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theanguishoftheChristianlibertarian|Politics|TheAmericanScene

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byAlanJacobs
07/14/2008
Filedunder:
Politics

theanguishoftheChristianlibertarian
ThisisalongpostaboutChristianity,libertarianism,andenvironmentalism.Youvebeen
warned.
IexplainedinanearlierpostwhyIwillnotbeabletovoteforBarackObama,andsaid
thatIstillhadtodecidewhetherIcanvoteforJohnMcCain.AtthemomentIam
thinkingthattheanswerwillbeNo.Icouldlistreasons,butthatsnotwhatIwanttodoin
thispost.
ImaChristianwhotakesveryseriouslySt.PaulsclaimthatChristiansareneverfullyat
homeinanyearthlypolis,thatourcitizenshipisnotofthisworld,thatChristians,
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wherevertheylive,are,asStanleyHauerwasandWilliamWillimonputit,residentaliens.
IampleasedandproudtobeanAmericanIhavealwaysthoughtthatitsactuallycool
tobeanAmericanbutAmericawillneverbeasimportanttomeastheChurch.Thats
justhowitis.
ThismeansthatwhenIthinkaboutAmericanpolitics,Itendtoaskwhatpoliciesarebest
forthecauseofChristianitybutunlikemanyofmyfellowevangelicals,Idontthink
thiscountryevershouldbeaChristiannation,anddonotwanttoseespecifically
Christianbeliefsandpracticesembodiedinthelawoftheland.Ithinksuchaneventuality
wouldbebadforthecountryandevenworseforChristianity.(Imnotgoingtodefend
thisclaimeither.Bearwithme,Imgettingtosomething.)
MyownlongconsideredviewisthatChristiansoughttobe,broadlyspeaking,libertarian
intheirorientation.Inasocietycharacterizedbyagreatdealofpersonalfreedom,
Christianitywillnotappearascoercivelynormal,assomethingenshrinedintheformal
orinformalpoliticalorder.Insteaditcanappearasproperlycountercultural,and,indeed,
ifthereisnopossibilitythatChristianswillhavetheirviewssoenshrined,theywillbe
freetobeascounterculturalastheirbeliefsleadthemtobe,withoutbeingcaughtupin
theabsurdentanglementsofpatriotismaspiety.Moreover,inalibertariansociety
characterizedbysmallergovernment,Christianswouldalsobeabletodogreaterworks
ofmercyandcharity,encumberedbyfewergovernmentalregulations.
So,givenmylibertarianpresumption,willIbevotingforBobBarrthisfall?Perhaps
butIhaveaproblem.BarrlikestosaythatEverybodyislibertarianaboutsomethingin
thiscountry,andthatisalmostcertainlytrue,butitsequallytruethateverybodyisnon
libertarianaboutsomethinginthiscountry.EvenintheLibertarianParty,thegun
libertarianscandrawthelineatthelegalizationofdrugs,andthedruglibertariansget
queasywhentheycontemplatebeinginthesamepartywithNRAmembers.
Forme,thequeaseinducingissueisnotabortion,despitemyferventoppositiontothe
practice.Icouldimaginethatinatrulylibertariansocietythoughprobablynotinour
ownChristiansandlikemindedpeoplecoulddoagreatdealtolimitabortionevenifit
werelegal.No,mychiefconcernisaboutwhatwouldhappentotheenvironmentwhat
weChristiansliketocallCreationinalibertariansociety.Now,accordingto
Ontheissues.org,Barrhasnostanceonrecordregardingtheenvironmentafact
noteworthyinitselfbutweknowthathiscorebeliefisthis:Atthecoreof
libertarianismisatrustinandrespectforthepersonalchoicesofeveryindividual.
However,wealsoknowthatnoempiricalclaimcouldpossiblybebetterestablishedthan
this:People,lefttotheirowndevices,simplydonotmakewisedecisionsabouttheir
naturalenvironments.Theyalmostinvariablychoseshorttermgoodsthatleavetheir
descendantswithdamagedandimpoverishedconditionsandoftenthedamageis
irreversible.Andevenwhenhardlessonsarelearnedbyonegeneration,theyarelikelyto
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beforgottenbythenext,ortheoneafterthat.
Moreover,thesethestakesinthesemattersareraiseddramaticallyintechnologically
powerfulagessuchasourown.Ifalibertarianwithahandsoffenvironmentalpolicy
weretobeelectedPresidentinthiscountry,andweretoimplementsuchapolicy,the
vultureswoulddescendsoquicklyanddosomuchdamageespeciallytowater
resources,andespeciallyintheWestinasinglefouryearPresidentialtermthat
recoverycouldtakedecadesifitcouldbeachievedatall.Ithinkthiswouldbeatragic
result,andmyreasonsforthinkingsoaresimultaneouslycivicandChristian(thelatter
derivingfromtheBiblicalmandateforwhatpeoplearenowcallingCreationcare).Isa
significantincreaseinpersonalfreedomworthsuchaprice?IdontthinkIcansaythat,
notgivenmycurrentstateofknowledge,anyway.
