GOP Primary Debate #1

[DGuller]

There's nothing at all about the core libertarian belief that individual freedom is the highest good and should be as unconstrained as possible that leads inevitably to racism.

No, there isn't.  Although if there is an existing discrimination problem, the theory that under libertarian rule it will be solved by economic disincentives to continue discriminating is perched solidly in la-la-land.  Then again, many libertarian conclusions are. 

And then there is the concept of federalism which is often passed off as libertarianism, which is very selective about which government should be made less powerful.

[MadImmortalMan]

I really don't think libertarian modes of governance are particularly aimed at solving the majority of society's problems. I'm guessing racism is one that falls within that group. I mean, they'd probably be mad at you if you lynched a black guy, but only because you lynched him, not because you're a racist shitface.

[MadImmortalMan]

Also Carly Fiorina's record as a CEO isn't exactly the thing you want on your resume. But she seems to be doing pretty well in Iowa.

[DGuller]

Also Carly Fiorina's record as a CEO isn't exactly the thing you want on your resume. But she seems to be doing pretty well in Iowa.

It surprises me how rarely it's brought up when she's discussed.  Carly running on her CEO credentials is like Lloyd Fredendall running on his military credentials.

[Valmy]

They want somebody who will run the government like a business, it does not have to be a successful business.

[DGuller]

They want somebody who will run the government like a business, it does not have to be a successful business.

[alfred russel]

Also Carly Fiorina's record as a CEO isn't exactly the thing you want on your resume. But she seems to be doing pretty well in Iowa.

If you want a CEO type to be president, she may be the best bet. It is unlikely you are going to get a really top tier one to run.

[MadImmortalMan]

If you want a CEO type to be president, she may be the best bet. It is unlikely you are going to get a really top tier one to run.

The good ones won't take the pay cut. 

[Tonitrus]

I had a glimmer of hope that Howard Schultz might run and pre-empt Hillary. 

President Starbucks?  We could conquer the globe with overpriced, mediocre coffee.

[Martinus]

Incidentally, was gay marriage a big thing during the debate? I am curious whether this is still being milked politically by GOP or is abandoned as a lost cause?

[Martinus]

There's nothing at all about the core libertarian belief that individual freedom is the highest good and should be as unconstrained as possible that leads inevitably to racism.

Racism, like most prejudices (homophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism) could be seen as an expression of the natural human tendency to fear the other (xenophobia). You need active social engineering and you need to curb certain freedoms (e.g. freedom to express your prejudice in speech, freedom to instill your prejudice in your children, or freedom to discriminate based on your prejudice) to combat that. So I would say that standard government measures to curb racism are directly opposed to the core libertarian belief.

In other words, whilst libertarianism is not inherently racist, in an ideal libertarian society racism would flourish.

You could say that libertarianism - like communism or anarcho-syndicalism - is one of those systems that work well on paper when you assume human beings not acting like selfish prejudiced assholes. That is rarely the case.

[Eddie Teach]

The only mention I've heard (not having seen the debates) was Kasich saying he accepted the court's decision.

[Razgovory]

Suffragettes were also notorious racists who supported eugenics.  Conclusion: oppose feminism and the woman's right to vote.

Yeah, but they weren't doing their thing in the 1970's and 1980's, besides the Pro-life lobby makes a very big thing of how Margret Sanger was a racist.

[Razgovory]

There's nothing at all about the core libertarian belief that individual freedom is the highest good and should be as unconstrained as possible that leads inevitably to racism.

I'm not sure that is the core belief of libertarianism.  The core belief appears to be freedom from government, particularly federal government.  Freedom from starvation doesn't seem to be big on their to do list.  Freedom from discrimination isn't big on their list either.

[Martinus]

There's nothing at all about the core libertarian belief that individual freedom is the highest good and should be as unconstrained as possible that leads inevitably to racism.

I'm not sure that is the core belief of libertarianism.  The core belief appears to be freedom from government, particularly federal government.  Freedom from starvation doesn't seem to be big on their to do list.  Freedom from discrimination isn't big on their list either.

Well, as I said, libertarianism is about freedom from government action - it is not about freedom from negative social or biological phenomena. So, I would presume libertarianism would be against government-sanctioned racism (e.g. apartheid) but it would also oppose government actions aimed at combating racism.