Reason Interview: George Will

I don't have an hour free currently. Does he explain why he supported phoney Libertarian candidate bankrolled by a big Obama donor, Servis, in the Virginia gubernatorial race?

Oops. "Sarvis".

I don't have an hour to spare either, but I will ask if you are certain that Servis was a Judas Goat? I would not be surprised in the least were it a case of Democrats and Republicans uniting to defeat a common enemy: Namely, Libertarians and "Tea Partiers". That would make a lot of sense.

I should have expanded a bit... It would not be a stretch that Servis is indeed authentic but the Repubs/Dems are using media to spread disinformation that he was a stooge.

George, so when will this start?

TN, the Texas billionaire that financed Sarvis' campaign was a big bundler for Obama. Draw your own conclusion. Curiously enough, it seems more Dem votes bled to Sarvis than did GOP votes.

Haven't watched the video, but I must say that people on the Right who are famous for supposedly being smart tend to annoy me.

The reason people are drifting to the libertarian side of the argument despite everything the entrenched Powers can do about it is simple.

Its TAXES.

When you already pay more than half your entire income in tax, and all anyone in power ever talks about is making you pay your "fair share", and you never ever see a suggestion that maybe taxes could stand to come down a bit... Gee, d'ya think people might start questioning that?

Why does drunk fat guy Rob Ford still have a following? Because he's the ONLY GUY in Ontario talking about lowering taxes.

Duh.

Thx Kate,

Repubs: "the Party of Ideas"
What an almost quaint notion.
GFW is correct when he notes the political/philosophical Right~Left difference is between (essentially) self confidence vs. selfishness (or, in other words, of the unknown future: optimism vs. fear). The oldest problem we naked apes have ever had.

Under-appreciated (but telling) phrase George notes: "affirmative action"
It is a variant on the 'should we DO something vs. doing nothing' poll you posted a few days ago.
As per above the point is not for actions to have (presumably successful) consequences, but for the imposed action to be the consequence.
c.f.: Canada's 'Human Rights' Tribunals

YT

Niall from Winnipeg

"America is moving in the libertarians' direction,"

If that's true, Libertarians are essentially leftists in disguise.

No need to waste an hour listening to him.

Libertarian - so that's what they are calling nihilistic hedonism with the requisite state support now a days.

Actually George, we have won the debate-we've won EVERY debate. The left is wrecking America and Conservatives did much the same during the Bush years. The left has totally detached itself from reality while Cons resort to whining and irrelevant culture war battles re se above in whining about Sarvis (only candidate worth voting for) and 'nihilistic hedonism'. Conservatism is a 50-year failure and Cons consistently prove my handle correct.

PS Why is the filter holding up my excellent link to Rand Paul's article in the Reader Tips?

For those pressed for time, try a libertarian condensed version (a quickie?). Penn Jillette - a tee-tolling, hedonist, atheist libertarian. 2 minute video.

In libertarianism, the basic philosophy is more important than whether you agree with the legalization of individual "vices". Libertarians aren't a uniform group nor do they expect that of other libertarians, unlike progressives and social conservatives who viciously attack those who even mildly disagree on political and social issues. A good quote is "everyone agrees with a libertarian on at least one issue but no two libertarians ever agree with each other".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUjzrS6jwiw

Or, George, could it be that when pressed, no elected (nor any non-libertarian) Republican can identify which federal agency they would advocate eliminating. The same could be said of the conservative progressives in Canada (Wheat Board, LG registry, tokens excepted).

All remaining liberty will be eventually lost unless the "conservatives" fall in with libertarians and the reason is that voters who want less government but have a visceral dislike or fear (whether rational or not) of so-cons will otherwise stay home or vote with the most mushy-middle (but more secular) alternative.

So-cons are free to use moral suasion in a free society but within a tyranny, not so much. The future will legalize pot and continue allowing abortion no mater which way so-cons vote. You're only choice is whether or not the state will sanction and fund these personal choices and whether you're allowed to speak freely about them. It's up to you folks.

That should read "Your only choice" not "You're...". My bad.

Being moral is only as good as your definition. Morality defined by 'self' will favor 'self'. Just like leftists.

Have a nice trip.

the word is LIBERALTARIANS, and that says it all, and if I may use LASsie as an example, they tend to be mostly stupid people disconnected from reality. A conservative is a person who believes in accountability, they hold ppl and themselves accountable for their actions, so, LC Bennett, "I was fallowing orders" does not cut it in a real cons world, and that is why I got the boot from the CAF, I was/am and independent thinker:-))))

I like the Libertarians. They tend to want to leave everyone alone and expect them to take responsibility for their actions, which is more than you can say about the Democrats and Republicans.

I think The Phantom nailed it. People are moving that direction because they are sick of taxes and more importantly seeing taxes piddled away on bureaucratic fiefdoms. Moreover people are sick and tired of the religious right trying to tell others what to do as much as they are tired of the PC left trying to tell others what to do.

As far as I see it Democrats and Republicans are both hypocrites.

Cuccinelli lost because his views on gays is ancient and it allowed him to be portrayed in a negative manner even though his other positions were very much valid. Republicans of that vein keep failing and then wondering why.

Wow, what an awesome interview. Thx for sharing. I've just gotta say every time I hear Moynahan quoted I find myself wondering how this guy was a Democrat. If he were alive today he'd be vilified by his own party and likely a good chunk of repubs as well!