Name: Anonymous 2006-07-20 1:16
Libertarians often say they aren't anarchists, they just believe in really small government. However in order to join the Libertarian Party you must certify that you are against the initiation of force. Anarchy is described as the lack of a hierarchal authority, no one has any power over anyone else (ideally). Taken to its logical conclusion, a libertarian government obviously could not do anything without absolute consent of each and every individual. It could not even levy any taxes, because taxes by their very definition are an initiation of force. If people give willingly it's called donations. Government itself is all about force and control. It makes people do things that might not be good for them, but good for the group as a whole which libertarians find abhorrent. How can a party that requires such a pledge morally participate in governmental elections unless their only platform was to immediately dissolve the government once elected? Which ironically would require a significant power grab for them to even do so. Why can't libertarians just fess up and admit they're anarchists?