Libertarianism is the political economy philosophy predicated upon the non-aggression principle (NAP) and private property rights based upon homesteading. It is a theory of what constitutes just law, and its answer to this question is that it would be a punishable crime to violate the NAP. Thus, it is illicit to threaten or initiate violence against innocent people. This does not imply pacifism; the defensive use of physical force is entirely compatible with libertarianism. Also, if the violence is limited to consulting adults, such as in the case of boxing or sado-masochism, it would be considered lawful.
Should this viewpoint be placed on the left of the political spectrum, or should it be located on the right? A case can be made for either, or for both.
Consider, first, the issues upon which libertarians and left-liberals agree. First, there is drugs. Both favor the legalization of use and sale, again, only with regard to consenting adults. Libertarians are even more radical than their socialist confreres on this matter. The former would legalize all drugs, without exception, it is the rare member of the latter group who would go this far. However, we must acknowledge that “progressives” in Oregon have recently legalized drugs other than marijuana.
Then there is sex. Both groups would favor full legalization, again only between consenting adults, no matter how weird, perverse or unusual the practice might be. Leftists, however, but not libertarians, would have to be marked down with an asterisk on this matter: some leftist-feminists oppose the legalization of prostitution. Note, this does not mean that members of either group necessarily favor any or all such practices; only that they maintain they should garner no jail sentences or fines. A similar overlap pertains to other victimless crimes such as gambling.
Where do the two groups diverge? Mostly on economics. Leftist favor government regulation, central planning, coerced egalitarianism, the welfare state and interventions into the economy such as minimum wage laws, rent control, high taxation, etc. Libertarians favor laissez faire capitalism.
What about libertarians and conservatives? The two groups are much in accord on economics, although again, as before, the former are far more radical, now in terms of welcoming full economic freedom. Conservatives tend to welcome tariffs, anti-trust regulations, zoning and other interferences with liberty; libertarians do not. It is however when it comes to personal liberties that the two schools of thought sharply diverge. Some rightists, harkening to the bible, favor not only prohibiting homo and bisexuality, but imposing the death penalty upon people who engage in such practices. Most are adamant that all addictive drugs be banned by law and prostitution as well.
On foreign policy, the third general category upon which all political views can be categorized, libertarians diverge just about equally from both leftists and rightists. The latter, by and large, support US intervention in numerous other nations; the fact that our country maintains some 800 military bases in about 130 other nations, is just fine with both of them. In contrast, John Quincy Adams famously stated: “America . . . goes not abroad seeking monsters to destroy… We favor the freedom of all nations, but will fight, only, to protect our own.” Libertarians would enthusiastically support such a sentiment; the other two would not.
So where do libertarians fit in on the left right political spectrum. Nowhere, that’s where. There is simply no room for them in this categorization. Placement on this spectrum is typically allocated on the basis of answers to a series of questions. But libertarians respond to virtually all questions on economic freedom as rightists, while answer all those on personal liberties as leftists. Thus, they end up in the middle somewhere; seemingly as moderates. But if there is anything true about libertarianism, it is that this is not at all a middle of the road viewpoint.
Yet another difficulty with this way of looking at these important matters is that close placement on this spectrum is supposed to indicate similarities, while great distance, sharp divergences. Where then to place Hitler and Stalin? The former is certainly an extreme rightist, and the latter, a far leftist. Yet, apart from superficial rhetorical differences between the two of them, they are practically twins: both were charismatic mass murderers. Where shall we place Mother Teresa? No rightist, she, and no moderate either. We must, perforce, place her at the far left part of this spectrum. Right next to her “buddy” Stalin? It is difficult to think of any worse categorization than that. Similarly, the rightists Hitler and Adam Smith should not be juxtaposed anywhere near each other either; yet, there is no room on the left-right spectrum for any other result.
How could political scientists improve this analytic tool? It would be simple. Do not jettison the left – right spectrum, but erase its importance almost entirely. Instead of a one-dimensional left-right spectrum, substitute a two dimensional one. The vertical axis would be labelled good, or lawful at the top, and bad or unlawful at the bottom. Placement would be based upon how closely a person adheres to the NAP. The left right spectrum would remain. Now, Hitler can be placed at the extreme bottom right, to indicate his evil as well as his rightness, while Stalin may be located at the extreme bottom left, which accurately depicts him as a monstrous leftist. Mother Teresa can occupy the far upper left part of the upper left quadrant, indicating she is a virtuous person, but, also, a leftist. Adam Smith’s position is near the upper right.
Note, libertarians can be placed at the upper reaches of this diagram, just about exactly in the middle, a spot on the left right spectrum they still retain.
Of course, to look at the world of political economy in this manner is to view it though libertarian spectacles. Representatives of the other two philosophies will look askance at this alteration. Leftists may not object, too much, to the placement of Mother Teresa, nor, Adam Smith’s position by the right, but their other views and affiliates will not be placed anywhere as high. Lefists will get good marks for personal liberties, but poor ones for economic liberty. Rightists will also cluster around the middle of the vertical spectrum, earning better placements for economics than for personal liberties.
Message to lefties and righties: if you don’t like where this two-dimensional spectrum places you, convert to the one true faith!