Ofcourse,thisisallspeculativeintheextreme.BobBarrisnotgoingtobeelected
President,andevenifthatmiracledidhappenhedbefacedwithaCongressthat
wouldntlethimdomuchofwhathewantstodo(repealthe16thAmendment,for
instance).SoitmightbeworthmywhiletocastasymbolicprotestvoteforBarr,andI
maywelldothat.Butitmakesmeuneasytocontemplatecastingavoteforsomeone
whosecandidacyIcanttrulyendorse.

LeaveaReply
1.Alan
IfindyourdefenseofChristianlibertarianismcompelling,andalsoresonatewith
yourconclusionsonthepotentialnegativeeffectsofallowingcompletepersonal
freedomonthingsaChristianoughttocareabout(suchastheenvironment,orthe
poor,foranotherexample).WhileIthinkthatpeoplerespondtoincentives,themost
influentialincentivesareinherentlypersonal,anditislikelythatpeoplewillnotcurb
theirdestructivebehavioruntilithasdistinctlyPERSONALnegativeeffects.For
example,itispossibletowaxphilosophicalenvironmentalistanddriveagas
guzzlingSUVuntilpricesofgasincreasestothepointthatbehaviorchangefeels
rationalorjustified.Thisbecomesaproblemhoweverifthetippingpointinto
personalincentivesissignificantlyafterthepointthatthereissignificant(and
irreversible)damagebeingdonetothegoodinquestion.Intheexampleinquestion,
personalincentivestocurbenvironmentallydestructivebehaviormaynotdevelop
untilthisgoodissignificantlyandirreparablydamaged.
ThisiswhenItendtoleanintoabitmoreliberalunderstandingoftheroleof
governmentalregulationsandconstraintsimposedonindividualstoprotectthings
(orpeople)whoseinterestmaygetsqueezedoutinafreemarket(orjustlibertarian
individualapproach)runningitscourse.Thatsaid,Ialsoseetheinherentdifficulties
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ofthisapproach.
AquestionIkeepcomingbacktoisthis:Ifwearetoregulateorprotectcertain
things(orgroupsofpeople)becauseofconcernforwhatmayhappentothesethings
withoutregulation,howdowedecidewhatthesethingsarewithoutmovingtowards
asocietywhereaderivedethicalcodefromaspecificbeliefsystem(suchas
Christianity)isintegratedintothelaw,resultinginsomeoftheilladvisedeffects
youhighlight(entanglementsofpatriotismaspiety)
PeterJul14,03:53PM#
2.Ithinkanidealistlibertarianmightbelievethatindividualismandenvironmental
stewardshiparecompatible.Environmentalgroupswouldputpublicpressureon
pollutingentities,andthepublicwouldvotewiththeirdollars.TheSierraClubacts
outofselfinterest,properlydefined,asmuchasExxondoes.
Imnotsureitwouldwork,orifitdidwork,Imnotsureitwouldworkbetterthan
thecurrentregulatorysystem.
BlarJul14,03:54PM#
3.Idontknow,Alan,IdontknowifwecantakeitforgrantedthatLibertarianism=
badenvironment.Certainlytheworstenvironmentalareasintheworldarethe
industrialformercommunistcountries,whichweretheoppositeofLibertarian
regimes.
Also,theworstenvironmentstendtobeinthemostimpoverishedareaswhere
feedingyourfamilytakesprecedenceoversavingtheforest.Aseconomiesgrowand
wealthincreases,theroleofnaturalresourcesalsochanges.Totheearlypioneers,a
virginforestlookedlikeagreatsourceforfirewoodandtimber.Todaythesame
forestlookslikeagreatplacetotakeahikeandenjoynature.
Therealsoseemstobeaconnectionbetweenpersonalownershipandthe
environment.ThesolutiontotheTragedyoftheCommonsproblemeveryonecites
issolvablebysellingparcelsofthecommontoprivateindividualswhoknowthat
overgrazingTHEIRlandwillleadtofuturepoverty.
Canweconclusivelysaythatwehaveacleanerenvironmentbecauseofregulation?
IamnotsurewhatspecificwatercrisisintheWestcanbepreventedbyregulation
fromWashington.Maybeabettersolutioncanbeworkedoutbetweenlandowners,
citizens,andbusinessesthatpreservestheenvironmenttheylivein?Thepowerof
publicpressureandlawsuitsdoesmorefortheenvironmentthantheEPAcouldever
doanyway.
