56 PM

Some time ago,  I read an article about how Harry Potter was a prime example of libertarianism. It was in reference to the books but the same holds for the movies.

 

In the world of Harry Potter, parents are allowed choice in sending their child to school to their own choosing. Wizards and witches have a right to bear wands, so to speak, as every wizard can (and does) carry around a wand for self defense, yet it's not like everyone goes around zapping each other. Heck, they even have a private currency (as opposed to "Muggle" or non-wizard money) based on the gold standard.

 

There is still a "Ministry of Magic" but most of tension in the 5th book/film was when the Ministry decides to take over Harry's school, Hogwarts, and change the curriculum, which lead to disastrous results. Likewise, a prevailing theme in the film and books is the conflict between Harry and his friends, who insist that Lord Voldemort has returned for blood, versus the Ministry of Magic who wants to keep Harry and his friends quiet to cover their own incompetence in the matter.

 

"What meanest thou by seizing the whole earth; because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost the same with a great fleet art styled emperor?"- the Pirate's response to Alexander the Great on his charges of terrorism, from St. Augustine's "City of God"
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Dondoolee replied on Sat, May 30 2009 2:37 PM

Star Wars and The Incredibles  come to mind

 Let us look then and see, how they manage their concerns- they for whose cause we are to labor, devote ourselves, and grow enthusiastic

 -Max Stirner, The Ego and His Own

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