Libertarian Elevator Speech

[treyfu]

It's always nice to be able to have a quick and simple explanation of libertarianism at your disposal when someone asks you: "What is libertarianism?"

I'm looking for input on the most effective and efficient way to explain the basic premise of libertarianism. Keep in mind, this should be an elevator speech, not a long, drawn-out, complex monologue. It should be concise and meaningful enough to stand on its own, but spark interest and help to trigger a deeper, civilized debate.

Thoughts?

[damiengwa]

"Libertarians believe in a society where people do not initiate violence or threaten to initiate violence to get their way... In short we should respect each other's god-given/natural individual rights."

[low preference guy]

you can do anything you want as long as you don't commit aggression, theft, or break a contract.

[Matt Collins]

Start here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php (http://www.theadvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php)









Then get this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Z-Libertarian-Soundbites-Right/dp/0975432605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256592409&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Z-Libertarian-Soundbites-Right/dp/0975432605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256592409&sr=8-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F09MV4BHL._SS500_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Z-Libertarian-Soundbites-Right/dp/0975432605/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256592409&sr=8-1)




Then this book:
http://www.theadvocates.org/secrets.html (http://www.theadvocates.org/secrets.html)
http://www.theadvocates.org/images/secrets-3d.jpg (http://www.theadvocates.org/secrets.html)

[Ekrub]

I've always enjoyed "free minds, free markets" (add) w/ a non-interventionist foreign policy. That in a nutshell sums up libertarianism to me.

[TheBlackPeterSchiff]

Legalize it :cool:


Hey, it always peeks their interests. :)

[acptulsa]

Libertarians don't believe that liberty and freedom fix every problem under the sun. Not really. We just believe that free people are far, far better fixed, and far, far more motivated, to devise solutions to every problem than slaves, bureaucrats, and others who are not permitted to think and act freely.

How's that? Can you build on it?

And how's this for a p.s? Many are afraid to let people fail. The problem is, the very things that prevent such failures also prevent spectacular successes.

[tremendoustie]

It's always nice to be able to have a quick and simple explanation of libertarianism at your disposal when someone asks you: "What is libertarianism?"

I'm looking for input on the most effective and efficient way to explain the basic premise of libertarianism. Keep in mind, this should be an elevator speech, not a long, drawn-out, complex monologue. It should be concise and meaningful enough to stand on its own, but spark interest and help to trigger a deeper, civilized debate.

Thoughts?

Libertarians believe it's wrong to initiate violence -- that is, the only use of violence that can be appropriate is in self defense, or defense of innocents. They believe that it's wrong to threaten others, in order to control their lives and fiances, and that as long as you don't harm others, how you live your life and use the fruit of your labor is your decision.

[fisharmor]

My take on it:
Libertarianism is not having anyone tell you what to do, at the cost of not telling anyone else what to do.

I think I'd follow up by pointing out that no matter what we were told in school, in the entire history of mankind, man has never controlled progress, and every attempt to do so has resulted in less progress at best, and atrocity at worst.

[Sentient Void]

I always sum it up into one phrase - the idea that "My freedom extends to where yours begins."

[RM918]

Live and let live.

[helmuth_hubener]

"We believe the [only] role of gov't is to protect individual rights"

"People should interact voluntarily, not with violence, and with persuasion, not force"

"Libertarians believe in applying the same moral standards to everyone, even people working for the gov't"

If in America: "Libertarians are the intellectual heirs of the founding fathers. We are the Thomas Paines and Patrick Henrys of today."

That's just off the top of my head. I think www.libertarian.org has a whole big list of definitions.

Edit: nope, it was libertarianism.com. See here: http://web.archive.org/web/20030627210950/www.libertarianism.com/definitions.htm

[TruckinMike]

Its like sitting on the toilet. You don't have to ask for permission to do it, you just do it.

TMike:eek:

[GunnyFreedom]

Its like sitting on the toilet. You don't have to ask for permission to do it, you just do it.

TMike:eek:


LOL if you say that to someone, then the next time they think about your philosophy they will become overwhelmed by the image of steaming human feces. Probably need to find another approach to make the soundbite actually attractive, no? ;)

[TruckinMike]

LOL if you say that to someone, then the next time they think about your philosophy they will become overwhelmed by the image of steaming human feces. Probably need to find another approach to make the soundbite actually attractive, no? ;)

That all depends...

...on who's in the elevator with you.

TMike:D

[JosephTheLibertarian]

It's always nice to be able to have a quick and simple explanation of libertarianism at your disposal when someone asks you: "What is libertarianism?"

I'm looking for input on the most effective and efficient way to explain the basic premise of libertarianism. Keep in mind, this should be an elevator speech, not a long, drawn-out, complex monologue. It should be concise and meaningful enough to stand on its own, but spark interest and help to trigger a deeper, civilized debate.

Thoughts?

Quote Stefan Molyneux regularly.