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Asforthechurch,abortionandtheenviornmentarebothGodissues.WeChristians
knowdeepdownthatthecoreproblemwithabortionisaculturethatdoesnotvalue
life.Regulationofabortionwouldbeasurfacevictoryforus,whentherealvictory
ismuchmoredifficult.Oursocietyasawholecaresmorefortheendangeredpolar
bearthanfortheendangeredfetus,whichmayhelpexplainwhyenvironmentalism
hasnotcaughtoninChristiancirclesasmuchasitshould.
JustsomethoughtsfromafellowuneasyChristianlibertarian.
JohnJul14,03:59PM#
4.IhaveasensethatAmericansocietyatlargeistrendingtowardamorelibertarian
politicaloutlook,butthistrendhasnotresultedina(mainstream)libertarianpolitical
partyformingtorepresentitduetothesetypesofideologicalpuritytests.
Tomakeasillyanalogy,supposesomeonewrotethis:Igenerallybelievethatthe
governmentshouldtakealargerroleintheAmericaneconomy,butIcouldnever
voteforaDemocratbecauseIcouldneveracceptaSovietstylecommandeconomy,
orthegulagarchipelagoforthatmatter.
Thistypeofthinkingseemssillyto(mostof)usbecausewehavetheexampleofa
functioningpoliticalpartyrightinfrontofustodemonstratethatitispossibleto
legislateonthispoliticallogicwithouttakingittoitsextreme.Peopleallow
themselvestobeconvinced,ontheotherhand,thattheycannotselfidentifyas
libertariansunlesstheywouldacceptfullblownanarchyorthemostextremeplanks
oftheLPpartyplatform.
Weliveinabureaucraticstatewithanenormousnetworkofnationalparksanda
webofenvironmentalprotectionsdeeplyentrenchedinthelawandbureaucratic
regulations.Idontthinkthatthereisanydangerofthisnetbeingdismantledundera
libertarianexecutive.Assomeofthepreviouscommentshavepointedoutwemight
seesomelessbureaucraticandmoremarketorientedapproachestopreservingthe
environmentattemptedinsomecases,andthesemarketorientedapproachesmight
bemoreeffectiveinachievingyourpreservationistgoalsinthelongrun.The
analogyherewouldbeSocialSecurity,wherealibertarianPresidentmightfinda
waytoinvestsomeofthetrustfundmoneyinprivatecapitalmarkets,oratleast
allowsomepeopletochoosetodirecthowtheirretirementfundsareinvestedwithin
broadcategories,whiletheDemocratsarestillweddedtoanFDRstylebureacratic
approach.
aldoJul14,04:34PM#
5.AlthoughIrealizeyoumadethecommentinpassing,Imintriguedbyyourremark
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thatIcouldimaginethatinatrulylibertariansocietythoughprobablynotinour
ownChristiansandlikemindedpeoplecoulddoagreatdealtolimitabortion
evenifitwerelegal.Wouldyoucaretofleshoutthatstatement(eitherinthispost
oranother)?HowcouldChristiansandlikemindedpeoplelimitabortionina
libertariansocietyinwaysthattheycannotnow?Imyselfimaginethattherightto
privacyenshrinedinRoev.Wadeanditsjudicialprogenywouldonlybeenhanced
inalibertariansociety.
KatherinePhilipsJul14,04:37PM#
6.Presumably,notallyourpoliticalstandsneedtobedictatedbyyourChristianity
Christiansmightprefersomeenvironmentalregulation,orsomeroads,becausethey
dontwanttheirgrandchildrenbreathingsmog,orbecausetheyneedtogetfrom
placetoplace.
Iguessthequestioniswhether,solelybecauseyouareaChristian,youhaveaduty
toopposeenvironmentallibertarianismbecauseofthesufferingyoubelieveitwill
cause.Onceyouidentifythatmoralprinciple,however,Idontseehowyoudrawthe
lineattheenvironment.DoyouhaveaChristiandutytoopposeObamasprounion
policiesbecauseofthesufferingtheywillcause?Howabouthisjudges?
Onarelatednote,IamstillwrestlingwithNoahsearlierpostongambling.Ithink
itsmorallywrongforthestatetoinvolvedinsupplyinggambling,atleastinthe
formitsinnow.DoIhaveaChristiandutytodosomethingaboutit?IthinkI
probablydo.
