Regime Libertarians
Summary
This episode features Lou Rockwell’s critique of the Libertarian Party’s proposed Iraq strategy, which he argues contradicts core libertarian principles by advocating for foreign aid and troop repositioning. Rockwell introduces the concept of "regime libertarianism," describing a tendency among some advocates to seek respectability by appealing to state power rather than opposing it. He contrasts this approach with "laissez-faire libertarianism," which insists on the complete withdrawal of government and rejects the notion that the state is a necessary condition for liberty.
Topics discussed
Critique of the LP's Iraq withdrawal and aid plan
Contradiction between the plan and the LP platform
Outrage over ideological drift and 'Beltway Brain'
Why libertarians seek respectability from power
Intellectual confusion: Government as precondition for freedom
The Chicago School and the impulse to centralize
Defining 'Regime Libertarianism'
Contrast with Laissez-Faire Libertarianism
The role of the state: Enforcer vs. Creator
Historical tension between the two schools
The futility of the LP plan and the need for radical opposition
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