got into an argument today at Starbucks. politics got into the discussion, and the guy knew he didn't like libertarianism but needed to see a list in front of him to remember why. I told him that all libertarians can really agree on is that people should be free to live their lives as they see fit, so long as they don't interfere with other people's right to do the same.
he said that's all well and good, but libertarians don't believe in safety nets.
I said sure we do, we just don't think that's the business of government.
he said government has to do it because nobody else will. then he said "they lock poor people up. did you know that?"
I said "yes, that's what government does".
then he started backtracking, saying how he's a New Deal progressive, that Roosevelt was elected 4 times, blah, blah. then he launches into a diatribe about war. again I say "that's the government doing that", and he says no, it's the Pentagon.
the guy was really deep in the river. when I got up, I said "sorry about bringing up politics. have a nice day", and he wouldn't even look at me.
last updated 2014-06-07 13:16:05. served from tektonic.jcomeau.com