The Difference Between Libertarians and Non-libertarians

The difference between libertarians and non-libertarians is we aren’t fighting for a particular solution but for a process to discover solutions.

Non-libertarians believe there is some particular government intervention that is the solution to the problem and will seek data to support that conclusion and when not available reframe the problem so the data that exists allows for the policy they already want in place.

From a libertarian perspective reducing taxes, regulation, licensing, prohibition and foreign intervention is not an answer in itself. Getting these things out of the way doesn’t make all our problems go away tomorrow but it does give individuals and communities the autonomy and resources to begin discovering solutions.

They may not discover them overnight but several small scale attempts at a solution balancing the challenges of resource constraints and the buy-in of consent by those who patron or support these efforts allows for better governance, oversight, and discovery. While one large scale experiment without consent and resource constraints doesn’t facilitate thoughtful governance which often leads to its failure.

Libertarians don’t have answers but neither does anyone else, but libertarians do want to create an environment where solutions can more easily be discovered.