>>297
>>300
You people are under the wrong impression that Libertarianism amounts to an abrogation of the Constitution, which isn't the case. If anything, it's an affirmation of it. Libertarianism isn't entirely about getting rid of all government involvement in our lives, but instead it focuses on intrusive (largely) Federal meddling.
1. Under the Constitution, Congress has the power (read: duty) to regulate interstate commerce and that includes building and maintaining infrastructure, such as railroads and highways. Congress can't just shrug off one of its powers. We Libertarians have an issue with the Federal abuse of the Commerce Clause which modern legal scholars have interpreted to allow the Federal government a huge range of abusive powers -- such as criminalizing marijuana. In any case, though, Libertarianism can't legally take away Congressional power to build highways.
2. The on-the-spot execution of criminals is an unconstitutional act. Only government can deprive us of life and liberty, and the sole purpose of our government is to protect our liberties. What you are thinking of is the stench-ridden idea of democracy.
3. For me, there is no such ability to privatize things like the police and fire departments.
>>289
As far as the EPA goes, I don't count on the market to self-regulate itself entirely, nor I have loads of faith in exploitative corporations. But what it comes down to, for me, is that if a factory up river is sending waste my way and it damages myself or my property then I have been injured and I thus seek a just recourse. I follow a similar notion with the FDA. If you've noticed, many cases of recent food-recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. If they know negligent business practices will result in hefty, injurious punishments then they won't be as negligent (notice: I didn't say they'd be perfect, just less imperfect.)
Why not get rid of Social Security? It's going bankrupt. So is Medicare. By the time I'd be old enough to benefit from either, they won't exist. Why then should I be asked to pay into a program that will never benefit me? Because it benefits the collective good? Nope, don't think so. But what really boggles me is that people can look at Katrina+FEMA and the Bridge to Nowhere and still insist on a bloated, abusive and intolerably wasteful federal government.
Have a good'n.