Suppose you’ve been on the niche libertarian corners of the internet filled with esoteric weirdos. In that case, the chances you have heard the phrase “The ones who want to win will always defeat the ones who want to be left alone“ bandied about as a critique against libertarians in the past year is probably higher as of late. The “Post-Libertarians”, “Praxians” or “Neo-Reactionaries” (whatever they’re calling themselves these days, they can’t even keep it straight) are the guilty offenders in this case for using this phrase to attempt to show why libertarians must acquire and use (state) power to achieve our ends. An unwillingness to do so surrenders that power to the people who have the means to destroy our hopes for liberty, or so they say.
A response to: ‘ Objection: ”This is silly and you’re overthinking things, we just mean that you have to act in some type of way, or else you will be run over by the state’s policies eventually”
Response: In that case, I generally agree, but if that is all that is meant by the statement, then it should not be used as a critique against libertarianism as a philosophy, or even libertarians in general, as there are many libertarians who are proactive, and libertarianism does not forbid such action. ‘
What a weird way of saying “I realize what you’re telling me is reality is true, but I choose to live by theory as some sort of theology.”
This is a very long winded way of arguing with the boxcar door.
A response to: ‘ Objection: ”This is silly and you’re overthinking things, we just mean that you have to act in some type of way, or else you will be run over by the state’s policies eventually”
Response: In that case, I generally agree, but if that is all that is meant by the statement, then it should not be used as a critique against libertarianism as a philosophy, or even libertarians in general, as there are many libertarians who are proactive, and libertarianism does not forbid such action. ‘
What a weird way of saying “I realize what you’re telling me is reality is true, but I choose to live by theory as some sort of theology.”