JMannJul14,04:43PM#
7.Thankstoallforthethoughtfulandhelpfulcomments.Twobriefresponsesfornow:
Katherine,thecurrentregimeimplementsmanycontrolsonprivateagencieswho
attempttoprovidesocialservices,especiallyinthemedicalrealmpresumablyina
libertarianregimethosecontrolswouldbeweakenedandtherewouldconsequently
bemoreopportunitiesforinnovationinrespondingtothepossibilityofabortion.I
shouldprobablyfleshthisoutfurtheratsomepoint.
JMann,Idontthinkthatallmypoliticalstandsneedtobedictatedbymy
Christianity,butIwouldsurelywantthemtobeconsistentwithit.AndbeforeI
couldsaywhetherIwouldopposeapolicybecauseofthesufferingitwouldcause,I
wouldneedtohavesomesenseofwhatsufferingtheremovalofthepolicywould
cause.Pointcounterpoint,youknow.Forme,theeconomicbenefitsofincreased
wateruseintheWestdontcomeclosetooutweighingthelongtermdamagesuch
waterusewoulddo.Ifeelthesamewayaboutcertainotherhotbutton
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environmentalissues.
TheresagreatdealonthesetopicsIcouldntgetintoinonepost.Mostimportant,
Idliketoraisethequestionofwhetheritcanmakesensetobealibertarianonthe
nationallevelandacommunitarianonthelocallevel.Itsverypossiblethatwedo
needenvironmentalregulationbutthatitsnotbestimplementedbythefederal
government.
AlanJacobsJul14,08:07PM#
8.Alan:
Ithinkthatthebasicideathatentanglinggovernmentandreligioneventually
stranglesreligioniswellestablished.Ialsothinkthattheideathatahealthy
Christiancongregationwillalwaysbesomewhatatoddswith,toputitbluntly,
power,isexactlyright.
Ithinkthatthelibertarianismvs.environmentdebateisputalittlestarkly,however.
First,generallyspeaking,environmentalprotectionisaluxurygood.Associeties
becomewealthier,theytendtodevotemoreresourcestoconservation.Sothetrade
offisnotsoobviousovertime.Secondtherearelotsofwaystousepropertyrights
toreducetragedyofthecommonsproblems(thoughnoteliminatethem).Finally,
sometimeslibertarianismneedstoberescuedfromLibertarians.Hayek,forexample,
wasprettyclearthataspopulationdensityrises,propertyrightscan,shouldandwill
bemorecircumscribed.Lotsofwhatyouaretalkingabout(thebestexamplebeing
waterintheWest)isreallyafunctionofgreaterpopulationdensityrequiringmore
regulation.Thatisnotipsofactoantilibertarian.
JimManziJul15,02:45AM#
9.Jim,ifgreaterpopulationdensity[requires]moreregulation,doesntthatsuggest
thatsocietieswithhighpopulationdensitycantaffordtobelibertarian?Yousaythat
thissituationisnotipsofactoantilibertarian,butitsoundslikeitis.
AlanJacobsJul15,02:50PM#
10.Alan:
Itdependswhatyoumeanbylibertarian.Ageneralorientationtoavoiding
unnecessarycoerciondoesntimplynolimits,anddoesntimplyrulesthatare
uniformacrosstimeandspace.Inmyview,theevolutionarydevelopmentand
modificationoftheserulesiscentraltolibertarianismrightlyunderstood,and
requiresvariation.Ivegoneintothisalittledetailinapriorpost.
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JimManziJul15,08:57PM#
11.Veryhelpful,JimIhadbookmarkedthatpostandthetimeandthenletitgetlost.
Iappreciatetheclarifications.IjustneedtofigureoutwhetherImaconservativeor
alibertarianorneither.
AlanJacobsJul15,09:50PM#
12.christianlibertarianisanoxymoron.
personallibertyisanathematochristianity.
matoko_chanJul21,12:46AM#
13.VerygoodpostabouttherelationshipbetweenChristianityandlibertarianism.Thank
you.
Asforlettingenvironmentalconcernsinfluencethechoiceofcandidatefor
president,IllpointoutthatthereareNOenvironmentalistsrunningthisyear.Obama
maypretendtobeone,buthismainagendaistogrowthegovernment.Whereitsa
choicebetweenthebestenvironmentalpolicyandexpandinggovernmentinthemost
corruptwaypossible(andtherearemanysuchchoicesconfrontingus)hewillchose
thelatter.McCainsmainpriorityistoannoypeople.Barrprobablydoesntcare.
AsaChristianenvironmentalistwithconservative,libertarian,liberalpolitical
leanings(notethelackofcapitallettersonthosewords)Iwillprobablyvotefor
Barr.IwillcertainlynotvoteforObama.ImightvoteforMcCainifhemakesa
crediblepromisetoundoMcCainFeingoldorsomethingalongthoselines.Butmost
likelyitllbeBarr.
TheReticulatorJul23,11:35AM#
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