Sounds like a contradiction, reads like a contradiction and causes Ron Paul’s old little heart to give way.
The term becomes readily apparent when we take an objective look at the current state of Western culture as a whole. What we’re stuck in is a state in which identity politics has somewhat of a stranglehold on the media and politicians of the day. People express their own liberty by being of whatever gender they wish, yet infringe upon the liberty of others by angrily spouting out commands to ‘respect pronouns’ and will flail their arms until they benefit from it. So, although your demi-sexual, green Mohawk, piercing and tattoo-laden comrade out on the street won’t get a second look, it’s simultaneously hard to argue that we’re close to our Rothbardian Utopia.
Sensitivities have merely changed as an inverse ‘rebellion’ against the 1950s’ ‘Leave It to Beaver’ religious-right. So, as such, a rip of a bong won’t raise any eyebrows, but a condescending tone to your housewife will be the topic of the next Gawker article.
Enter Donald Trump.
With his alt-right following that would match up pretty well on a Venn diagram to supporters of Pinochet or Hitler, we’re not looking at a policy libertarian here. However, the backlash against Trump has everyone screaming ‘We want to kill you Trump!’ at the top of their lungs. But nothing is done about it.
When dropped next to his counterparts, such as Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, and their pursuit to stop freethinking and legitimate critique of the oppressive power structures within the Qu’ran and label it as Islamophobia, Trump differs, as he stands strong when he mocks the disabled, openly swears at rallies, mocks the media and is generally waddling along the thin line that separates ‘free speech’ from purported ‘hate speech’. Yet, as any libertarian (no, not you, Gary) will tell you, there should be no legal grounds for hate speech, but instead, social consequences that would normally stem from being a dick. In essence, no matter how vitriolic one is towards you, you have no right to sue them.
Although swaying so far right that he is often conflated for a racist, Trump’s fascist image builds upon the lost concept of ‘the right to free speech’. With a populist persona that will attend Elton John’s wedding, then give his policies which decline gays the right to marry and then dance all the way back to saying transgender people should be fine to use whichever restroom they wish, whatever the people want, will be what Trump gives them when it comes to the identity politics which are so prevalent today.
So, although a complete misnomer of language, he is the defibrillator shock to the heart which jump-starts the fading system which is at the core of Libertarianism – freedom of speech and the equal right for everyone to be a dick to each other, as, sometimes, an open forum can give rise to some interesting conversation. On the other hand, sometimes it just gives rise to the same old rhetoric regarding why Trump is a fascist.
Make America Great Again.
David McManus
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