I'm finding the Blue State secession talk amusing. Libertarians have never had a lot of faith in democracy. It's a fine way to pick political leaders, but there's no magic to it. A number of liberty-minded people have been advocating forming a new country for a while, or at least starting a libertarian enclave in a sparsely populated area.
It seems to me that some people on the Left are surprised that democracy failed them. After the 2000 election Bush's opponents often pointed out that he had fewer votes than Gore, implying that his election less valid, and that a majority would never vote for Bush. As if that matters at all.
Their frustration is understandable. As democratic socialists, they trust in a social contract that runs by the moral declarations of the majority. Taxes are moral, for instance, because a majority wants them. They can't stand to have Bush use the moral authority a majority gives him.
But we libertarians have always understood majority politics, or democracy of any sort, carries no moral weight. The war in Iraq is moral, or not, regardless of the results of some election. Income redistribution is immoral in spite of what the majority of the populace thinks. So I welcome this talk of secession, and even better, I hope that the American Left will become the new Federalists. Let local governments operate more independently and de-emphasize federal funding and control. Then each of us citizens can better choose the type of government we live under.
Posted by Walter at November 13, 2004 01:44 PMTheir frustration is understandable. As democratic socialists, they trust in a social contract that runs by the moral declarations of the majority. Taxes are moral, for instance, because a majority wants them. They can't stand to have Bush use the moral authority a majority gives him.
Much better than Bush Derangement Syndrome or PEST as an explanation of the malaise, but still can those too cynical to allow faith, trust in anything?